Elai Kaatha Amman temple (
Tamil
Tamil may refer to:
* Tamils, an ethnic group native to India and some other parts of Asia
**Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka also called ilankai tamils
**Tamil Malaysians, Tamil people native to Malaysia
* Tamil language, nativ ...
- ஏழை காத்த அம்மன்) is a
temple
A temple (from the Latin ) is a building reserved for spiritual rituals and activities such as prayer and sacrifice. Religions which erect temples include Christianity (whose temples are typically called churches), Hinduism (whose temples ...
situated in the
Madurai district
Madurai district is one of the Districts of Tamil Nadu, 38 districts of the States and territories of India, state of Tamil Nadu in southeastern India., National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Ag ...
of
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is a States and union territories of India, state in southern India. It is 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 India ...
,
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
. This temple is exactly located in a place called "Kovil Patti", within the Panchayat limit of Kurichipatti. Kovil patti is approximately 14 km from Melur. Elai Kaatha Amman Temple comes under the place called
Vellalur
Vellalur Nadu (வெள்ளலூர் நாடு) is a Tamil cultural village located in Melur Taluk in Madurai District in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Vellalur is 8.3 km from Melur, the Taluk main town; 32.1 km from Madura ...
, people call this place as Vellalur Nadu (Nadu means - own country).
Elai kaatha amman temple and Valladikaarar temple are two important temples for these people. Lord Valladikaarar and Goddess Elai katha amman are brother and sister. The festival for Elai katha amman take place in the month of September and for Valladikarar swami take place in the month of March. During the festival time of both the temples people fast for 15 days without eating non-veg foods and flour involved food (Like : Idly,Dosa,Vada,Chappathi,Poori etc.). They will not break or cut the coconut,lemon,trees and construction works won't take place.(No mixing of cement or mud) and even the hotels won't be running, they celebrate this festival with joy more than any other festivals like Diwali or Pongal.
Seven young girls of about 10 years of age around more than 65 villages which comes under Vellalore Nadu are selected as Daughters
of the above-mentioned Amman and they respect girls as Goddess as well as they will do holy service for entire 15 days. These seven girls are selected by Ealai Kaatha Amman Temple priest (Poosaari - Melavalasai).
Hindu temples in Madurai district
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