Kavassery
Grama Panchayat

Historical records indicate that, several decades ago, the Alathur region was under the control of the Poomulli Mana, the Kavassery Nair family, and the Kochi Pandaram. The Kavassery Palace, which still stands behind the Panchayat Office, provides evidence of this history. A major portion of the land was under the ownership and control of these families.

The agricultural sector followed the traditional leasehold (pattam) system. As in other parts of Kerala, this region also witnessed organized struggles against the injustices and exploitation associated with this system. During the 1930s, farmers and agricultural labourers organized protests against the prevailing lease conditions. One of the prominent leaders of these agitations was Alathur R. Krishnan.

Historical records also indicate that strong movements were organized against the caste system that existed in the region. In the early 1920s, the influence of the Sree Narayana movement and the national movement, which had spread across Kerala, also reached this area. In the 1940s, Brahmananda Swami Sivayogi established an ashram at Alathur as part of the struggle against caste discrimination and untouchability. On the slopes of Veezhumala, the Sree Narayana Gurukula, established in 1968 under the leadership of Nataraja Guru, continues to function as a centre of learning even today.Kavassery is a land that had the privilege of hosting prominent leaders of the national movement, including Mahatma Gandhi, Babu Rajendra Prasad, Vinoba Bhave, and Jawaharlal Nehru.

In earlier times, this region was under the control of feudal landlords such as the Poomulli Mana and the Kavassery Nairs. Following the implementation of land reform laws, the land was transferred to the tenant farmers.It is believed that the name Kavassery originated from the name Parakkattukavu, the principal temple in the area, and refers to a settlement associated with sacred groves (kavukal).The entire region was under the rule of the Palakkad Raja, who was a subordinate of the samoothiri of Kozhikode. Even after the formation of Kerala, this area remained part of the erstwhile Madras State for some time. As a result, the people of the region continued their long-standing commercial ties with Tamil Nadu as well as their earlier family relationships across the border.

Various traditional festivals and cultural practices that were historically associated with different communities have gradually become common celebrations shared by people from all sections of society. These include Kathirutsavam, traditionally celebrated by the Harijans and indigenous communities such as the Malayars; Vela, traditionally conducted by the upper castes; and cultural traditions of Tamil origin such as Kumbham Kali and Pongal. Celebrations such as Thaipooyam and Nira Utsavam have also become part of the common festive culture of the region.

There was also a traditional practice of undertaking a pilgrimage journey on foot to the Palani Subramanya Temple.Several traditional art forms, including Purattu Natakam, Onathallu, Bharanippattu, Malamakkali, Pulluvan Pattu, and Thottam Pattu, have been popular in this region since ancient times. The principal traditional musical instruments associated with these rituals and art forms include Ezhava vadyam, Chenda, and Nadaswaram.If you want, I can also make this more polished and formal for a government website, Panchayat profile, tourism brochure, or historical document.