Vadakkencherry

Not to be confused with Wadakkancherry.

"Aanachamayam" by Sree Naga Sahayam for Ulsavam presented on 16/04/2011 evening.

Vadakkencherry വടക്കഞ്ചേരി Kuttappura
town
A view of Vadakkencherry town
Country	India
State	Kerala
District	Palakkad
Languages
• Official	Malayalam, English
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	678683
Telephone code	91 4922
Vehicle registration	KL-9, KL-49
Nearest city	Thrissur (33 km away) Palakkad (34 km away)
Lok Sabha constituency	Alathur
Vidhan Sabha constituency	Tharoor

Vadakkencherry is a small town in the Palakkad district, state of Kerala, India, which is 40 km. north-east of Thrissur and the same distance south-west of Palakkad (Total distance is 80 km. and this is the exact centre of the route). It is under Alathur Taluk in Palakkad district. National Highway 47 passes through Vadakkencherry. Vadakkencherry Vela and "Eakadesi Villaku" is one of the famous festivals in Kerala. Though the spellings are different, many people confuse Vadakkencherry with Wadakkancheri of Thrissur. To avoid confusion, some refer to Vadakkencherry as Alathur-Vadakkencherry or Vadakkencherry-MBR, which is short for Malabar region. The postal code of Vadakkencherry is 678683. Vadakkancherry is surrounded by other locales such as Puducode, Kannambra, Manjapra, Mudappallur, Kizhakkancherry, Konnanchery and Ayakkad.

Name

The name Vadakkencherry is originated by the joining of two words: Vadakkan (Northern) and Cheri (Street). Vadakkencherry is sometimes shortened to "VDY" or "VDCY".

Vadakkancherry, sometimes spelled as Vadakkumcherry or Vadukkumcherry or Vadukkencherry, is located midway between Palakkad and Thrissur cities on National Highway 47.

Temples

The area has a few old temples:

• Sri Thiruvara Siva Temple ( One of the old Shiva Temples in India )
• Sri Kodikkattu Bhagavathy Temple (Kodikkattukavu)
• Sri Maha Ganapathy Temple, Vinayaka Street, Vadakkencherry
• Sri Nagaraja Temple, Vadakkencherry
• Mangodimuthi Temple, Vadakkedesham, Kammanthara
• Sri Namburimuthan Temple, Thekkedesham, Kammanthara
• Sri Palliyaarakkavu and adjoining Shiva Temple, managed by Thiruvanjikkulam Devaswam Board, Cherukannambra near Nelliyampadam
• Sri Narashima Moorthi Temple, Anjumoorthi Mangalam
• Padarkavu Sri Krishna Temple, Manikyapaadam
• Lakshmi Narayana Perumal Kovil, Vinayaka Temple, Nagaraja Temple and Padrkavu Sri Krishna Temple; the idols are hundreds of years old; it is said that there are very few idols of Lakshmi Naryana where Lakshmi is resting on the lap of Narayana; there are also two Bhagawathi temples and a Shiva temple in and around the town
• Sri Anjumoorthy Temple, an old, famous temple in Palakkad district, where the idols are hundreds of years old and prathishtas are Sivan, Sudharshan, Devi, Ayyapan, Ganapathy, Krishnan
• Sri Manangodi Bhagwathi Kaav, near Anjumoorthy Mangalam temple has a very clean pond adjacent to it, It has its yearly Vele on 25 May every year, 40th day after Vishu (New Year)
• Sri Ayyappa Temple Vettikkalkulambu, Pallarod; Prathishtas are Sri Ganapathi, Sri Ayyappan, Sri Murugan
• Kodumpala Umamahaswary Temple
• Sri Kanakkannur Siva Temple, Manappadam, Puducode

. Sri Nedumbarambath Bagavathy Temple (Kizhakkencherry).

• Sree Mariyamman Kovil, Palayam, Vadakkencherry.

