Recently, a few history researchers urged the Kerala government to declare Thirunavaya, in the present-day Malappuram district, a heritage village and protect the historical relics in the area.
Key points of Mamangam
- Mamangam was a 28-day-long trade festival celebrated once every 12 years on the banks of the Bharathappuzha, also known as Nila.
- Traders from various parts of India and as well as places such as China, Ceylon, Arabia and Europe used to arrive by ship at the Ponnani port and then move to Thirunavaya to participate in the trade fair held on the premises of the Navamukunda temple, believed to be around 5,000 years old now.
- There is no consensus on when the first Mamangam was held, but it is believed that the Chera kings began the duodecennial trade festival.
- The last Chera ruler passed on the right to conduct it to Valluvakonathiri (rulers of the Valluvanad region) around the 12th century.
- The Zamorins, the rulers of Kozhikode, in a bid to expand their kingdom, beat the Valluvakonathiri in the 14th century and secured the right to preside over Mamangam after capturing several Valluvanadan provinces, including Thirunavaya.
- The Valluvakonathiris decided to avenge the defeat as well as the murders of their princes by sending suicide squads called chavers to fight the Zamorin’s army during Mamangam.
- Bodies of the chavers who died during the fight were thrown into a nearby well called the ‘manikinar’. Some records say the injured warriors were trampled down by elephants.
(Source: Indian Express)
