Kizhakkekallada

Sree Durgadevi Temple

Chittumala Ultsavam(In Malayalam)--A Religious Festival .

Kizhakkekallada
village
Coordinates: 9°01′03″N 76°39′03″E / 9.0174100°N 76.650880°ECoordinates: 9°01′03″N 76°39′03″E / 9.0174100°N 76.650880°E
Country	India
State	Kerala
District	Kollam
Area
• Total	13.2 km^2 (5.1 sq mi)
Population (2001)
• Total	22,046
• Density	1,700/km^2 (4,300/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Malayalam, English
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	691502
Telephone code	91474-258XXXX
Vehicle registration	KL-2?? XXXX
Nearest city	Kollam
Sex ratio	1078 ♂/♀
Lok Sabha constituency	Mavelikkara
Vidhan Sabha constituency	Kunnathur

Kizhakkekallada is a village in Kollam district in the state of Kerala, India.^[1] East Kallada or popularly known as Kizhakkekallada is a village located about 20 km north-east of Kollam city.

Location

East Kallada is bounded by Kallada River in the west and north and Ashtamudi backwater in the south.

History

It is believed that the old port 'Nelkynda' mentioned by Periplus of the Erythraean Sea is Kallada or its nearby place.^[2] Periplus describes:

... Nelcynda is distant from Muziris by river and sea about five hundred stadia, and is of another Kingdom, the Pandian. This place also is situated on a river, about one hundred and twenty stadia from the sea.. ^[3]

Travancore kingdom

East Kallada is also a part of Travancore history. In 1730 Unni Keralavarma of Desinganadu invaded East Kallada, that was part of Venad at that time. Marthanda Varma immediately attacked Desinganad and added East Kallada to Venad. Thus He started the expansion of Travancore and later invaded lot of small countries from north.^[4]

Buddhist culture

It is believed that centuries ago this village was a flourishing center of a Buddhist culture. The customs and architecture of old temples in this area support the fact that they could possibly have been buddhist vihars in their initial days.^[5] Eduppukuthira ( Huge chariots associated with the festival of Sree durga devi temple ) itself has got strong association with buddhist customs and practices.The strong presence of Ezhava community in this area is a strong evidence supporting the existence of buddhism.^[5] A Buddha statue which is 3 feet long and made of marble was excavated more by accident in 1978 from near the Siva temple Sinkarapalli(The "palli" suffix, which was common usage in Pali, the language of Theravada Buddhism). Later in 1984 the same statue was placed at Siva temple, Koduvila. But unfortunately it had been stolen.^[5]

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Kizhakkekallada had a population of 22046 with 10607 males and 11439 females.^[1] The density of population was 1670 persons per square kilo meter. The sex ratio (the number of females per 1000 males) was 1078 during the census year of 2001.Males constitute 48% of the population and females 52%.

Places of worship

Chittumala Sree Durga Devi temple^[6] is the most important place of worship in this area among Hindus. The temple situated at Chittumala, a beautiful hill top, is devoted to Sree Durga Devi.Chittumala Ultsavam(in Malayalam), a festival associated with this temple is famous for its huge chariots which is carried by devotees up to the temple at the hill top.

Other important temples are Sree Mahadevar Temple Koduvila, Sree Krishna temple Marthandapuram, Sree Mahavishnu temple Marthandapuram and Sree Mahavishnu temple Veranoor. The incomplete inscription in the veranoor temple in Tamil and Vatteluttu is identified and mentioned by the Archaeological Survey of India.^[7]

The important famous Christian church is St.Francis Xavier Church(Roman Catholic-latin rite),Koduvila, St.Antony's Church, Thekkemury,St.Alphonsa Chappel,Sinkarappally,St.Elijah Orthodx church,Koduvila,St. Mary's Orthodox church, West Kallada (Kallada Valiya pally). Other important church is St. George Orthodox church, East Kallada.

Education

The important schools are

• C.V.K.M Higher Secondary School, Chittumala (Govt. Aided)
• KPSPM Vocational Higher Secondary School, Nilamel (Govt. Aided)
• MM Higher Secondary School, Uppodu (Govt. Aided)
• MCEM Higher Secondary School, Mathilakom
• ST.Joseph International School, Chittumala (CBSE).
• PMNM Upper Primary School, Nilamel (Govt. Aided)
• Govt. Lower Primary School, Market Jn.
• Govt. Lower Primary School(Rural), Koduvila
• Bishop Jerome Memmorial English Medium School, Near St.Antonys Church, Thekke Muri
• St.Francis Upper Primary School,Koduvila

Hospitals

• Primary Health Centre, Chothiram, Chittumala; Phone: [phone]
• Govt. Ayurvedic Dispensary, Parayil Mukku, Chittumala East
• Aykara Ayurvedic Hospital and Pharmaceuticals, Nilamel
• Govt Veterinary Hospital, Market Jn.
• Upahara Matha Hospital,Koduvila

Law and Order

• Police Station, Chothiram, Chittumala; Phone: [phone]

Banks

• State Bank of Travancore, Market Jn; Phone:[phone]
• Federal Bank, Market Jn.
• The South Co-operative Bank, Chittumala; Phone:[phone]
• Kollam District Co-operative Bank, Chittumala; Phone:[phone]
• East Kallada Co-operative Bank, Market Jn

Other Government Offices

• East Kallada Panchayat Office, Market Jn.; Phone: [phone]
• Village Office, Market Jn.; Phone: [phone]
• Block Development Office, Chittumala; Phone: [phone]
• Agriculture Development Office, Chittumala
• KSEB Office, Market Jn.; Phone: [phone]
• BSNL Office, Market Jn.; Phone: [phone]
• Post Office, Market Jn.; Phone: [phone]
• KSFE, Market Jn

Prominent People

• Olympian Suresh Babu(1953-2011)
• D Vinayachandran (Poet)
• Robinson Soloman,New Delhi
• Anil S Anand

References

1. "Census of India : Villages with population 5000 & above". Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 2008-12-10.
2. Lists of the Antiquarian Remains in the Presidency of Madras By Robert Sewell, Page 257
3. "Ancient History Sourcebook-translation, Section=54". Periplus. Retrieved 2009-05-03.
4. Journal of Indian History By University of Kerala Dept. of History, University of Kerala, Page 432
5. East Kallada Gramapanchayath Development Report 1997-1998, Page 6&7
6. Website of the temple"Chittumal Sree Durga Devi Temple".
7. Indian archaeology, a review by Archaeological Survey of India, Page 69