Kannur Navami

                                                                   

As I drive past the Kannur Navarathri Celebrations at the town Square, my mind took me back to the navarathri celebrations at Kannur in the late 70s. . For nine Days Kannur transforms into a mega stage for music and dance performances of different kinds.

Musicians and music lovers dash from one venue to the other to participate in concerts. High profile singers like Yesudas and SPB used to take part in concerts at Muneeshwaran Koil. Most of the shops in the Kannur Town will be decorated with bulbs and flickering lights, Kannur Muncipality used to give prizes for the best decorated establishments. By evening Pillayar Koil Road and Station Road will bent e blocked with people thronging from all sides to see the pomp and glory of the celebrations. Present day celebrations has lost its shine and fanfare.

Wondered how Kannur has so many koils with Tamil names in the heart of the town ie Pillayar Koil, Muneeshwaran Koil, Muthu Mariyamman Koil etc . It many be due to the huge influx of Tamilians as Railway employees when the railways started here in 1907 .. Any other reasons?