Kulasekharapatnam Sri Mutharamman Temple in Kulasai Village, Thiruchendur in Thoothukudi - Famous temple for Dussehra / Navarathiri Festival Celebrations – Visit, Timings, Travel Guide

Kulasekharapatnam Sri Mutharamman Temple in Kulasai Village, Thiruchendur in Thoothukudi – Famous temple for Dussehra / Navarathiri Festival Celebrations – Visit, Timings, Travel Guide

– carnival of devotees dressed up like hindu god & goddess during dasara festival

Kulasekharapatnam Sri Mutharamman Temple is one of the old temples located in ancient coastal town Kulasekharapatnam which is nearby the famous Thiruchendur in Thoothukudi district.

The town Kulasekerapatanam got its name from King Maravarman Kulasekara Pandian. The deities worshipped at this temple are Goddess Muththaramman and Lord Ganamoorthiswarar, where the presiding deity is a self-manifested Goddess Kali. It is highly believed the goddesses guards the Village and will help her devotees during their hardship. The name behind the goddess is as she is worshipped by the ornaments made of pearls taken from the nearby sea – Pearl which means Muthu, Ornament tends Aram.

This Temple is for Goddess Meenakshi called Mutharamman & Lord Siva in the name of Gnana Murthi Eswarar. The Temple is very near to the Seashore – Tuticorin / Thiruchendur.

Mythological Significance of Arultharum Mutharamman Thirukoil, Kulasekaranpatinam Temple:

To put an end to Magisasuran’s wrath a baby girl named Lalithambigai was born and the baby girl got fully grownup in nine days. These nine days are celebrated here as Navaratri, and On the 10th-day grownup powerful Goddess beheads Magisasuran and killed him. Every year these 10 days are celebrated as the Dussehra festival on the Avani month August to September. The Dasara Festival / Navarathiri festival at this temple is very famous in the Thirunelveli district.

During this festival lakhs of devotees would visit this temple. Devotees dress up in various costumes emulating the gods and goddesses of the local pantheon, receive offerings in the villages and come to the Mutharamman Temple on the 10th day of Dussehra to pay their respects. The devotees follow the fasting / vratam for 41 consecutive days with one time meal a day and dress like the god/goddess during the Dussehra.

Devotees even assume the guise of Goddess Kali and Lord Siva while Some others makeup themselves as the garbs of local gods like Chudalamadan, Kariyilamadan, Changalamadan, Asuran, and more. The devotees walk toward the temple wearing these garbs and go to the sea to wash off the makeup after the final rituals. The last day of the festival is the picturization of the epic story of Goddess Magisasura Mardini killing Magisasuran – Soorasamharam on the shores of Kulasekarapattinam at midnight.

Special thanks, Photo credits to my good friend Mr. Noel Gorky an Award-winning Photographer & Cinematographer, contemporary artist who worked in several Tamil films, also worked individually on documentaries, Ad films, folk, and pop songs.

Travel Tips for Arultharum Mutharamman Thirukoil, Kulasekaranpatinam:

Address: Arulmigu Mutharamman Thirukovil, Kulasekharapatnam, Tamil Nadu 628203
Phone: 04639 250 355

Entry Fee: Free
Timings: Morning 4.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m

How to Reach Arultharum Mutharamman Thirukoil, Kulasekaranpatinam:

On-Road: Buses are frequently available at Tiruchendur, where the temple is 20km from Trichendur.
On Train: The nearest railway station is Tiruchendur Railway Station (station code TCN).
On Flight: Nearest Airport is Tuticorin Airport (Code: TCR) – a domestic airport and Madurai International Airport ( Code: IXM)