Kattu Kaliamman Temple Festival…Swami climbs on the devotees who were lying on the ground seeking child boon and marriage and prayed for the blessings of the godman. More than 5,000 people live in Theertham village near Melarasampattu near Odugathur in Vellore district participated in this sacred event. Located at a distance of about 13 km from Odugathur, this village is amidst dense forests.
About 100 years ago, the Adi tribes living in the Theertham area were dependent on nature alone. They used to go to the dense forest area and live by eating and selling tubers and honey available in the forests.
One day, when he went to a dense forest area and was picking tubers, he dug a place with a spade and blood poured out. It is said that a demon with smoke came and said, “I am here, I am living in the forest to save the world.”
But the man looked back. He also told the elders about what had happened. After that, when the people of the village went there and dug there, there was an image in the form of Amman in the tuber.
It is also said that the person who dug it died on the same day and his body was buried near the place where the goddess appeared.
Later, it is believed that in course of time, the Goddess built a temple for herself entirely made of bamboo. From that day till today, the Goddess in the form of a tuber has been worshipped from time to time. As she appeared in the forest, she was named Vanakattu Kaliamman.
In this situation, the annual Vana Kattu Kaliamman temple festival was held in a grand manner recently. Earlier, the people of the village performed Pongal in the temple and performed special pujas.
Following this, they performed special pujas to the crown of the Goddess from the banks of the tank and placed it to Vanakattu Kaliamman.
On the way, devotees were lying on the ground seeking child boon and marriage. The Swami stood on the devotees and blessed them.
A large number of devotees participated in the event and sacrificed goats and chickens. Thousands of people from the surrounding areas participated in the festival and worshipped the Goddess. Annadhanam was also distributed to the devotees on behalf of the temple administration. It is believed that devotees pray to Vanakkattu Kaliamman with devotion and observe a fast to achieve their wishes. Similarly, those who do not have children tie a cradle to a bamboo tree and pray for child boon while performing the ritual. A large number of women prayed for child boon.
“OM SRI VANADURGA DEVI NAMO NAMAHA”
DEVELOPED BY
R. HARISHANKAR