KOTTIYOOR FESTIVAL

KOTTIYOOR FESTIVAL

AT

KANNUR

Kottiyoor  is a famous Hindu pilgrim center devoted to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. The proper name of the temple here is Sri Kottiyoor Mahadeva Kshetram.

 Kottiyoor temple is located near Kelakam in Kannur district of the southern state Kerala. Sri Kottiyoor temple is also known as the "Dakshina Kashi" or "Varanasi of the South" and attracts lakhs of devotees every year during the "Vaisakha Maholsavam" celebrations.

The Kottiyoor festival is unique as it involves two temples - Akkare Kottiyoor and Ikkare Kottiyoor, on the opposite banks of River Bavali. Situated in Kannur district, the annual Kottiyoor festival is celebrated for twenty-eight days and it falls during the months of May and June.

Here, the Neyyattam ritual on the first day and the Thirukalasattu ritual on the concluding day are attended by hundreds of devotees.

The Vaisakha Maholsavam celebrations begin with the ritual of bringing a sword from Muthirerikavu from Wayanad. On the following day, on Visakham star Bhandaram Ezhunnallath ritual is held.

Gold, Silver vessels, heavenly ornaments etc are brought from nearby Manathana village to Kottiyoor.

An important ritual during the festival is the 'Elaneer Vayppu' or submitting tender coconuts before the swayambhu Shiva linga.

On this special day, thousands of tender coconuts carried from different parts of Malabar by the devotees are submitted. The following day, the main priest of the temple, pours the collected coconut water on to the idol which is known as 'Elaneeraattam'.

Rohini Aaradhana is a very important ritual which is not seen in any other temple. The priest embraces the swayambhu Shiva linga as part of the ritual.

The belief behind this ritual is that Brahma himself worships Lord Shiva to pacify for the loss of Sati.

Kottiyoor is also known by the names Kudiyoor, Dakshina Kashi. Thricherumana, Vdakkumkaavu, Kizhakkumkaavu and Vadakeeswaram.

By Air

The nearest airport is at Karipur, Kozhikode which is about 93km south. The Mangalore airport is 170kms north of Kannur.

By Train

Kannur is an important railhead of the Southern Railways and the major railway station on Shornur-Mangalore line. There are trains from Mumbai, Goa, Mangaloe, Madras, Trivandrum, Kochi, Kozhikode and Coimbatore. All major trains going North through the Konkan and beyond stop at Kannur.

By Road

Kannur is 155kms south of Mangalore and 535 kms north of Thiruvanathapuram. An excellent road transport system connects the town to all the major towns of south india. There are frequent bus services from Mangalore,. Bangalore, Kochi, Trivandrum and Kozhikode.