Chittilamchery (also known as Chittlancherry or Chittalancheri) () is a village in the

Palakkad Palakkad (), formerly known as Palghat, historically known as Palakkattussery is a city and municipality in the Indian state of Kerala. It is the administrative headquarters of the Palakkad District. Palakkad is most densely populated municipal ...

district of

Kerala Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South C ...

located in Vadakkanchery - Kollengode main road.It is under the administration of the

Melarcode Melarcode is a village and Gram Panchayat in Palakkad District, Kerala, South India. "Mayilattoor" was the former name of Melarcode ("Mayil" meaning Peafowl, peacock), probably due to the presence of many peacocks in the village. Melarcode ha ...

Panchayath The Panchayat raj is a political system, originating from the Indian subcontinent, found mainly in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. It is the oldest system of local government in the Indian subcontinent, and historical menti ...

in the

Alathur Alathur is a town, taluk and gram panchayat in Palakkad District, Kerala, India. It is the administrative headquarters of the Alathur Taluk and is situated about 24 km from the district headquarters Palakkad through National Highway 544. ...

Taluk A tehsil (, also known as tahsil, taluka, or taluk) is a local unit of administrative division in some countries of South Asia. It is a subdistrict of the area within a district including the designated populated place that serves as its administr ...

Etymology

The name is possibly derived from "Chuttilam Chery", which means a place surrounded by "

illam Illam (), also referred to as Mana, is the Malayalam word for the house of a Namboodiri Brahmin. In the traditional lineage system used for the classification and identification of homes based on the castes of Kerala, South India, an Illam ser ...

s" (houses of

Nambudiri The Nambudiri (), also transliterated as Nampoothiri, Nambūdiri, Namboodiri, Nampoothiri, and Nampūtiri, are a Malayali Brahmin caste, native to what is now the state of Kerala, India, where they constituted part of the traditional feudal e ...

s). Odiyamkadu in Chittlancherry which is now presently called Kodiyankadu was a place for the Odiyans who practised black magic during British regime. Womenfolk were advised not to venture out alone in the dark. With the British regime banning Odiyam cult or seva the tradition ceased to exist

History

The first school in Chittilamcherry was established in 1885 by Ramu Iyyer. 15 March 1965 saw the formation of the first Melarcode Panchayth presided over by T. N. Parameswaran.

Economy

Majority population of the village rely on agriculture as their primary source of income while minority rely on income earned from various field like banking, information technology, and business. Facilities, such as internet facilities, Akshaya Center and mobile tower communications are already developed. The village, located on the State Highway 58, is a crucial junction for commuters. More medical facilities are needed as villagers still need to depend on places like Coimbatore or Thrissur in case of medical emergencies The village comes under the Melarcode Panchayath, block office is at

Nemmara Nemmara is a town in Palakkad district, Kerala, India. It is administrated by the Nemmara Grama Panchayat. Nemmara is the entry point to the Nelliampathi hills, which are located at the foothills of Western Ghats. Demographics , according ...

and part of

Taluk.

Cinema

The 2019 film ''Manoharam'', starring

Vineeth Sreenivasan Vineeth Sreenivasan (born 1 October 1984) is an Indian playback singer, actor, film director, screenwriter, producer, lyricist, creative director and dubbing artist. He predominantly works in the Malayalam cinema. He is the son of actor an ...

was filmed at this location. The 2012 Film

Molly Aunty Rocks ''Molly Aunty Rocks!'' is a 2012 Malayalam film directed by Ranjith Sankar, starring Revathi in the title role along with Prithviraj. It has been released on 14 September 2012 to positive reviews from critics and audience alike. The positive ene ...

, starring

Prithviraj Prithviraj or Pruthviraj may refer to: Art and entertainment * ''Samrat Prithviraj'', a 2022 Indian Hindi film Mononym * Prithviraja I (r. c. 1090-1110), Indian king from the Shakambhari Chahamana dynasty * Prithviraja II (r. c. 1165-1169), Indi ...

was partially filmed at this location.

Education

Chittilamchery has a number of schools including MNKM Higher secondary school (founded in 1947), AUPS Chittilamchery, Muthukunni ALP School, and AUPS Melarcode, and NSS Lower Primary English Medium School.

