Panachikkad

 Panachikkad  is a village in Kottayam district in the state of Kerala, India.

Location
Panachikkad is a small village near Chingavanam, almost 10 km away from Kottayam, famous for its Panachikkadu Temple dedicated to goddess Saraswati. It has thus come to be known as Dakshina-Mookambika (Mookambika of the South).

Geography
Panachikkadu Village/Panchayath is in Kottayam District of Kerala State, India. Paruthumpara Kavala (Junction) is the headquarter of Panachikkadu Panchayath. Following offices are located at Paruthumpara:
 * Panachikkadu Panchayath Office
 * Panachikkadu Village Office
 * Kuzhimattom Post Office
 * Panachikkadu Regional Service Co-Operative Bank, headquarters
 * Indian Oil Corporation Petrol Pump
 * Canara Bank
 * KSFE
 * Panachikkadu Panchayath Shopping Complex
 * Paruthumpara Government L P School.

While Paruthumpara is the heart of the Panachikkad village, Parakkulam, Velloothuruthi, Kuzhimattom, Nellikkal, Panachikkad, Chozhiyakkad, Channanikkad, Poovanthuruth, Kaniyamala, Kollad, Malamelkkavu, Padiyara and Pathamuttom are the other main places. Paruthumpara is situating 9.3 km south of Kottayam Town and 11.3 km North of Changanassery. Easiest way to reach Paruthumpara is through Chingavanam on M C Road(State Highway 1) which is 4 km away. The village is surrounded with rubber plantations, paddy fields, little hills and canal streams. Mini high-range is starting roughly from Paruthumpara and continues that towards the east OR in other words Paruthumpara is a middle area between Kuttanad and High-range of Kerala State. Nearest local railway station is Chingavanam and major railway stations are Kottayam and Changanassery. Nearest KSRTC/Private bus stations are Kottayam and Changanassery. Boat services are available from Kottayam and Changanassery boat jetties to Kuttanad areas of Alappuzha. Nearest airport is Cochin Nedumbassery Airport which is 95 km away. Paruthumpara is in the local jurisdiction of Chingavanam Police Station. Many's the time that, the place Paruthumpara is mistaken by people as 'ParuNthumpara' a tourist place in Idukki district of Kerala.

History
Before the 11th century, Paruthumpara was a place in Velloothurithi Kara of Nattakom area which was under the ruling of Munjunaadu Dynasty[2]. In 1103AD, Ilayaraja Vimbileeswaran of Thekkumkur Dynasty conquered Munjunad and Nattakom area, and became under Thekkumkur Dynasty ruling[3]. Thekkumkur Royal family(Edathil Family) had Kottarams(Palaces) such as Neerazhi Palace in Changanassery, Vennimala Palace, Edathil Palace in Pallom and Thaliyil Kotta in Thaliyanthanam(Present day Kottayam). On September 11, 1749, AD, Ramayyan Dalawa, the prime minister of Marthahnda Varma of Travancore, conquered Thekkumkur and merged it to the Travancore Kingdom.

Demographics
India census, Panachikkad had a population of 43595 with 21370 males and 22225 females.

Attractions
Dakshina Mookambika Temple(Panachikkadu Temple) which is located within the Sree Mahavishnu Temple's premises, is just 2 km away from Paruthumpara. The temple is well known for the Vidyarambham(ritual beginning of education) on Vijayadashami day and Performing all sort of Arts as vazhipad(offering). The temple is one of the mentioned ancient legends in the famous book Aitheehya Maala [4]by Kottarathil Shankunni. On vijayadashami day, thousand of devotees from all religions come to Panchikkad Saraswathi temple to ritually start the education and arts.

The Kumbhakudam Maholsavam is one of the most important celebrations of the Panchikkadu Village. The festival is conducted on the Bharani asterism in the Kumbham month of the Malayalam Calendar. The ceremonial processions from various Karas(areas) of Panachikkadu village, goes to Velloothuruthi/Velluthuruthi Bhagavathi Temple, one after the other through Paruthumpara Kavala(Junction). The Kumbhakudam, Thalappoli, Chenda melam, Pandi melam, Shoolam kuthu and decorated elephants are the essential parts of the ceremonial processions. Devotees making Kumbhakudam as an offering to the Goddess Sri Durga(Bhadrakali) of Velloothuruthi Temple. The making of Kumbhakudam is a tedious process. Initially a palm tree pole which is 4 to 20 feet long fixed into a pot (kudam). Then the devotee makes hundreds of chendu which are hand made paper flowers fixed on to the edge of a coconut tree leaf's midrib. Then using the created chends, a circle-shaped structure is created. Then using such circle-shaped structures, devotee creates a tower of flowers, on the already kept ready Palm Tree Wood which is fixed in to a Pot. The final structure of Kumbhakudam would look like a huge Pagoda Flower. In the procession, the devotee would perform a rhythmic dance placing the huge kumbhakudam on his head. When devotees, in yellow costumes, perform the kumbhakudam dance following the chenda/pandi melam(typical South Indian Drums), it becomes an eye-catching attraction. Thousands of people from various places gathered at Paruthumpara to enjoy the above celebrations.

Arattu from Velluthuruthi Bhagavathi Temple is another devotional procession that comes through Paruthumpara Junction on the tenth day after Kumbhakudam. The procession is performed with very rich traditional art forms such as Ammankudam, Pandi melam, Chenda melam, Garudan parava, Elephants and fireworks.

Ten days long Chirappu maholsavam in the Mandalam season in relation to Sree Sabarimala Ayyappan, is conducted at Paruthumpara Junction every year.

Shobhayathra from Chozhiyakkad Sreekrishna Swamy Temple on Ashtami Rohini day is another festival of the village.

Perunnals(Feast) of the Pachira Thabor St. Mary's Orthodox Church, St. Stephens CSI Church and St Mary's Knanaya Catholic Church are the other festivals of the place. Samyuktha Christmas(Ecumenical) Celebrations are conducted every year in Paruthumpara.

Paruthumpara and Nellickal always had very active native ball teams.