History of Chengaloor

 

Some of the aged people says that the name is originated from “cheng”, “al”, “oor”. Some others say, it is the red water existing area due to the flood now and then occurred, during the rainy season. The neighboring “Kurumali River” caused for existing muddy water, in chengaloor village. So some people used to call this muddy water area as “chengaloor”.

 

Mattumala is a part of chengaloor village. This Mattumala in chengaloor village was thickly populated area, in ancient time. After many years due to heavy rain, a large quantity of fertile soil was removed and washed away from this area, and big trees, plants and bushes were destroyed. Hence it was not suitable for people to live. Nowadays it is mainly suited for cattle to graze. A large area is covered with rocks. So we can find many metal crusher units.

 

 

Another area of chengaloor village is maravanchery. Formerly it was known as the area of  “Maravans”. Hence it was known as Maravanchery.

 

You can see this primary school four kilometers away from Pudukad. It is the only Harijan School of Padanna Community in Kerala State.

 

It was started in 1919. It was the only Government L.P. School under the Pudukad Grama panchayath. It is situated 5 Kilometers from Pudukad. Different developments such as Radio, TV, Park, Computer, Water Tank, Noon Feeding Programme have started in this school under Sarva Shiksha Abhyan.

 

St. Mary's Lower Secondary School started in 1944. The first Head master was Sri. P. C. Kunjuvareed, and assistant teachers were Rev. Paul Pullokaran and N.Achuthamenon. Rev.Fr.Jacob Ainickal was the first student of this school as per record. Under the leadership of the Vicar, Rev.Fr. Joseph Thekkinieth and the former minister of Kerala Sri. K.T. Achuthan, the school got permission for starting a High School in 1966. Sri. M .P. Lonappan was appointed as the first High School Head Master. 1993-1994 was Celebrated as the Golden Jubilee year of Saint Mary’s High School and a  beautiful Entrance Gate was constructed as golden Jubilee memorial.

 

There are six Pre nursery schools  in our village. They are existing in different parts of this village.

5. There is an Akshaya Computer Centre situated in Randamkallu center. Many grown up people and students are participating in short term course conducted in this institution.

On 30.03.1980 the Thrissur Arch bishop Rt. Rev. Dr. Joseph Kundukulam blessed this convent, and Ten Holy Family  sisters started their spiritual service together with a dispensary and a nursery school. The dispensary was recently stopped due to various reasons.

 

Mary of Mount Carmel church was found in the early 1870s. In the beginning 25 families took the initiative to build a small Shed with Coconut Leaves, they used the place for Adoration, Prayer and Holy Mass.

 

After some years the present Chengaloor parish was decided from Pudukad, St. Antony’s  Forone Church. The boundaries of this chengaloor parish were, East and South the River Kurumali, North – Mattumala, West Pudukad. After many years, with initiative from Tharakan Poovathukaran Kunjuvareed and Kunji Cheriya , Three Acres and Fifty cents land was handed over for a nominal Price for building a Good Church.

 

Thus in 1905, the Bishop Yohannan Menachery, gave permission for starting and constructing a permanent church at Chengaloor. The First Vicar Rev. Fr. Mathew Kollannur was appointed in 1914.  In 1938 under the leadership of Vicar, Rev. Fr. Paul Amboocken constructed a Nadappura for the church. In 1968, Rev.Vicar Fr. Joseph Thekkinieth constructed a ‘MANIMALIKA’ and placed the Christhuraja statue. It was donated by Sr. Jose Mary Poovathukaran.

 

By 1978 Kizhakkumuri Kappela, was separated from this church and they built St.Mary’s Church North Nandipulam (Manjoor). St. Joseph’s Church, Snehapuram was built and separated from Chengaloor church in the year 1985.

 

Considering the oldness and restricted space of the church Parishioners in the initiative of Rev. Fr. Charles Chungath decided to reform and reconstruct the church. In 01-01-1988, Thrissur Archdiocese Bishop Rt. Rev. Mar. Joseph Kundukulam, and Irinjalakuda Diocese Bishop Rev. Mar. James Pazhayattil inaugurated, the reconstructed Holy Place.

