History of Grama Panchayat

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Amballoor Panchayat: Cultural and Socio-Economic Profile

This panchayat possesses a rich and extensive cultural background. Home to various places of worship, including temples, churches, and mosques, the panchayat is a place where people of different religious communities coexist in perfect harmony. As an agriculture-dominated region inhabited mostly by small-scale and medium-scale farmers and agricultural laborers, the culture of Amballoor Panchayat is one of tranquility and purity. This makes the interpretation of Amballoor as "Anpulla Ooru" (The Village of Compassion/Kindness) highly fitting.

Educational & Cultural Heritage

  • Early Literacy Movement: Informal educational activities began as early as the beginning of the century in connection with the Keecheri Library.

  • Historic Libraries: The libraries in Amballoor, Kanjiramattom, and Arayankavu boast a legacy of over half a century of service in this field. Notably, the Amballoor-Kanjiramattom Library is the largest library in the Kanayannur Taluk.

  • Cultural Reflection: The reflections of Kerala's general cultural roots are vividly visible in Amballoor Panchayat as well.

Social Harmony & Festivals

In this region, where different religious communities live together, communal harmony and tolerance have been reinforced through many significant historical moments. The local temple festivals and church feasts are shining examples of unity and social integration.

  • Temple Art & Rituals: The Garudan Thookkam rituals performed in connection with the festivals at Arayankavu and Koottekavu temples attract thousands of spectators. Traditional ritual arts like Mudiyettu and Koodiyattam, as well as temple arts like Kathakali and Ottanthullal, still survive here, though they are facing a decline.

  • Kanjiramattom Mosque: The renowned South Indian Muslim shrine, the Sheikh Fariduddin (R) Maqbara, is located at Kanjiramattom, the heart of this panchayat. Tens of thousands of pilgrims and believers from distant places arrive here for the Kodikuthu Chandanakuda festival, and the local residents participate whole-heartedly in this festival, transcending barriers of caste and religion. Similarly, the church feasts here are celebrated as secular, all-religious festivals.

Banking & Co-operative Sector

The panchayat has also made remarkable strides in the banking and co-operative sectors:

  • Commercial Banks: A branch of South Indian Bank operates in Kanjiramattom, and a branch of Union Bank operates in Arayankavu.

  • Co-operative Banking: The co-operative sector has witnessed a massive surge, with three Service Co-operative Banks and two of their branches functioning in the panchayat.

  • Production Societies:

    • Three Dairy Co-operative Societies operate across Arayankavu, Kanjiramattom, and Amballoor.

    • Two Handloom Weaving Co-operative Societies are active, one each in Kanjiramattom and Arayankavu.

    • Additionally, there is a Women’s Co-operative Society functioning in Kanjiramattom.