Kulasekarapattinam Dussehra is a visual delight to anyone who has witnessed it but largely the reason behind its observance has been left in void. During my visit to capture the colourful festival I had the chance to interact with devotees who had come from various villages surrounding the Mutharamman temple and also across from far off Villages. One such role adorned by the devotees captured my attention and that is of the Kali.

The belief is that a Kuravan Kurathi couple were denied entry into the temple and the priests and people fell sick. In order to quench the anger of the deity Mutharamman people dressed up as Kuravan Kurathi and prayed to God who had cured them of their illness which apparently could have been small pox.

this particular portrait was captured in the interiors of the villages and is one of the most reverred roles that one could adorn. The practices differ from village to village where a dedicated place called a Kaali Parai is setup where these particular devotees spend their time, fast, offer prayers before the final day. Kaali Parai could be in individual villages or setup close to the main temple.

A significant observation here is the 41 day fast that devotees observe before they take up this role and wearing of 108 Jadai (hair wig), which makes this process not just spiritually but physically also very gruelling. While it’s not a common practise, it’s important to note that some people who adorn this role are also given a crown that adds to the aesthetics.

Today the practise is widely different due to popularity of the festival. While it is still a spiritual exercise, coming across elements to keep in line with changing times cannot be ignored.