Religion

Sree Cherunetturi Bhagavathi Temple, or Chittilamchery Kaavu, is located in the village. The presiding deity is Sri Cherunatturi Amma, or Sri Cherinattury Bhagavathy. The village is mostly Hindu, but also has Muslims and

Christians Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...

who actively participate in village activities such as Chittilamchery Vela, an annual event that takes place on the 28/29 April in honor of the presiding deity. Aarattu is also celebrated in the Sri Cherunatoori Bhagavathi Temple during a week at the end of January in which cultural programs, and devotional songs are presented. is also practiced within the temple premises. Other important temples are Swarganatha Temple, Arakunni Siva Temple and Tazhakottu

Kavu Kāvû is the traditional name given for sacred groves across the Malabar Coast in Kerala, South India. Kavus are notable for Theyyam, the centuries-old ritual dance. Snake Groves A Sarpa Kavu (meaning ''Abode of Snakes'') is a traditional n ...

Festivals

The Chittilamchery Vela is a type of

pooram Pooram pronounced is an annual festival, which is celebrated in temples dedicated to goddesses Durga or Kali held especially in Valluvanadu area and other adjoining parts of north-central Kerala (Present Palakkad, Thrissur, Kannur, Kas ...

, a religious festival that takes place every year. Vela is celebrated on 28 or 29 April, 15 days after

Vishu Vishu (Malayalam: വിഷു), the traditional Malayali New Year, is a Hindu festival celebrated in the Indian state of Kerala, Tulu Nadu region of Karnataka, and Mahe district. The festival marks the first day of Medam, the first month ...

, and it is hosted by Sri Cherunattury Temple. It features a multi-storied pandhal with illumination,

Panchavadyam Panchavadyam (Malayalam: പഞ്ചവാദ്യം), literally meaning an orchestra of five instruments, is basically a temple art form that has evolved in Kerala. Of the five instruments, four — timila, maddalam, ilathalam and idakk ...

, fireworks and stage shows (Gana mela). Chamaya-Pradarsanam xhibition of the elephant's decorationshappens at the nearest school auditorium on the day before the festival. Other festivals in the temple are ''Aarattu'' and ''Malama kali.''

Geography

Chittilamchery is a village containing several small ponds (including Aanaari kolam, Kakkatu kolam, Pathyila kolam, Choram kulam, Nochukulam, and Kappal Kulam) and surrounded by paddy fields. Chittilamchery paddy fields

Chittilamchery is located 4 kilometers from Nenmara, which is known for the ''Nenmara-Vallangi Vela'', and is 7 kilometers from Alathur Taluk. Its location, on the main road of the Pollachi–Thrissur bus route SH58, makes this village a busy junction. *Village: മേലാർകോട് (Melarcode) *Taluk: ആലത്തൂർ (Alathur) *Assembly Constituency: ആലത്തൂർ (Alathur) *Parliament Constituency: ആലത്തൂർ (Alathur) (Palakkad ��ാലക്കാട്before 2010) *No of Wards: 16 *Population: 23,706 *Male: 11,497 *Female: 12,209 *Population Density: 929 *Source: Census data 2001 ;Boundaries: *North: Alathur, Erimayur *East:

Pallassana Pallassena or Pallassana is a village and gram panchayat in the Palakkad District, state of Kerala, India. It is close to Kollengode Town and Koduvayur and beside the river Gayatri, one of the tributaries of Bharatapuza. It is primarily nota ...

*South:

Ayiloor Ayiloor, also known as Ayilur, Aylur, or Ayalur, is a village in the Chittur Thaluk of Palakkad district, state of Kerala, India. Ayiloor is located about 30 kilometers away from Palakkad town and 48 kilometers from Thrissur town. Administra ...

*West: Vandazhi,

Vadakkencherry Vadakkencherry is a town and gram panchayat in the Palakkad district, state of Kerala, India. It is located about 35 km from Palakkad along National Highway 544. Education * College of Applied Science, Vadakkencherry * St. Mary’s P ...

Distance from nearby towns and cities

Thrissur - 42.7 km Palakkad - 29.7 km Vadakkenchery - 9.4 km Alathur - 7.6 km Mudapallur - 3.8 km Thripallur - 6.2 km Nenmara - 5.6 km Kollengode - 18.1 km Govindapuram - 33.4 km

References

Villages in Palakkad district {{DEFAULTSORT:Chittilamcherry