Ezhai Kaatha Amman Temple () is a
Hindu temple
A Hindu temple, also known as Mandir, Devasthanam, Pura, or Kovil, is a sacred place where Hindus worship and show their devotion to Hindu deities, deities through worship, sacrifice, and prayers. It is considered the house of the god to who ...
situated in the
Madurai district
Madurai District is one of the 38 districts of the state of Tamil Nadu in southeastern India., United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency The city of Madurai serves as the district headquarters. It houses the famous Sri Meenakshi ...
of
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is the southernmost States and union territories of India, state of India. The List of states and union territories of India by area, tenth largest Indian state by area and the List of states and union territories of Indi ...
,
India
India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
. This temple is exactly located in a place called "Koyil Patti", within the Panchayat limit of Kurichipatti. Koyil Patti is approximately 14 km from Melur. Elai Kaatha Amman Temple comes under the place called
Vellalur which is called by people as Vellalur Nadu (Nadu means country).
Ezhai Kaatha Amman Temple and Valladikaarar Temple are two important temples for these people. Valladikaarar and Ezhai Kaatha Amman are a brother and a sister. The festival for Ezhai Kaatha Amman take place in the month of September and for Valladikarar take place in the month of March. During the festival time of both the temples people fast for 15 days without eating meatarian foods and flour made foods like Idli, Dosai, Vadai, Chapati, Puri, etc. They will not break or cut the coconut and lemon trees and construction works won't take place (No mixing of cement or mud). And even the hotels won't be running, as they celebrate this festival with joy more than any other festivals like Deepavali or Pongal.
Seven young girls of about 10 years of age around more than 65 villages which comes under Vellalur are selected as daughters of the above mentioned Ezhai Kaatha Amman and they are respected as goddesses as well as they will do holy service for entire 15 days. These seven girls are selected by Ezhai Kaatha Amman Temple's priest (Poosaari - Melavalasai).
References
Hindu temples in Madurai district
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