Kuthuvillaku Poojai - Punitha Adaikalamadha Church, Elakkurichi

The Punitha Adaikalamadha Church, which is located at Elakkurichi in the Ariyalur district, holds a special celebration known as "Kuthuvillaku Poojai" every year in the month of August. During this festival, hundreds of devotees throng the church to celebrate this unique celebration with a brass lamp. The Punitha Adaikalamadha Church consists of a huge statue of Mother Adaikala Madha which is rested upon an 18-foot-high pedestal. This statue was installed by the Constantine Joseph Beschi popularly known as Veeramamunivar. He has contributed greatly to the growth and progress of the Tamil language by authoring 23 books known as "Thembavani". The Kuthuvillaku Poojai invites a large number of women devotees to gather and worship the Mother "Adaikala Matha". The oil in the lamp represents the impurities like envy, hate, and desire in the human mind. The soul, often known as the self, is symbolized by the cotton in the lamp. When the wick burns the oil, the lamp emits light. Therefore, lighting the lamps signifies the desire to put an end to selfish and materialistic thoughts and dedicate our souls to Mother Mary. It is believed that the lighting of this "Kuthuvillaku" will bring wealth and prosperity to the devotees. During this festival, hundreds of women gather at the chapel of this church holding the “kuthuvillaku”- a brass lamp and adorn it with aromatic flowers. The devotees light the lamp by offering prayers to the Almighty for well-being.