Edavilangu
Grama Panchayat

Historical and Cultural Profile of Edavilangu Grama Panchayat

The eastern parts of Edavilangu were known in earlier times by the place name Pathinettarayalam. Historical records suggest that the region acquired this name because, in ancient times, it was home to nearly eighteen and a half poets who were highly renowned in their period. During the time of the great poet Kunjikkuttan Thampuran, the influence of Kodungallur, which was a prominent centre of literature, arts and culture, also spread to this village.

The place known as Kaara, situated in the western part of the Panchayat, is said to evoke the idea of a prison. The Malayalam word Kaara also carries a similar meaning. The north-western part of the village is known as Kathiyalam. The word Alam may be interpreted as meaning a salt-producing area or simply a place. If the word Kathi is considered to be a derivative of the Arabic word Qadi, meaning a prisoner, Kathiyalam could have been a place where prisoners once lived. In Silappadikaram, the name Kavadi is associated with the chief minister of the Chera kings. If the present place name evolved from Kavadiyala through changes in pronunciation, it could also mean a place associated with this minister or the place where he resided.

Before the implementation of the Land Reforms Act, the traditional landlord–tenant system prevailed in Edavilangu. After the Act came into force, tenants received ownership of the land, bringing about revolutionary changes in the agrarian system. However, within a relatively short period, the agricultural sector lost its stability, and agricultural land became increasingly fragmented.

During the summer season, when paddy cultivation was undertaken, various vegetables were cultivated as intercrops. Cowpea, cucumber, pumpkin, watermelon, ash gourd and ridge gourd were among the major vegetable crops. Today, such cultivation has almost completely disappeared. A highly reputed variety of paddy known as Kodungallur Mundakan was once cultivated here.

The Panchayat is predominantly a flat region. The coastal areas consist mainly of sandy soil, while other parts have alluvial and clayey soils. Coconut and arecanut are the major crops. Paddy cultivation has now been reduced to a nominal level and is confined to approximately 5 hectares.

Until around 1960, the village resounded with the rhythmic songs of rural women planting seedlings and weeding the paddy fields to the tunes of Njattupattu and Vadakkanpattu. The festive atmosphere of the villagers during the harvest season has also gradually become a memory of the past.

This small village, situated along the Arabian Sea, has a long tradition of fishing and coir-related occupations among its coastal population. More than 700 fishermen are engaged in fishing. At one time, the coir industry was the principal occupation of the area.

Palm-leaf mat weaving is one of the largest traditional occupational sectors in Edavilangu, providing employment to a large number of women. Nadavaramba Market, located within the Panchayat, was once one of the largest mat markets in Kerala. The coir produced here was traditionally exported to Kochi. With the introduction of mechanised production systems, the traditional hand-spinning of coir faced severe challenges, resulting in the loss of employment for many women.

Edavilangu was once one of the most prominent centres of mat weaving in the region. The Panchayat was also one of the most important centres for the collection of copra in Thrissur District. Oil extraction was another flourishing traditional industry. Traditionally produced coconut oil, sesame oil and oil-cake were readily available from local wooden oil mills.

Initially, Edavilangu Panchayat was part of Mukundapuram Taluk. Following the taluk reorganisation carried out in 1956, Edavilangu was incorporated into Kodungallur Taluk.

In earlier times, the area extending from the present location of Thiruvanchikulam Temple to the riverbank was also included within Edavilangu Panchayat. Since the temple was under the Cochin Devaswom, it had no administrative connection with the temples under the Kodungallur royal family. A Kovilakam was constructed at the site where the present Village Office stands, primarily as a residence for members of the Cochin royal family.

Edavilangu is the smallest village in Kodungallur Taluk, but its educational history dates back more than a century. In earlier times, Kudippallikkoodams operated in different parts of the village under the guidance of traditional village teachers known as Nattashans. As a result, several people in the village acquired considerable scholarship in Sanskrit. Many individuals were also proficient in traditional medicine, toxicology, veterinary medicine, carpentry, astrology and related traditional disciplines.

In 1895, the Pathinettarayalam Lower Primary School was established on government-owned land in the Pathinettarayalam area. This Lower Primary School, established more than a century ago, was upgraded to Edavilangu Government High School in 1964.

As the school was located towards the eastern part of the village, children from the coastal areas had to walk nearly two and a half kilometres to attend school, which was difficult at that time. To address this problem, a private Lower Primary School named Kara St. Alban School was established in the coastal area in 1903.

An English Primary School with classes up to the fifth standard was started at Kathiyalam in 1931. This institution later became the present Government Fisheries Lower Primary School, where education up to the fifth standard continues to be provided.

Around twenty cultural organisations are active in the Panchayat. In earlier times, stage drama was a regular activity among the youth of the village. The Panchayat also has a well-established library containing approximately 6,000 books.

The national movement did not create any major political or social upheaval in the Panchayat. However, the Land Reforms Act enabled many landless hutment dwellers in the Panchayat to obtain land, bringing significant changes to their social and economic conditions.

The Deepavali Mahotsavam held at Vaakkadappuram in Kaara on the new moon day of the Malayalam month of Thulam is regarded as a major traditional festival of the coastal region. Large numbers of people visit Vaakkadappuram on this day to perform ancestral rituals. Numerous traders also gather there, and people from different castes and religions participate in the celebrations. Cultural conferences, artistic performances and various other programmes are organised as part of the festival.

Another important feature of this seashore is its traditional connection with the Bharani festival at the Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple. From ancient times, during the Revathi, Iravathi and Aswathi days of the Malayalam month of Meenam, tens of thousands of devotees travelling to the Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple would walk through the Kothaparambu–Kaara road, reach Vaakkadappuram, bathe in the sea and then return enthusiastically to the temple. This was once a memorable sight for the people of Edavilangu.

Traditional folk arts have gradually been disappearing. Onappattu, Thiruvathira, Maassukali and Kottavarukali have now largely become memories of the past. Oonjalpattu, traditionally sung on Thiruvathira mornings during the month of Dhanu, and Aivar Kali, characterised by rhythmic clapping, energetic movements and vibrant performances, were once distinctive traditional art forms of Edavilangu.

The major places of worship in the Panchayat include the ancient Christian church at Kaara, the Jumamasjid at Kathiyalam, the centuries-old Sreekrishnapuram Siva Temple to the east of Kunjayini, and the Kaara Church.

The Panchayat is predominantly a flat, sandy coastal region. Historical accounts indicate that the area once had a landscape consisting largely of paddy fields and low-lying plains. According to local elders, approximately 125 years ago, the seashore was nearly one kilometre farther to the west. Following a severe sea surge, the sea reportedly advanced eastward, submerging nearly one kilometre of land and converting it into a coastal marine area. The recurring sea erosion and rough sea conditions have historically caused considerable hardship and anxiety among the coastal population.

In earlier times, scientific methods of fishing were virtually unknown. Certain families had traditionally depended on fishing as their permanent occupation. Those who did not own boats and fishing nets had to work under boat owners on a contract basis.

The principal mode of transportation in the Panchayat is road transport. The first bus service through the Kaara–Kothaparambu route began on 1 September 1959. It was operated under the name F.M.S. Bus Service. At that time, buses travelled along laterite roads.

The major transportation route through the Panchayat runs from Kothaparambu through Kaara to Azhikode and via the College Road, providing an important road connection for the people of the region.

Edavilangu, with its rich historical traditions, agricultural heritage, fishing and coir-based livelihoods, traditional mat weaving, diverse places of worship, folk arts and festivals, represents a distinctive blend of social, cultural and economic traditions that have evolved over centuries.