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Kannanchery Ganapathy Temple Near Kozhikode - Rituals - Festival - Unique Ganesha

Kannanchery Ganapathy temple is located 4 km south of Kozhikode town in Kerala. The annual festival in the shrine is observed on the tenth day of Dhanu Masam. Kannanchery Ganapathy Temple festival in Dhanu masam is also known as Thalappoli festival. Apart from the usual temple rituals, the main deity in the shrine is decorated with Thidambu – a beautiful frame with golden flowers.

At night a grand procession is held from Kannanchery temple to Kanjirangottu Bhagavathy temple. Girls perform the Thalappoli for the ritual. Girls hold thalams with broken coconut haves, rice and lighted diyas.

The velichappadu or temple oracle attired in red, maroon violet clothes move ahead of the procession.

Panchavadyam and traditional musical instruments provide the music for the festival. Caparisoned elephants are part of the festival.

Nantakom is another ritual observed during the procession. A devotee who has observed strict fast holds the sword – symbol of goddess – and sits atop a caparisoned elephant. Two other persons atop the elephants holds the aalavattom and venchamaram.

At midnight the procession returns to the temple, jackfruit tree woods are burnt at a designated place in the south side of the temple. The velichappadu and the man holding the sword of goddess throw and push around the ember without getting hurt.

A special puja called thuval is observed on the next day early morning in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. Ganapathy is offered jaggery, banana and tender coconut on the day. The Prasad prepared during the ritual is later distributed to the devotees.

The Ganapathy worshipped in the temple is unique as it is held here that Ganesha sits on the lap of Shiva in the sanctum sanctorum. The deity faces east.

The upa devatas in the temple are Kalari Bhagavathy, Kangarikadu Bhagavathy, Gulikan, Bhairavan, Sastha, Pottan Daivam, Dhandan, Pashan, and Keeratamurti.

The temple was the Kalari Sthanam of Wayanad Panikkar and Kalari Bhagavathy.