Keekozhur also spelt as Keekozhoor is a small village on the side of Pamba River, situated 4 km from Ranni and 9 km from

Kozhencherry Kozhencherry ( ml, കോഴഞ്ചേരി) is a census town in Pathanamthitta district of Central Travancore region (South Central Kerala) in Kerala state, India. census, the population was 433,357 people in 92,825 households. History Koz ...

. It is in the state 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 ...

, India. It is 15 km from the

Pathanamthitta district Pathanamthitta District (), is one of the 14 districts in the Indian state of Kerala. The district headquarters is in the town of Pathanamthitta. There are four municipalities in Pathanamthitta: Adoor, Pandalam, Pathanamthitta and Thiru ...

headquarters. This village is under Ranny and Cherukole Panchayats.

Community life

A hamlet on the bank of River Pamba en route to "Sabarimala", Keekozhur is renowned for its communal harmony, co-operation and social equality. The residents of the village are committed to help each other, emphasizing the principle of "self-help through mutual help". The village possess ancient cultural heritage; Keekozhoor is closely bound to ARANMULA cultural heritage. Keekozhur-Vayalathala Palliyodam is a strong participant in Aranmula Vallamkali (boat race) from its beginning itself. Folklore temple arts like Padayani and Mudiyttu are performing every year in the ancient Bhadrakali temple @keekozhur during Ulsavam named Pooram there during (Kumbha maasam M.E) Feb_March

Education

Keekozhoor has a Government High School and a Government Lower Primary School Mar Thoma Lower Primary School at the Eastern Part and a Noel Memorial Upper Primary School under the management of the Brothern Church. Keekozhoor has one of the first libraries. The Library and Reading room in Keekozhoor provided opportunity for the people to get good books and created in them a habit of reading. The Noel Memorial Upper Primary School is one of the first educational institutions in the neighboring areas. Though it had the potential of becoming a high school, it still remains as an Upper Primary School.

Demographics

The majority of the people of Keekozhoor belongs to the Christian Community. Major Churches are Indian Pentecostal Church, Full Gospel Church of God, Brethren Church, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, Mar Thoma, Evangelical Church, Malankara Catholic Church and Salvation Army.

Temples

The town also has a Hindu Temple. The Hindu Temple called Cheruvallikavu Bhagavathi Temple is an old institution where Goddess

Bhadrakali Bhadrakali ( IAST: Bhadrakālī; ), also known as Mahakali and Kali, is a Hindu goddess. According to Shaktism, she is one of the fierce forms of the Supreme Goddess Shakti, or Adi Parashakti, mentioned in the Devi Mahatmyam. In Vais ...

is the main deity...and this temple has heritage of more than 800 years.

Missionary work

Many years ago two devoted Christians, Pottakulathu Abraham Thomas (Pappy) and Karamvelimannil Daniel (Danichan) from Keekozhoor traveled to Malayalapuzha and began a Christian Missionary work. Later Elangical Philip Upadeshi joined them. They found a place in the then forest of Malayalapuzha and that is the present Malayalapuzha Mission field of the Mar Thoma Church. Pastor P.T. Abraham, Pottakulathu left home and served as the Pastor of Ceylon Pentecostal Churches in North India. He served the churches in Pune, Madras, Kohima, Delhi and Jullander. He authored many books.

References