 

In the eastern side of the present church, there various rooms, which were constructed for rental purpose. In one of the rooms,  A Sub Engineer’s  Office of Electricity Department is working. 

 

In the Eastern side of the church compound, an Extension  counter of South Indian Bank was started under the leadership of the Vicar. Rev. Fr. Giles Chettupuzhakkaran, and it was later transformed to a Branch.

 

In the South West part of chengaloor parish, Christ Nagar chapel was promoted as Kurishupally in 09-12-2001. Christ King Chapel got permission for celebrating Holy Mass on all Sundays and other important days.

 

St. Joseph Church, Snehapuram was started in 1984. On 03-07-1985, the St. Joseph church was blessed as a parish. This year 2009, St. Joseph Church is celebrating its silver Jubilee. It was separated from Mary of Mount Carmel Church Chengaloor. Now about 300 Christian families are doing worship under St. Joseph Church Snehapuram. There is an English Medium school under the parish by the name Sanjo Sadan.

 

1. Christ King Chapel founded in 1944. It has got Permission for celebrating holy mass on 09-12-2001 onwards.

The processions on important feasts were conducted to this chapel from the parish church chengaloor.

On the last southern part of chengaloor parish, in 1995 the statue of St. Alphonsa was blessed and consecrated for worship. Every year the feast of Saint Alphonsa is celebrating solemnly.

4. St. Sebastian Chapel is situated in the eastern side of Mount Carmel Church.

 

On the eastern side of chengaloor Parish in 1985 the statue of St. George was placed.

In the northern part of Chengaloor Parish St. Antony’s   Chapel was constructed under the leadership of Vicar Fr. Sebastian Kollannur.

In 1992 on October, Rt. Rev. Dr. Joseph Kundukulam blessed this chapel. It was constructed under the leadership of Rev. Fr. Jacob Ainickal and the land was donated by his father Antony Ainickal. The statue of Velankannimatha and St.Sebastian were placed.

Siva Rathri festival in the month of Kumbam is the main festival of this temple. The daily functioning of of this temple is managed by the state Devasam Board.

3. Sree Mahadeva Kshethram at Maravanchery. It was reconstructed with the help of villagers in 1998 onApril 30th. The main festival of this temple is in the month of Meadam.

4. Velakkapady Sree Mahadeva Kshethram. It is situated at near Randamkallu.The main festival of this temple is‘Siva Rathri’ and it is constructed in the month of Kumbam.

5. Isanimangalam Sivakshethram at Santhinagar. One week celebration in the month of  ‘Makaram’ together with various adorations, entertainments and cultural programmes are neatly arranged with the help of villagers and worshipers.

6. Thodukulangara Vishnu Bagavathi Kshetram is situated  near santhinagar centre towards SN Puram. The Karthika Maholsavam is deeply celebrated in the month of Vrizhchikam with the help of public worshippers and believers.

7. Sree Narayana Guru Mandiram at Sree narayanapuram. The S.N.D.P. has started its origin on 07-08-1980 in this village. In the month of Chingam on ‘Chathayam day’ Kavadiyattam is mainly celebrated here.

8.  Choneadathukunnu Bagavathi Kshethram near mattumala and Suryagramam. It is a schedule caste temple. In the month of  ‘Makaram’ ‘Irupathiyettoochal’ is mainly celebrated here.

9. Sree Kurumba Bagavathi Kshethram near Surya Gramam. In the month of  ‘makaram’ main festival is conducted here. The area of this temple is also known as Malappuram.

 

• A branch of Pudukad Service Society Bank at Santhinagar, started its function on 16-05-1989 onwards. It helps the farmers and ordinary people for depositing money and for taking loans.

• A branch of Milk Society of Pudukad, is functioning near Health Centre.

