Valayanad Devi Temple, Kozhikode

Sree Valayanad Devi Temple, on the Mankavu–Govindapuram route in Kozhikode, houses the family goddess of the Zamorin kings. Legend says that after losing to the king of Valluvanad, the Zamorin did penance at Thirumanthamkunnu until the goddess agreed to follow him, on condition that he never look back. When her dance bells fell silent he turned, and she threw her bangle instead; it spun for a week, at Azhchavattom, before landing at Thiruvalayanad, where the temple stands.

The north-facing temple has four gopurams. Worship follows the Shakteya Rurujit tradition, the presiding goddess being Chandika from Kashmir, and a Sreechakra lies in the sanctum, with the seven mother goddesses carved on its south wall. Pidarar priests perform the rites, meat and alcohol are part of the worship, and five Moosad families hold traditional rights. The seven-day festival begins on Karthika in Makaram, Kalamezhuthupattu runs for 41 days from 1 Vrischikam, and Tuesdays and Fridays are favoured for prayer.