Parassinikkadavu is one of the most important tourist centres in North Kerala and is the seat of Muthappan, a local deity situated on the banks of Valapattanam river in Anthoor Municipality. The Principal deity of the shrine is Muthappan and is presented as a ritualistic theyyam enactment in two versions Thiruvappana and Vellattom.
Here rituals are unique and do not follow the Brahmanical form of worship seen in other hindu temples. Fish, meat and toddy are the customary offerings to Muthappan.
During the mid thirties of the 20th century when the peasants and other working class started organising themselves against landlordism, Karakkattidam Nayanar, a landlord notorious for his oppressive measures, tried to seize the shrine and its properties. The peasants and the local quarry workers of the present day Anthoor organised themselves and put up strong resistance. His attempt was foiled and the shrine became the nerve centre of the peasant and left movement in the subsequent years.
It was in Parassinikkadavu, the first conference of the peasant association was held in 1936 which marked a turning point in the subsequent struggles of the Malabar peasantry. The conference emphatically declared that they won't pay any illegal levy to the landlords. Many strong leaders of the peasant and left movement emerged from Parassinikkadav. It also became a centre of art and cultural activities which promoted the progressive movement in the state. The cultural group of Parassinikkadavu attended the first Party Congress held in Mumbai (Bombay) in 1943 for their presentation.
The present day Anthoor Municipality is one of the strong centres of CPI-M where no opposition member was elected to the municipal council for the last several years.
