PALGHAT PART 1 Respected friends,
There was a response to me from Sri Dandapani Natarajan on 30-1-2021 to writeabout Palghat Brahmins after reading about Central Kerala Brahmins RECENTLY. While going through my external memories today, I cameacross postings by Smt. "Gmail-Jayashree"[email protected] on Sun Oct 4, 2009and subsequent days about Palghat whichcovered most of the aspects of Palghat. I thought of reproducing the same withediting if necessary. Other than crossing Olavakkode/Palghat junctions, eating deliciousAappam with Kizhangukarias breakfast from the railway station in plantain leaf, halting a few times inPalghat telephone exchange on inspections and visiting Malampuzha dam with my son on one of his vacations,I have not much experience about Palghat. On the day of my visit to Malapmpuzha dam, a filmshoot was going on with Premkumaras Hero. Recently too he appeared in Badai Bangalow programme as guest inAsianet plus. It was my first experience at Malampuzha dam travelling in ropeway.Still the fearsome memories of suddenly jumping and sitting in the ropeway seatand similarly getting down in seconds from the moving ropeway comes to my mind. While thinking of Palghat the famous Malayalam novel- Verukal (Roots)of Late Malayattur Ramakrishnan IAScomes to me. The interesting question ofhis kids while coming in train from Bombaylooking at vast Paddy fields – Appa, ithuthan Arisichetiya(Is it rice plant) comes to me. Letme continue with the forward Sincerely, Gopala Krishnan 3-2-2021. 1Original History. Palakkaddistrict has its own special characteristics. The fort of HyderAli tells us thestory of Mysore invasions and the advent of the British to this part of thecountry. The VictoriaCollege, started in 1886, marks the beginning of higher education in Malabar.The Jain temple near Chunnamputhara speaks of the magnanimity of the king ofPalakkad who provided shelter to the people who escaped the religiouspersecutions. Theancient history of Palakkad is shrouded. According to William Logan, the author of theMalabar Manual, the Pallavadynasty of Kanchi might have invadedMalabar in the second or third centuary. One of their head quarters was a place called Palakada whichcould be the present -day Palakkad. Malabarhad been invaded by many of the ancient South Indian rulers. For many centuries, it was ruled by the Perumals.They had under them some powerfulUtayavars who held authority in their own respective territories. After the rule of the Perumals,the country was divided among thesechieftans. The valluvakkonathiri (ruler of Valluvanad), the rulers of Vengunad (Kollengodu Rajas) andf Sekhari Varma (Raja of Palakkad) were the prominent rulersof this region, after the Perumals. My note- The first Principal of my home NSSCollege was a raja from Kollengode. When I joined the college he interviewed me. At that time only Ijust knew Kollengode was part of Palghat. When the Zamorin of Kozhikode invadedPalakkad in 1757, the raja of Palakkadsought the help of Hyder Ali of Mysore. Hyder Ali's help forced the Zamorin to retreat. LaterHyder Ali subjugated all territories in Palakkad which were under thepossession of Zamorin. Thus the whole area possessed by the Raja of Palakkadpassed into the hands of the Mysore rulers - Hyder Ali and his son Tippu Sultan. The war between Tippu and the East India Company ended with the treatyof 1872 and all the possessions ofTippu in Malabar were ceded to the British. Gradually these formedpart of the Malabar district of the Madras Presidency. 2 How to reach Air:The nearest airport is Coimbatore, 55 km. from Palakkad.. Rail:There are two railway stations here. The main one is the Palakkad junction situated 5 km. from the city andother at the town. Update- Due to Covid 19 limited trains areoperated now. Road: Palakkadis connected by good motorable roads with major centres of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. There are three bus stands- KSRTC, Muncipaland town bus stands. 3 The must see places Fort- Kanjirapuzha and Siruvani- Killikkurissimangalam Dam Malampuzha- Nelliampathi - Parambikulam Wild Life Sanctuary Templesof Palakkad - Thrithala- Malampuzha 3a Malampuzha Malampuzhais a beautiful picnic spot on the lower hills of the Western Ghats and is situated12 km. away from Palakkad. There is a dam and a beautiful garden here. There are frequentbuses to this place from Palakkad. Gardens: There are lush green lawns, innumerableflowerbeds, glittering pools, fountains and avenues. There is a rose gardenwith about a hundred varieties of roses. The dams and gardens are illuminatedon Saturdays, Sundays and NationalHolidays from 7pm to 8pm. On other days they are illuminated on request for a fee. A beautiful Rock Gardenis constructed inside the MalampuzhaGarden. A rope way running across the garden is also provided. Reservoir: The reservoir is ideal for boating and fishing. Thegarden house offers water sportsfacilities. There is a fine swimmingpool with modern amenities (Tuesday holiday). Near the dam there is a freshwater aquarium (12 noon to 8pm. & 1pm. to 9pm on holidays), a snake park ( 8 am to 6 pm) and a children's park. Fantasy Park :This amusement park is open from 2pm to 9pm on week days and from 11am to 9pmon Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. The Rock Garden is open from 10am to 6pm. My note- The charges at Fantasy park are very high touching the purse. 4 Festivals 4a )Chittur Konanpada: Konganpadais a great festival of historical importance, celebrated in the Bhagavathy temple at Chittur, ten kmsfrom Palakkad town. It is held everyyear on the first Monday after the new moon night in Kumbhom (February -March), [ 896 A.D. : Konganpada- War between Kongu king and Nedumpurayoor (Palakkad Raja). Kongu army was defeated bycombined armies of Nedumpurayoor, Walluvanad, Ernad and Perumpadappu. In honourthe Walluvanad Raja received Kurissi Vilayan Chathanur and Kaithalavillagesfrom Nedumpurayoor. Thisevent is even now celebrated as a historical event in Chittur taluk where the fight took place. Thefestival starts with 'Chilambu' on Sivarathri in Kumbhom which reminds Kongan's(Chola King's) declaration of war and the frightened people worshipping Bhagavathy and besearchingher help. 4b)Jain Festival: There isan ancient Jain temple at Jainamedu, near Palakkad town. According to a legend, one sutar(head of the Jains) built this temple 500 years ago for the Jain sage, Chandranathaswamy. The Jainswho came here from Mysore fled fromthis place during the invasion of Tipu Sultan. 4c)Nellikulangara Vela: Toinvoke the blessings of Nellikulangara Bhagavathy, the people of Vellangi andNenmara conduct a festival on 20th Meenam (March - April) every year. This is the famous Vellangi Vela.This beautiful templeis in the Vellangi village of Chitturtaluk. The flag hoisting ceremony in connection with the vela is held jointly by the residents of Vellangiand Nenmara on 9th Meenam. On all days following the flag hoisting till the eve of the vela, Kummatti, Karivela,Andivela and similar other folk ritualsare performed. These three ceremonies together are known as Kanyar. The pomp and splendour of thefestival would put it in second place,perhaps only to the Pooram festival of Thrissur. 4d)Ottappalam Nercha Festival: Juma prayers are held in Ottappalammosque on Fridays. To commemorate the death anniversary of a saintly person by name Uthaman Auliya, anannual festival is held in January - February. The special feature of this festival is the grand procession which ceremoniously bringsvarious things such as rice, coconutsetc. to the mosque as offerings. On the next day, a feast is heldwhere the various articles received would be cooked and distributed to the poor. 4e) Sivarathri festival atKallekulangara Bhagavaty Temple: Thisfestival is conducted for nine days and ends with an arat of the deity Hemambika in Kalpathy River. I will continue with Kalpathy ratholsavamin next posting. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/1790965322.1666416.1612352413052%40mail.yahoo.com.
