Tamil Nadu’s Lesser Known Dasara Celebrations
Kulasekarapattinam, is a coastal village of Tuticorn district in Tamil Nadu. It is about 20km from Thiruchendur and attracts over million people every year during Dasara. Kulasai Mutharamman Devi Temple is an ancient temple of about 300 years old was erected in this port city during the reign of King Maravarman Kulasekaran, it is believed the goddesses guards the Village and it’s people and will help her devotees during their hardship.
Goddess Mutharamman Temple
The Dasara festival celebrated during the Avani month is the most auspicious at the Muthumariamman temple. It is a 12 day celebration in contrary to the 9 days celebrated elsewhere. Goddess Mutharamman bejewelled in grandeur is taken in procession on these days, in different disguise.
Following an age-old tradition, devotees vow to beg for alms, disguised in various celestial forms such as Goddess Kali, Kings, monkeys, beggars etc. The money collected is offered to Goddess Mutharamman. The devotees observe the vridham for 41 continuous days and during the Dasara they dress like the god/goddess. They would maintain purity in all levels – body, mind and soul.
People who portrait “Goddess Kali” tend to be more cautious than the others, as people approach them for blessings. During the last 10 days people in troupes dressed up like their favourite God or Goddess travel to surrounding villages and perform different acts and collect donations which will also be offered in the temple.
The last day of the festival depicts the epic story of Magisasura Mardini [Goddess] riding a lion and slaying Magisasura on the shores of Kulasekarapattinam at midnight. This is known as “Soorasamharam”. This will be followed by dancing and burning of crackers.
This is the culmination of the festivity called Vijayadashami, symbolizes dharma uprooting adharma (good over evil). Devotees suffering from small pox, chicken pox, and eye problems will be delivered from their pain, if they visit this temple.
Celebrations at Kulasekarapattinam Mutharamman
Thousands of devotees witnessed the flag-hoisting ceremony at Kulasekarapattinam Mutharamman Temple on Sunday marking the start of the Dasara festival. Famed to be only next to the Dasara celebrations in Mysuru in its grandeur, the 11-day festival at Mutharamman Temple is expected to attract lakhs of devotees.
After the flag-hoisting, devotees wore ‘kappu’ and different costumes for seeking donations from the people for the Amman over the course of the festival. Earlier, the flag was taken in a palanquin through major streets of Kulasekarapattinam. The flag was then hoisted at 8.40 am amidst loud chants from devotees. The idol of goddess was taken in a procession through major streets at 10 pm.
A large number of devotees carried milk pots to the temple from nearby villages and offered special prayers. Free public feast was provided on the temple premises later in the afternoon. On each day of the festival, special prayers would be held from 8 am to 7.30 pm, followed by a procession of idols of goddess at 9 pm Cultural events including traditional music and dance would be held at 4 pm.
Soorasamharam, the highlight of the festival in which the goddess would slay Magishasooran, would be organised on the Vijayadasami day.
History of the festival
Mutharamman temple which is more than 300 years old is the epicentre of this Vijayadasami or Dussehra celebrations. The temple is so popular in the down south region of the state, where the presiding deity is a self manifested Goddess Kali.
As she is worshipped with the ornaments made of the pearls taken from the sea, she is called as Mutharamman. (Pearl – Muthu, Ornament –Aram). Next to Mysore in Karnataka, the Dussehra festival is celebrated in an unimaginably grand manner in Kulasai. The tenth day of the Navaratri festival which is celebrated in a pomp manner across India is completely in a different genre in Kulasai.
Unlike the other places where Goddess Durga is celebrated in different forms of her incarnations, here in Kulasai, the devotees themselves dress up like Kali and other forms of Gods and Goddesses and offer prayers to the Goddess Mutharamman.
After coming to know about the grand celebrations of Dussehra in Kulasai, me and some of my friends decided to keep aside all our regular works and witness this unusually interesting festival. After a long journey for six hours from our place, we were nearing the coastal town.
Rituals Involved
Devotees will be following the rituals strictly all through the Navaratri days. After initiating their fasting procedures on the first day with the hoisting of flags, the devotees will be staying near the temple premises and cook their own food following the strict procedures.
Those who have prayed to dress up like Goddess Kali go through penance like procedures for 48 days with one meal a day, self-cooking, being ascetic staying outside the house and lot more.
As there is a staunch belief among the people of this region that it is Goddess Mutharamman coming to their houses in a disguised form to take alms. So, the residents welcome the people happily and donate whatever they can in the form of rice or money.
At the end of these festivals on Vijayadasami day, the devotees arrive at Kulasai to offer the money or the things they have collected by way of the alms taken all these days.
The entire coastal region wears a festive look from the commencement of this Navratri period. Lakhs of devotees getting assembled in front of the temple. You can witness devotees carrying hot pots on their bare hands with neem leaves on the pots, dancing in front of the temple.
Many of them have opted to look like Goddess Kai who is generally a furious deity. If you are weak hearted, you may get afraid looking at the unusual costumes and accessories which you might have seen only in story books describing the events on the epics.
Here comes the most important part of the festival, where Goddess Kali proceeds to kill the demon King Mahishan. As per the epics in Hinduism, the demon King Mahishan emerged as an unbeatable power against the celestial Gods. As the celestial Gods pleaded to the Goddess Kali, on the day of Vijayadasami, Goddess Kali decided to kill the demon King Mahishan and this is being celebrated on the sea shore in Kulasai. Those who are in the form of Goddes Kali become so furious and dance vehemently to the tune of the musical instruments around.
At last, everyone takes a holy dip in the sea, followed by the elaborate rituals and poojas, anointing with milk and other sacred materials, the entire sequence of celebrations comes to an end with the vibe spread around lasting in our memory forever. Later on, those who were in different attires, return back to normalcy and head off to their places leaving behind the sea shore and the most favorite Mutharamman temple with a hope to come again for the next Dussehra.
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