Institutional history
Socio-Cultural History
There is a port named Kallai in the panchayat from ancient times. It is at the mouth of the Mayyazhi river. In ancient times, small boats used to sail up to Kallai Chungam. Since exports and imports were carried out, there was a customs house there at that time. According to the 1887 census, an average of 16,966 tons of goods were handled at this port in Kollam. An average of 2,24,732 rupees worth of goods were imported and 82,728 rupees worth of goods were exported per year. An inscription found in the Chembra temple, believed to be dated A.D. 955, is evidence that Brahmins inhabited this area even a thousand years ago. This inscription was made jointly by Chembra village and Edannur Sabha. Edannur, which belonged to this panchayat, was a Brahmin village. Even before the French set foot in Mayyazhi, they had a Pandya in Kurichi, which belonged to New Mahi panchayat. Since this village was located between Mayyazhi, which was under the control of the French in the south, and Thalassery, which was under the control of the British, its history is associated with the victories and defeats of those two European powers. This panchayat is rich in temples and temples. The Parimatham Sree Durga Temple is a very ancient temple. The locals believe that this is one of the hundred and eight temples consecrated by Parasurama in Kerala. Every year on the day of Karthika in the month of Meenam, a flag hoisting ceremony is held in the temple and a grand Pooram festival is celebrated. A large number of people participate in the festival. Pallipram Vaniyarkandi Kulam is a famous temple here. Vasurimala Thampuratti Thira is very beautiful and attracts attention. The majority of the people here are Muslims. The first Muslim mosque in this panchayat was established in Peringadi. The present Peringadi Juma Masjid is the final resting place of the Sufi saint Syed Maulavi Bnuba Alavi on the top of the Kallapalli hill. Azhikkal Juma Masjid is another important Muslim mosque. Hindus and Christian families are next in number after Muslims. The Muslim places of worship in the panchayat are Kallilandi Muslim Church, Masjid Minar, Vayalakandi Church, Siddique Church, Peringadi Juma Mosque, Uppalakandi Church, Uppalathu Church, Kallapally, Angadipally, Madol Church, Edol Church, Edannur Juma Mosque, Salafi Mosque, Mohiuddin Church, Azheekal Juma Mosque, Mayalakkara Church, etc. Muslim women can also participate in worship in the Salafi Mosque and Peringadi Siddique Church. The main Hindu temples are Vaniyandi Kovilakam, Kariyad Math Temple, Mangottumkavu, Kanjiramullathil Bhagavathy Temple, Parimatham Sree Durga Kshetram, Varaprat Kavu, etc. Among these, the Parimatham temple is considered to be the most ancient. Cultural programs and ritual arts are performed here. There are five Sri Narayana Mathas in this panchayat. This land was known in history as Kurungottu Nadu. The rulers of this land were also known as Kurungottu Nair. The headquarters of Kurungottu Nadu was Kurichi. Kurichi got its name because it was an area with many hills. The word Kurichi means hilly area. Kurungottu Nair had a temple and a fort there. That fort was known as Kurichi Kotta. The border of Kurungottu Nair's kingdom stretched from Mayyazhipuzha in the south to Mylankunnu in the north. The southern part of the river was Mayyazhi, which was a French colony. A captain named Mahed Labor Donne captured Mayyazhi from the Vadakara rulers for the French. In 1694, the English built a fort and established a trading post in Thalassery. The English and the French, who were competing with each other for the supply of products such as pepper, ginger, and cardamom, clashed at Kurichi. After the war, Kurichi came under the control of the English. When the French rulers closed the toll gate and obstructed traffic, a road was built from Azhikkal to the New Mahi railway bridge to facilitate traffic.