Payyavoor Shiva temple is located in Kannur district in Kerala. The shrine is near the Kerala – Karnataka border. The annual festival at Payyavoor Shiva Temple begins two days before Kumbha Sankranti – on the 29th day of Makarm month. The festival usually ends on Kumbham 15.
Payyavoor temple festival is known as Oottu Festival (Oottu Utsavam). The festival is attended by people of Kodagu (in Karnataka), Kannur and Kasaragod districts. The people of Kodagu make various offerings and perform various rituals in the temple during the festival.
The Shivling worshipped in the temple is swayambhu. The Shivling is well below ground level. The deity who is in Keeratha form (hunter) faces east. The Upa Devatas worshipped in the temple are Ayyappan and Someshwari.
The material for the festival panthal (thatched roof made of dried coconut leaves) is given by the people of Chooliyadu.
Another interesting ritual during the utsavam is the Kaalavaravu, the transportation of rice on the back of bullocks as an offering.
Oottu Kazhcha to Shiva is brought by the farmers of Kodagu. Oottu Kazhcha farm offerings by devotees are done on different days of the festival.
Another interesting ritual held as part of Oottu festival is the Omanakazhcha offering. In this devotees will be carrying bunches of plantains from the nearby paddy fields to the temple. This ritual is done on various days by various villages located near the temple.
The main festival is observed on the 12th day. On this day ghee is brought from different areas near the temple for neyyamritham. In the ritual ghee is smeared on the murti.
Rare temple arts forms like the Thudi Kotti Pattu, Theyyam padi pattu and Kuzhiyaduppil Nritham are performed during the period.