Elavumthitta is a village in the Pathanamthitta district of Kerala, India. It is known for its rich cultural and historical background. The village has a tradition of community efforts, including the establishment of the Janatha Library and Reading Room in Muttathukonam. This library, along with a radio funded through a local lottery, has played a significant role in local culture.
Elavumthitta is also known for its association with Muloor S. Padmanabha Panicker, a notable poet and social reformer who contributed to education and social development in the area. The village celebrates the Aswathy festival annually, and the historical cattle market has been a central economic activity for over a century.
The village has made strides in education and infrastructure, with institutions like S.N. Giri S.N.D.P. Higher Secondary School and S.N.D.P. Higher Secondary School, and improvements in roads such as the Thumpamon–Thekkemala Road and T.K. Kunjumman Road. Elavumthitta is also home to various temples, churches, and community centers, reflecting its diverse cultural and religious life.
Mooloor Panicker The name Elavumthitta is closely associated with Muloor S. Padmanabha Panicker. While many outside Elavumthitta may know him primarily as a notable poet, his impact extends far beyond literature. Mooloor challenged the elitist literary circles of his time, who often dismissed his work and questioned his right to contribute to literature based on his caste. Undeterred, Mooloor, inspired by Sree Narayana Guru, continued his literary and social reforms. His efforts led to significant improvements in Elavumthitta, including advancements in education, infrastructure, and social equality. Nominated to the Sreemulam Prajasabha in 1914 by the Maharaja of Travancore, he worked tirelessly for social justice and development, including the establishment of educational institutions and the shaping of local markets and roads. Mooloor's legacy endures through a memorial built by the Government of Kerala in 1989, which serves as a reminder of his contributions and a place of reverence for literary and educational milestones. The memorial, visited by many annually on Vijayadasami Day, symbolizes his enduring influence and the importance of remembering his contributions to both literature and societal progress.
Aswathy The most significant annual festival for the people of Elavumthitta is the Aswathy celebration, held in the Malayalam month of Meenam. While Onam is widely celebrated across Kerala, Aswathy is a unique and eagerly anticipated event specifically for Elavumthitta. Children look forward to this festival, saving up their small allowances to spend on the fair. The local cashew harvest adds to the excitement, as the proceeds from selling cashew nuts contribute to the festival experience.
The celebration centers around the Malanada worship site, where the annual festivities honor the deity of the hills. A highlight of the event is the colorful pageantry, featuring large, multicolored oxen figures mounted on wooden platforms and paraded through the streets by enthusiastic locals. The scene is filled with the sounds of percussion instruments and the buzz of the crowd, creating a vibrant atmosphere.
Vendors set up makeshift stalls selling a variety of goods, from colorful glass bangles to balloons and toy bugles. As night falls, the fairgrounds are illuminated by kerosene lamps, casting a warm glow over the festivities. Children, reluctant to leave, are often dragged away by their parents as the crowd disperses. The fair is not only a time for celebration but also a venue for resolving local disputes and showcasing rural arts, culminating in a night of folk performances and fireworks.
Cattle market Elavumthitta market, locally known as Elavumthitta Chandha (ഇലവുംതിട്ട ചന്ത), celebrated its 100th anniversary in September 2009. A notable landmark in the center of Elavumthitta is a large banyan tree, whose exact age is unknown but is estimated to be over eight hundred years old. This tree has long been a silent witness to the market’s history, providing shade to travelers and observing political events and speeches given by politicians who occasionally use its platform.
The market was once renowned for cattle trading, attracting traders from distant places like Thiruvananthapuram. The ninth day of each Malayalam month was dedicated to cattle trading, with traders arriving a day or two early to secure good positions. Limited space and narrow roads meant that traders would sometimes set up in adjacent vacant lands, either free or for a small fee. Local entrepreneurs would rent out spaces for tying cattle, and tea shops would operate around the clock to cater to the busy crowd. The market day was noisy and chaotic, filled with bargaining, the cries of animals, and the pervasive smell of dung and urine. The cattle market is now held twice a month, on the 9th and 22nd of each Malayalam month, but its significance has diminished compared to earlier days.
Weekly market In Elavumthitta, market days are held every Wednesday and Saturday. Historically, the local economy was based on agriculture, with no rubber plantations at the time. The area was known for cultivating a variety of crops, including paddy, coconut, cashew, tapioca, pepper, and various fruits and vegetables. The market served not only as a place for buying and selling goods but also as a social hub where people gathered to chat and catch up. Market days were integral to the local rhythm, influencing the scheduling of important tasks and fostering social connections that often led to marriages.
Fish and tapioca were staple foods, and the fish market was particularly significant. Vendors would bring fish from distant coastal areas, transporting them in baskets on bicycles. The market, which peaked around 11:00 a.m. and continued until late afternoon, was a lively scene where people inquired about the day’s fish offerings. Sardines were especially popular and affordable, sometimes selling as cheaply as fifty for 4 annas (about 25 paisa today).