• ‘Krishibhavan’ of Pudukad Panchayath is situated near Randam Kallu and it started the functions in the new building recently.

• A Veterinary Hospital is situated near the chapel of ‘Karmalamatha’ on 28th January 1975 onwards.

• A Government Ayurveda Dispensary started its functiontogether with a doctor on 31-03-1993 onwards.

• A Primary Health Centre near the Ayurvedic dispensary is functioning in a good manner.

• A Village Office near Randamkallu is functioning in a good manner in a good building.

A Charitable society by the name Karunya Charitable Society was established and a Rehabilitation Centre for Mentally Challenged people in the name “Karunya Nikethan” started to by 2002, Reg. No. 914/ 2002 with the help of many young people under the leadership of Akashaparavakal at Chennaipara. With the intention of extending care and services to the mentally challenged who are unwanted, unsupported and alienated from the community. This is sincere attempt of zealous young men of this locality. Presently there are 21 inpatients, Fr. Roy Mulakupadam is serving as the Director of the Institution and Bro. Ebin is assisting him. Mr. Sebi V.P is President , Mr. Shinto T.I, Secretary, Mr. Freejo Francis, Treasurer.

Karunya Nikethan Phone. 0091 480 2659347

Visit at http://www.karunyanikethan.org/ 

• At Maravanchery, Edathuttupadam, Santhinagar, Mattumala and Randamkallu, Ten tile factories are functioning in a good manner and many people have got job in these factories.

• A Distillery is working at Maravanchery named Kaycee Distilleries.

This post office started its function on 18-02-1952. In 1977 this post office is converted into Sub Post office and it is functioning in Randamkallu Centre.

• A Rice mill – The first rice mill in the randamkallu centre was known as P.K.C Rice Mill. Now adays in the different centers of chengaloor village Rice mills are functioning in a good manner.

• Hand Made Paper Mill at Santhinagar  under the control of  Ghadi Board started its functioning on 27-04-1980 onwards. But now it has its functions stopped.

You can see a Kumbara colony on the eastern side of St. Joseph’s Church Snehapuram. They are making different kinds of vessels with the soil and clay.

You can see a Brick making centre Nirmithi Kendra under government of Kerala at Erode Road near Mattumala.

In the valley of Mattumala, a Priyadarshini Harijan Mahilasamajam and under their organization a centre for Shoe and Slipper Making, Spinning and Weaving centre are functioning in good manner.

Private and Kerala State transport bus Services helps the passengers to travel from Chengaloor to different parts of Thrissur District likely Chalakudy, Irinjalakuda and Thrissur.

Irrigation schemes at Maravanchery and Manakkalakadavu, helps the farmers for agriculture and also the villagers for drinking water. Farmers use Motor Pump sets and tractors for cultivation. You can see different kinds of people engaged in works such as blacksmiths, goldsmiths, bamboo workers, carpenters, loading and unloading labors etc.

 

You can see lots of Rubber Estates, in chengaloor due to the geographical specialties of the land. Metal Crusher units are another specialty as there are lots of hills in this area. 

 

Chengaloor is a place of peaceful atmosphere and people are very religious minded.  Hence it can be termed as one of the happiest and peaceful village in the Thrissur district. A large number of young people from chengaloor village are working outside Kerala State in India.

Many work in Foreign countries such as  United States of America, United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, Spain, African Countries and a good number in the Gulf Region, especially in Dubai, UAE, along with other countries like, Saudi, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar. This helps the village and we are still in the path of a Developing Chengaloor. The Villagers involvement in different festivals such as Onam, Vishu, Christmas, and different feasts of Churches and Temples especially to be mentioned here. 

References:-

1.       The Directory of Thrissur Arch Diocese.

2.       The Directory of Mary of Mount Carmel church, Chengaloor.

3.       A book written by Francis Chittissery about ‘Pudukad and Puramlokavum’.

4.       Information collected from various Senior Citizens of Chengaloor village