Sevvai Pongal - Arulmigu KannudayaNayaki Amman Temple, Sivaganga

Village in Sivaganga District and was built in the 18th century by the Nagarathars. The goddess Kannudayanayaki Amman, popularly known as Kannathal, is the presiding deity of this temple. The temple contains an old tomb in which Kambar, a famous writer best known for translating the holy ure of Valmiki's Ramayana into Tamil, spent his last days. The deity is depicted with eight hands holding an udukkai (a percussion instrument) and a muvizhai sulam (a holy weapon). The sculpture also depicts Mahishan -the Asura (evil), to be stamped by her left leg. The temple celebrates a special Pongal festival each year in the Tamil month of Thai (January). Traditionally, the Pongal festival is held throughout Tamil Nadu on the first Monday of the Thai month. However, at this particular temple, the festival is celebrated on the first Tuesday of the Thai month. During this festival, the Nagarathars, referred to as the business community of the Nattarasankottai village, throng the temple to cook and offer sweet Pongal to the deity. On this day, the temple observes about a thousand pots being offered to the goddess. The worshippers also present silk saris and glass bangles to the deity in the belief that it will grant them long and successful lives. The celebration also draws a notable number of foreign tourists who enjoy cooking delicious Pongal in mud pots at the temple.