Tiruchendur (

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, nati ...

: திருச்செந்தூர் ''Tiruccentūr'' �t̪iɾɯtːʃen̪d̪uːr also ''jayantipuram'') is a municipality located in Thoothukudi District, Tamil Nadu, India. It is home to the Arulmigu Subramaniya Swamy Temple, which is one of the

Six Abodes of Murugan The Six Abodes of Murugan () are six temples situated in the state of Tamil Nadu in South India, dedicated to the Hindu deity Murugan, also referred to as Kandaswamy, Kartikeya, Skanda, and Vadivela at various temples. These six sacred abodes o ...

. It is also the only abode of Murugan that is situated on a seashore.

Etymology

Tiruchendur, a temple town like many towns in the state of Tamil Nadu, is named after the red soil nature of the town Senthoor.

Geography

Tiruchendur is located on the shoreline overlooking the Gulf of Mannar in the south-eastern part of Tamil Nadu. The suburban villages surrounding the town contain arid, red soil forests that are densely planted with palm trees, cashew plantations, and other crops part of the region.

Demographics

As of the

2001 Census of India The 2001 Census of India was the 14th in a series of censuses held in India every decade since 1871. The population of India was counted as 1,028,737,436 consisting of 532,223,090 males and 496,514,346 females. Total population increased by 18 ...

, Tiruchendur had a population of 33,970. Males constituted 50% of the population and females 50%. Tiruchendur had an average literacy rate of 79%, higher than the national average of 59.5%. Male literacy was 82%, and female literacy 76%. 12% of Tiruchendur's population was under 6 years of age.

Politics

The Tiruchendur assembly constituency was part of the Tiruchendur (Lok Sabha constituency) until 2009. After the dissolution of the Lok Sabha constituency in May 2009, the constituency aligned with the Tuticorin Lok Sabha constituency. The current member of the legislative assembly for the Tamil Nadu assembly, elected by the general election 2021, is Anitha R. Radhakrishnan of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.

Public Administration

Tiruchendur is managed by the Tiruchendur Municipality, which has 27 wards. It is also a taluk headquarters, and there are 10 local bodies and 46 villages that come under the jurisdiction of Tiruchendur taluk. The

District Munsiff Court District Munsiff Court (alternate spelling District Munsif Court) is the court of the lowest order handling matters pertaining to civil matters in the district, a legal system followed in the Indian subcontinent. Usually, it is controlled by the Di ...

and Judicial Magistrate Court are located in the town.

Landmark

Tiruchendur Murugan Temple

Arulmigu Subramaniya Swamy Temple, is an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Murugan at the site of the battle. It is one of the six major abodes, or sacred temples, of the

Kaumaram __NOTOC__ Murugan is a Hindu denomination that primarily venerates the Hindu deity of war, ''Kumaran'', also known as Murugan (in South India), ''Kandan'', or ''Kadamban'', or '' Kartikeya, aarumugan,'' . Most devotees of Kumaran also revere m ...

religion. The temple, which is built near the seashore, measures north to south, east to west, and has a seven-tier '' gopuram'' that is high. The Murugan temple at Tiruchendur was

occupied ' (Norwegian: ') is a Norwegian political thriller TV series that premiered on TV2 on 5 October 2015. Based on an original idea by Jo Nesbø, the series is co-created with Karianne Lund and Erik Skjoldbjærg. Season 2 premiered on 10 October 2 ...

by the Dutch East India company from 1646 to 1648, during the course of their war with the Portuguese.

Festivals

Festivals are celebrated throughout the year at the temple, including Brahmothsavam in the month of Maasi, Vasanthotsavam for 10 days in Chithirai, Vaikasi Visakam for 12 days and Skandha Sashti in Aippasi. There are two Maha Utsavams called Aavani perunthirunaal and Maasi perunthirunaal conducted and celebrated during Aavani and Maasi. These 12-day festivals occur twice every year.

Masi Thiruvizha

Many people congregate for Masi Thiruvizha, a 12-day festival at Tiruchendur. The Kayamozhi Athitha Nadarhal Arakattalai Mandahapadi committee organises functions on the sixth and seventh days of the festival. On the tenth day of the festival, the presiding Lord of the Tiruchendur temple makes a special appearance in Thirunelveli Dakshinamara Nadar Sangam, in Sannidhi Street. Several thousand devotees worship at the Masi Magam festival of the Sri Subramaniawamy temple at Tiruchendur. The festival was inaugurated by the Athitha Nadar clan several centuries ago and includes ritual performances, like Pali-vidalai eridhal.