Mosques

Mosques include:

• Town masjid, operated by shafi
• Hanafi masjid, Vadakkencherry
• Jama'th masjid, Vadakkencherry

Churches

Churches include:

• Rajagiri Church, Kanakkenthuruthi
• St. George Malankara Church, Chakkund
• Lourde Matha Farona Church
• Hermon Marthoma Church
• St. Alosious RSLC Church
• Jose Giri Church
• St. George Jacobite Syrian Church, Thenidukku
• Mar Gregorios Orthodox Church, Thenidukku
• Malankara Christian Church
• St. Thomas Evangelical Church
• The Indian Pentecostal Church of God (IPC), Thenidukku
• The Indian Pentecostal Church of God (IPC,Gospel Centre), Vadakkencherry
• The Indian Pentecostal Church of God (IPC), Koranchera
• The Indian Pentecostal Church of God (IPC), Valkkulambu
• The Indian Pentecostal Church of God (IPC), Akathethara
• Nithya Sahaya Matha Church, Pantalampadam
• St. Jude Church, Odenthode
• St. Xaviers Church, Mangalam Dam
• St. Mary's Church Mariya Nagar, Chittadi
• St. Mary's Church, Karimkayam
• St. Mary's Church, Arogyapuram
• Grace Baptist Church, Vadakkencherry
• St. Mary's Jacobite Syrian Church, Erukkumchira
• St. Thomas Evangelical Church of India (Thattankulambu) (STECI)
• St. Thomas Evangelical Church of India (Kattamcode) (STECI)
• St. Thomas Evangelical Church of India (Vadakkenchery) (STECI)
• St. Thomas Evangelical Church of India (Kalamkulam) (STECI)
• St. Thomas Church Elavampadam

Streets and places

The gramam is nearby Puzhakkeledom an ancient royal family. The royal family is supposed to be a branch of Cochin royal family. The tharavad consisted of Ettu kettu which was later demolished. The tharavattu Karanavar used to catch elephants from the forest of Puzhakkeledom thenmala. Veterian Indian Freedom Fighter Sri. K.P.Kesava Menon belongs to the Palakkad royal family. The famous karinkunnil family is in Manikkyaapadam. The surroundings changed a lot. The village became a city and many urban problems have to face. The places or streets in Vadakkencherry are:

• Thiruvara, Palayam, Vinayaka Street and Kammanthara
• Kurukkalthara, Vadakkencherry Gramam, Mannamparampu and Nair Thara
• Kattukode, Nair Kunnu, Puthukkulam, Panthalampadam and Pradhani
• Royal Junction, Kizhakkancherry, Manikkyapaadam and Palayam
• Mangalam Palam, Valliyode, Aamakkulam, Thenidukku and Paruvassery
• Nelliyampaadam, Ayakkad, Konnencherry, Pulinkoottam and Valkkulamb
• Mudappallur, Cherukannambra, Chundakkadu, Kundukad and Anjumoorthy Mangalam
• Anakkappara, Karappotta, Kolakode, Kanakkenthuruthi, Kuruvai, Pothappara and Vettikkalkulambu
• Pallaroad, Kavarathara, Challiparambu, Kannambra, Pallikadu and Chekkeny

Cinema halls

There are seven theatres in VDY — Jayabharath Movies, New Jayabharath Movies, Thangam, KAM Movie Max Aashirvad, Sobha, Sri Rama and CVM Movies. New Jayabharath was opened in mid 2009 and is the first air conditioned theatre in VDY. KAM Movie Max Aashirvad was opened in 07/08/2010 inaugurated by Mohanlal. KAM Movie Max is leased by Antony Perumbavoor (Aashirvad Cinemas).

Sl.No.	Name	Location	Facilities	Seating Capacity
1	Jayabharath Screen 1	Padur Road, Karayankad	35 mm, QUBE, Dolby Atmos	277
3	Jayabharath Screen 2	Padur Road, Karayankad	35 mm, A/C, QUBE, Dolby Surround 7.1	163
3	Jayabharath Movies	Padur Road, Karayankad	35 mm, A/C, QUBE, DTS, Dolby Digital	300
4	KAM Movie Max Aashirvad	KAM Complex	35 mm, A/C, QUBE, JBL 3 way active sound	450
5	CVM Movies	Bypass junction	35 mm, A/C, QUBE, DTS	550
6	Sobha(closed)	Kizhakkencherry Road	35 mm, DTS	600
7	Sree Rama(closed)	Kammanthara	35 mm, Digital UFO Satellite projection	400
8	Thankam	Bypass junction	35 mm, QUBE,A/C, Dolby Surround 7.1	250

Colleges

Colleges in VDY include the College of Applied Science, Eminent, College of English, Mahathma College, Hindi Vidyalalya, Women's academy, IAS and St. Mary's ITC.

