The customers of Jawan Hotel near Paramekkav Temple in Thrissur city are now not only human but also turtles, the hotel closes at 7:30 pm As soon as the light comes, turtles will come in rows from the nearby temple pond. The salted flour, vada and pazampori placed on the ground outside the hotel will be eaten as much as needed. Now the flavor will return without straying.
CCTV four or five months ago. Santhosh, a resident of Thanikudam, a hotel owner, says that he saw the turtles coming at night. From the next day, they started putting food on the leaves and then between seven thirty and eight, the group of turtles started arriving. The number will vary from day to day. The hotel is 50 meters away from the temple pool. In the early days, turtles were afraid of people and light. Now that has changed. Many people come to see the arrival and feeding of the turtles. Santosh is a retired Indian Army. That is why this hotel is named Jawawan.
A day was observed for that daughter in recent times, but there is a rare temple in Kundamkuzhi in Kasaragod district where Melshanti Annanivedya is offered to turtles every day after noon pooja. There is a pond in the Sri Sokuth Bhagavathy temple here that is crowded with turtles. It is an ancient temple situated in the forest. The deity of this temple is Goddess Mahishasura Mardiniyaya. In the center of the turtle pond is the Kurmavatara idol. Located in Bedakam village in an area called Molothumkav, the temple is surrounded by lush greenery.
A little south of Kavi is the Turtle Pond, home to many turtles. Although it has not been possible to ascertain the exact number of turtles in the pond, the temple officials say that there will be around 500 turtles including babies. There are even hundred year old turtles in the pond. The main attraction of the devotees who come to the temple are these turtles and the turtle pond. Local people and believers have been taking care of turtles for centuries.
Every day after the midday puja, the turtles are fed rice offered by Shanti Muralikrishnan Namboothiri. Devotees offer offerings to the turtles after giving Melashanti. Tortoise offers rice as a prayer for the healing of diseases found on the skin of humans and animals. From the steps of the Mandapam, the devotees perform this famous ceremony called Amayut. It is believed that many people who have prayed have been cured of skin diseases. Those who have prayed come to the temple and offer offerings to the turtles after their illness is cured. The office secretary of the temple A. Gangadharan says. VK Janardhanan Banur is the chairman of the temple committee.
Perennial pool even in hot summer
No matter how hot the summer, this pond never dries up. During the hot season, all the turtles in the pond do not come to the top. Only a few come to eat the offerings. A few of the other turtles would crawl into the coolness of the nearby forest. Turtles lay their eggs in the cave. Even if the eggs hatch, the baby turtles go to the pond. During the rainy season, the sight of turtles in the pond is beautiful. Climb up to the cliff above and onto the road. The locals will take the turtles they see on the road at night and bring them down to the pond.
It is believed that Lord Vishnu resides in the form of Dhanwantari murti as requested by Bhagwati, who came in his Kurma avatar centuries ago to watch the dance of the deity dancers of Kavi. Tortoises that have the spirit of the goddess are a blessing to the devotees. The locals do not harm the turtles. The ancients say that once a person took a turtle here and made it food, and his entire family was later destroyed due to the anger of the goddess.
