Meenamruthu is an important festival of Padmasaliya community. It takes place at the Ashtamachal Bhagavathy Temple in
Payyanur,
Kerala. The sanctum of the temple is open only once in a year during the time of this festival. The festival is held in the month of April and lasts for eight days. In fact it marks the end of the festival season in Payyanur.
An important ritual that takes is Meenamruthu. The devotees come to the temple, in a long procession, with fish bunches in their hands. This odd ritual is associated with the business culture of the past. The history says that Valnchiyarmar, the business groups who were operating the merchant vessels, performed Meenamruthu to satisfy the Sea Goddess (Durga) for the safety of their vessels, and the safe and successful voyage.