Coconut palms were abundant, and trading coconuts was a major economic activity. On market days, large quantities of coconuts and coconut husks were traded, with husks being sent to other parts of Kerala for coir production. Today, rubber is the main cash crop, with even small landholders maintaining a few rubber trees for income. Seasonal crops like cashew and pepper also had established markets. The weekly market was an open-air affair where a wide range of goods, from clay pots to bamboo baskets, were displayed and sold.
Sivagiri pilgrimage
The Sivagiri pilgrimage, or Sivagiri Teerthadanam, began in 1932 in Elavumthitta. The initial pilgrims included P.K. Divakara Panicker, P.K. Kesavan, P.V. Raghavan, M.K. Raghavan, and S. Sankunni, all of whom were from Elavumthitta.
Mooloor S. Padmanābha Panicker Mooloor S. Padmanābha Panicker, also known as Sarasa Kavi Mooloor, was a distinguished poet and social reformer from Travancore. Born in 1869 at Panayannaarkavu near Mannar in Central Travancore, he named his home in Elavumthitta Kerala Varma Soudham in honor of his close friend, Kerala Varma Valiyakoyi Thampuran.
Mooloor Smarakom In 1989, the State Government renamed Kerala Varma Soudham as Sarasa Kavi Mooloor Smarakam. Managed by the State Department of Culture, this monument is dedicated to educating the public about Mooloor’s significant contributions to literature and social reform, and preserving his legacy.
Ezhuthiniruthu Mooloor Smarakam is also well-known for hosting Ezhuthiniruthu, a special ceremony held on Vijayadasami where children are introduced to the world of letters. This annual event features prominent personalities and is celebrated at Mooloor Smarakam.
Thumpamon–Thekkemala road
Elavumthitta gets government bus service in 1957 There was a time when the people of Elavumthitta relied solely on walking to travel outside their village, whether for medical help, school, or college. Distances were measured in "nazhika," roughly equivalent to one mile. Students often walked 30 km to Thiruvalla for college and then back home in the evening, a grueling task.
Connecting Elavumthitta to other places by public transport was challenging. The road from Ambalakadavu Junction in Thumpamon to Elavumthitta was very narrow and mostly a cart track in the 1950s. The nearest bus was at Thekkemala Junction near Kozhencherry.
In the early 1950s, bridges were constructed near Punnakkad on the Thekkemala-Elavumthitta road, and additional bridges and culverts were built south of Elavumthitta near Ramanchira. The roadwork included heavy filling in paddy fields, managed by contractor Mr. M.G. George of Mannil, Nellanikunnu. In 1954, a private bus service called "DAILY EXPRESS" began operating from Kallisseri to Omalloor.
The push for a government transport bus service gained momentum with the newly elected government. Kambisseril Sankaran Vaidyan, then president of Mezhuveli Panchayat, used his influence to secure a bus route from the Transport Minister M.N. Govindan Nair. The condition for this was that the local road needed to be made motorable. Government officials surveyed the route and recommended road improvements, which were to be carried out by the local community at their own expense.
Sankaran Vaidyan organized volunteers to work on the road, but faced resistance from a landowner near Ramanchira, who sought a court stay and police protection. Despite the landowner's objections, hundreds of locals with tools and determination gathered to start the work. When a police inspector arrived to halt the effort, Vaidyan offered him a cigarette and encouraged the workers to continue. The collective effort and determination of the people led to the fulfillment of their long-awaited dream: a public transport bus service for Elavumthitta.
T.K. Kunjumman road In 1948, Adv. V.K. Varghese, a CSI church member and MLA of Pathanamthitta, highlighted the urgent need for a motorable road from Elavumthitta to Omalloor to the PWD authorities. Thekkethil Sri. Kunjumman led the initiative to widen the road and establish bus service in the area. As Panchayat President of Chenneerkkara for several terms, Kunjumman also played a key role in securing a Primary Health Centre for Elavumthitta. Sri. Kuzhimannil K.C. Kurien donated the land for this health centre.
Additionally, the need for a veterinary hospital became evident as the local population, primarily agricultural farmers, kept many cattle. Under Kunjumman's leadership, the community successfully lobbied for a veterinary hospital, which began operations in 1960 thanks to land donated by Vadakkedethu Sri. V.T. Chaco. In recognition of Kunjumman’s significant contributions, the government named the Elavumthitta–Omalloor road "T.K. Kunjumman Road."
Arts and sports
Azad Arts and sports club In earlier days, the people of Elavumthitta had little entertainment beyond the annual "Aswathi Maholsavam" festival. Cinema halls were 10 to 20 km away, and there was no reliable bus service to get there and back. Some adventurous locals would make the trek to Pathanamthitta, Pandalam, Kozhencherry, or Chengannur to watch popular films, often sneaking back home under the cover of night to avoid the disapproval of their elders. In those times, it was common for anyone to chastise the youth, and this often had the tacit approval of parents.