Naranammalpuram Panchayat was constituted on 1st October 1961 (First grade) in an area of 11.123 sq.kms and 14 wards. The population figures are
1991 (1st) 2001 (2nd)
Men 7,561 7,664
Women 7,323 7,575
---------- ----------
14,884 15,223
---------- ----------
Wards 14 21
Area 11.123 sq.kms 18.13 sq.kms
No. of streets 256
No. of houses 5,272
Wells 1
Hand pumps 99
Power pumps 1
Sce connections 1976
No. of fountains 40
LPCD 50
Water service periodicity Daily
The rural population of Naranammalpuram alone was 3,000 in the 30s.
The area under wet cultivation was 1,400 acres. (Tirunelveli District Gazetteer 2002)
The figures given are those of the NPM Town Panchayat which includes Anathakrishnapuram, Aravangulam, Kattudaiyar Kudyiruppu, Kuruchikulam, Vannan Pacheri and parts of Thalaiyuthu.
This population composed of various castes of Hinduism a few Muslims till the 50’s. after the arrival of the Catholics to run the school, a few Christians also have settled in the village.
Although most communities were engaged in agriculture, some were weavers toddy tappers and potters.
The advent of a cement factory in Thalaiyuthu was a boon to the unemployed. Gradually more young men gave up agriculture in favour of industrial jobs. This lead to increased wages for agricultural labour. Dearth of local labour forced the import of hands from other districts.
Input costs rising enormously agriculture proved less profitable, lands were sold and new owners ruled the roast.
The few Muslim families were expert masons. Most of the houses built between 1940 and 1965 were mainly the hand work of Alla Pichai Rowther and his nephews Basha and Abdullah.
With the departure of educated youth for employment in Bombay and other cities, houses in the agraharam were sold to the needy. Now the Perumal Sannadhi Street and Sivan Koil Street have a mixed population. Approximately 15 Brahmin families continue to live there. No guessing is needed – all of them are retired people.
All other residents are Thevars and Yadhavas.
Naranammalpuram is a town Panchayat in the selection grade. Over the years, presidents held office by rotation of different communities. This had now been replaced by an election process. Ms.Muthamizh Selvi is the president in 2007. She succeeded Pechi Pandian.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
TEMPLES
In the continuous Panchayat division between Senthimangalam (north) and Ananthakrishnapuram, there are there are 16 temples. They are
AruganKulam 6
Naranammalpuram 8
Ananthakrishnapuram 2
The Venkatesa Perumal Temple, Sri Rama, two for Lakshminarayana are of vaishnavite denomination. So is the popular Ettezhuthu Perumal temple of Mela AruganKulam.
There are two big temples for Ramalinga Swamy and Viswanatha Vinayaka is worshipped in three. All other are for Grama Devathas. To the South of the school, a small shrine with an idol of Lord Siva was erected to commemorate the memory of a saint who lived and attained Samadhi in Naranammalpuram. This shrine is maintained by Mr.N.Sivaraman, and industrialist of Chennai.
The Ashtabandhana Kumbhabishekam of Venkatesa Temple was performed in 2003 after a lapse of 42 years. This was followed by Kumbhabishekam at the temples of Sri Rama, Viswanatha and Lakshmi Narayana Perumal (Anantha Krishnapuram) in the successive years.
The Moondru Yugam Konda Amman temple Kumbhabishekam was performed in August 2008.
Till few years ago, Dussara festival was held at the Uchinimakali Temple. This attracted rural arts such as Pavai Koothu and silamba attam. Mooka Velar and his brother Boogesa Varadar (Poothathan) were known as Vadhyars (grand masters) for silambam, a kind of martial art. Basha and Abdullah were highly proficient in swinging the sticks. All night performances of Nagaswaram and Pambai Kottu were much enjoyed.
Business stalls sold flowers, fruits, handicrafts and sweetmeats.
(Source Tirunelveli Dt.Gazatteer 2001)
In the new millennium, the festivals at Ettezhuthu Perumal Temple draw large member of devotees.
Apart from these a common “kodai” is celebrated every year – sort of thanks giving day.
The one event that shook the devotees in the year 2001 when miscreants broke open the Perumal Temple and stole the Utsavar Idols. Later, these were recovered in a maimed condition a year later. Meanwhile Smt Vasuki grand daughter of Shri Rangaswamy Iyengar donated similar idols prior to the Samprokshanam.
(Details on these were reported in the form of an article by S.Krishna in The Hindu dated 13th June 2003. Available in the website of The Hindu – www.thehindu.com)
AruganKulam 6
Naranammalpuram 8
Ananthakrishnapuram 2
The Venkatesa Perumal Temple, Sri Rama, two for Lakshminarayana are of vaishnavite denomination. So is the popular Ettezhuthu Perumal temple of Mela AruganKulam.
There are two big temples for Ramalinga Swamy and Viswanatha Vinayaka is worshipped in three. All other are for Grama Devathas. To the South of the school, a small shrine with an idol of Lord Siva was erected to commemorate the memory of a saint who lived and attained Samadhi in Naranammalpuram. This shrine is maintained by Mr.N.Sivaraman, and industrialist of Chennai.
The Ashtabandhana Kumbhabishekam of Venkatesa Temple was performed in 2003 after a lapse of 42 years. This was followed by Kumbhabishekam at the temples of Sri Rama, Viswanatha and Lakshmi Narayana Perumal (Anantha Krishnapuram) in the successive years.
The Moondru Yugam Konda Amman temple Kumbhabishekam was performed in August 2008.
Till few years ago, Dussara festival was held at the Uchinimakali Temple. This attracted rural arts such as Pavai Koothu and silamba attam. Mooka Velar and his brother Boogesa Varadar (Poothathan) were known as Vadhyars (grand masters) for silambam, a kind of martial art. Basha and Abdullah were highly proficient in swinging the sticks. All night performances of Nagaswaram and Pambai Kottu were much enjoyed.
Business stalls sold flowers, fruits, handicrafts and sweetmeats.
(Source Tirunelveli Dt.Gazatteer 2001)
In the new millennium, the festivals at Ettezhuthu Perumal Temple draw large member of devotees.
Apart from these a common “kodai” is celebrated every year – sort of thanks giving day.
The one event that shook the devotees in the year 2001 when miscreants broke open the Perumal Temple and stole the Utsavar Idols. Later, these were recovered in a maimed condition a year later. Meanwhile Smt Vasuki grand daughter of Shri Rangaswamy Iyengar donated similar idols prior to the Samprokshanam.
(Details on these were reported in the form of an article by S.Krishna in The Hindu dated 13th June 2003. Available in the website of The Hindu – www.thehindu.com)
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