05/10/2022
The festival in (Kulasekarapattinam), a small hamlet near , , is celebrated to mark the killing of demon Mahisasuran.
The Kulasai Mutharamman Temple is believed to be be 300 years old and has the idols of Goddess Mutharamman and Swamy Gnanamoorthiswarar installed together. Mythology narrates the story of the town dwellers who approached the goddess to save them from the cruelty of , the demon.
Some of the devotees even assume the guise of Goddess .
Some others assume the garbs of local gods.
People come to these dressed up devotees and seek their blessings.
Devotees who arrive for the festival take alms from door to door to raise funds for their expenses. And whatever money remains after their expenses are offered to the temple.
Text and pictures: Raghunathan S.R.