Cherukunnu Annapoorneshwari temple in Kannur, Kerala is dedicated to Goddess Parvati. It is located 15 kilometres away from Taliparamba, which is one of the best cities in Kannur.
The Annapoorneshwari temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna. But due to the prevailing circumstances of that era, the chief deity of the temple was Goddess Parvati, instead of Lord Krishna. The Raja-Raja Varma led the construction of the temple from the Chirakkal Kovilakam. Chirakkal Kovilakam was considered necessary in the period for young rulers of that time.
The Annapoorneshwari temple always stands out from the temples of its similar kind. It is because, though the temple is entirely dedicated to Goddess Parvati, in the form of Annapoorneshwari, the idol of Lord Krishna is worshipped alongside the incarnation of Goddess Parvati. Lord Krishna is revered as the Co-God or the Co-idol of the temple, and that is strange. It is exclusively believed that the temple was specially built up for the incarnation of Lord Krishna, but was accidentally replaced by Goddess Parvati due to the circumstances. It was popular among the histories that this temple was initially under the sea and was found out to incarnate the apt God or the Goddess. The temple was expected to have built up around a few centuries ago.
The temple is famous for its ways of worshipping the deity in the form of Annapoorneshwari – the Goddess of hunger. The temple is also known as the Cherukunnilamma kshethra and is the only temple in South India where the Goddess Durga is incarnated in the form of Annapoorneshwari.
Being a Devi temple, the main festival celebrated here is Vishnu Vilakku. This festival is celebrated in April annually. The festival lasts for seven days and is celebrated with pomp with fireworks and various cultural events. Another festival celebrated in the temple is Prathishta Dinam that implies the day when the idol was incarnated and is celebrated annually based on the Malayalam star. Other festivals include the Maha Shivaratri, Navami and Ekadashi.