Schools

The schools are :

• St. Mary's English Medium School (CBSE), Mangalam
• Cherupushpam Girls Higher Secondary School
• Rosi English Medium School, Anjumoorthy Mangalam
• Sree Narayana Public School, Valliyode
• Kammanthara (S.V.U.P) School
• Mission School (BEM LP), Vadakkencherry
• C.A. High School, Ayakkad
• A.U.P (Idathil) School
• Gandhismarakam School, Anjumoorthy Mangalam
• Government Community College, Vadakkencherry (under SC Development, Govt. of Kerala)
• MES Women's College, Vadakkencherry
• The Sobha Academy, Panniyankara

Hotels

Hotels like Diana, Aryaas are used by tourists. Others are Arathi, New Light, Hotel Thoufeeq, Goodlands, Swami's Vegetable Mess, Sreerama Hotel (one of the oldest hotels in Vadakkencherry), Sivasakthi, Royal, Manoj Teastall, Venkiteswara, Hotel Vishnu, Grace Hotel, Azdha hotel and bakery, Mayoga

Agriculture

Vadakkencherry is rich in agriculture with paddy, coconut, rubber along with vegetables spread across. The Vadakkencherry Pada Samithi produces organic Palakkadan Matta rice. Also, high quality ponni is grown in the area of this samithi as second crop. Rubber plantation, of an individual, in Alathur Taluk was at Chekkeny, about 2 kilometres from Vadakkencherry town.

Banks

The banks in VDY are State Bank of Travancore, State Bank of India, Federal Bank, Dhanlaxmi Bank, Bank of Baroda, Centurion Bank of Punjab, Palakkad Co-Operative Bank, HDFC Bank, Union Bank of India, Indian Bank, South Indian Bank, South Malabar Gramin Bank, Canara Bank, ICICI Bank

Festivals

Ekadesi Vilakku

• The Navaratri is celebrated in Vadakkencherry village. The festivities extend to a total duration of 12 days, which includes the Dasami (10th Day) and the Ekadasi (11th Day), with festivities peaking on Ekadasi day in a grand celebration. The Navaratri starts with the hoisting of the celebratory flag of the deity on the Kodimaram (flag staff) to indicate the start of festivities. During the first 10 days, a caparisoned elephant carrying the image of the village's presiding deity Lakshminarayana Perumal comes in a procession visiting the entire village. Nivediam is offered to the Lord by every house in the village. The Alwar (Vaishnavite priest), who specifically makes it to Vadakkencherry from Tanjore a.k.a. Thanjavur from where he hails and who is part of the procession, performs the Nivediam ritual. The procession is accompanied by a small group of traditional music players playing the Chenda and accompaniments. The procession is performed twice in a day, once in the morning and once more in the evening.
• Each of the 9 days of the Navaratri festival, as well as the 10th day, is owned by a set of houses within the village. This age-old tradition ensures participation from the village residents while at the same time keeping the bonhomie and the societal obligations going year after year. The day is ended with distribution of the prasadam, a sweet delicacy made of pulses. While this is the default and compulsory sweet delicacy, prepared by the families who carry the responsibility of owning the day, many families also add to this default delicacy with other sweet dishes as well. Post the evening procession, some traditional musical renderings are also organised. This, though, is not a compulsory requirement and is again sponsored by individual families based on their will and wish.
• The Ekadasi day is the grandest of the festival days and is called 'Ekadasi Velakku'. The celebrations start in the morning. The Thadambu is hoisted onto a caparisoned elephant. This elephant is joined by two other caparisoned elephants on either side. Usually, the grandest of the 3 elephants is chosen to carry the Thadambu. The Nadaswaram accompanies the hoisting of the Thadambu. Once hoisted, the Panchavadhyam takes over as the Deva Vadhyam. A full company of Panchavadhyam players are used here. After playing the initial round inside the temple main hall, the procession meanders along the main village road, occasionally stopping at various points along the route and entertaining the onlookers. The Nagasahayam and the Devi (Mariamma) temple are also visited and on the return route reaches the Vinayaka temple. The Nivediam is performed at all the houses en route just like the earlier 10 days. The Panchavadhyam finale is played at the hall in the Vinayaka temple, ending with a Kalasham. The ending of the Panchavadhyam acts as a signal to the Chenda players to start their performance. The Chenda melam is initially played in the Pandi Melam style, which is an Asura Vadhyam style of playing. The procession returns to the Lakshminarayana Perumal temple. Once the procession reaches the temple main hall, the Chenda players transition the music into the Panchari Melam style. The finale is played in the main hall and the procession comes to a close with the Thadambu being brought down from the caparisoned elephant.
• The procession and the music, along with the Neivadiam is repeated in the late afternoon. This return path of the procession originally had the Para offerings being made to the Lord. In recent years, this has been moved to the main hall at the Lakshminarayana Perumal temple for convenience and time management reasons. The Para offerings involve filling up Para with rice grain, money, bananas, jaggery and other such standard offerings, and emptying the contents in front of the Lord on the elephant as an offering to the presiding deity, who, it is believed, is coming in a procession to get a first-hand view of the prosperity of His subjects.
• The same procession and the music, is repeated approximately a couple of hours post midnight for a third procession. This, though, is completed quickly and the Panchari melam finale is played at the Lakshminarayana Perumal temple main hall. Amidst vedic chanting, the Thadambu of the Lord is brought down and the temple opens for the day.
• The 12th day has a short ritual with the idol of the Lord taken for a traditional bath. The hurried procession happens on an elephant, minus any decorations, the idol being held by the temple priest on the shoulders of the elephant. All the village subjects mix turmeric with water in containers and splash the mix onto the idol which is taken to the pond in nearby Thiruvara. Once taken back to the Lakshminarayana Perumal temple a special Thadambu of the Lord is hoisted onto the shoulders of a caparisoned elephant and a procession of the village is done again. Once the procession is completed, the idol of the Lord in the Lakshminarayana Perumal temple is bathed with sandalwood paste, the process called Kalabham. Food is prepared for a feast for the village and this food is first offered to the Lord as a Nivediam, post which the feast opens up for the village members. The flag mast being brought down signifies the end of the festival and is performed before the start of the feast.
• Vadakkencherry is also home to various other festivals. The famous 'Vela' (festival) are Ganapathy Sahayam, Naga Sahayam, Kodikkattukaavu, Namboothiri Mutthan, Mangottu Mutthi, karappotta vela, padinjamuri koodal manikyam vela The Committees of these temples are conducting programmes very well. Naga Sahayam Ganapathi Sahayam vela falls on April 17 every year.
• 'Shree Palliyarakkavu Bhagavathi Thalappoli' (Cherukannambra): This festival is celebrated in the month of Malayalam (Dhanu 10) which sometimes falls on December 24 or 25 of every year. i.e. the last day of Mandalam. Mandalam 1 onwards for the next 41 days there will be Dhaarika vadham Kalamezuthum Pattum and the 41st day the Thaalappoli is celebrated in a grand way. Caparisoned elephant along with the deity is taken out through the village in morning and evening with Panchvadyam and Pandimelam. There will be programmes during the night inside the Temple compound and by 2 o'clock girls take Thaalams along with the caparisoned elephants and Panchavaadyam troops.

SREE GANAPATHI SAHAYAM - SREE NAGA SAHAYAM ULSAVAGOSHAM

• Ganapathy Sahayam & Naga Sahayam Vela is one of the most popular competition festival in Palakkad dt. Vela falls on April 17 every year (medam 4th). Each temple features a set of 5 elephants and Panchavadyam led by the prominent panchavadyam musicians in Kerala (the likes of Pallavur Kunjikuttan marar, Pallavur Appu Marar, Cherupullaserry Sivan, Parakkadu Thangappan, Thiruvillamala hari and lot others has been part of this festival). Main attraction of this vela's are Kuda-Mattom (as that of Thrissur Pooram) (by evening), Vedikettu (Fireworks) & Ganamela by night. Chamaya-Pradarsanam (Exhibition of the elephant's decorations) and Thayambaka which happens on 16 April (the day before Vela). Other attractions are a multi-storied Panthal with illumination, Thayambaka, Eddu (A special kind of firework done to announce the beginning of the festival). It is also referred to as Vadakkencherry Pooram.
• THIRUVARA NIRAMALA

Land

Vadakkencherry is lush with greenery, and 10 km inside one can really enjoy the thick forestry on the eastern side.

Tourist attractions

Vadakkencherry is a starting point of a huge hill region. In Malayalam language, 'cherry' means a place which lies under hills. Here, places like Mangalam Dam, Palakkuzhi, Odemthode are the kind of places where the beauty of nature is very near to us. We can see the harmonious culture in Vadakkencherry in every corner of the village. The famous Nelliampathi, Kunjiarpathy (near to Odemthode-Mangalam dam) hills are located close to this town. Pothundi dam is another attraction. This dam has been created with mud and rocks. It is on the way to Nelliampathi. For Sabarimala pilgrims, this town is a short time resting place. Many of the traditional food items of Kerala are supplied and became famous from here. Though the town and the nearby area are fast developing, you can see the beauty of the river, green fields and forests everywhere.

External links

• Vadakkencherry Gramam
• Satellite image of Vadakkencherry