In the coastal village of Kulasekarapattinam in Tamil Nadu , faith takes on an earthly form during Kulasai Dussera . Here, gods and goddesses descend to dwell among men—not through idols, but through devotees who embody the divine in a spectacle of trance, transformation, and devotion unlike any other festival in India. As India celebrates Dussehra with fireworks and effigies of Ravana, over eight lakh devotees converge at the 300-year-old Arulmigu Mutharamman Temple , where the air hums with chants, drums, and the sound of transformation itself. A Festival of Transformation The Kulasai Dussera, observed during Navaratri , spans ten days and culminates in the dramatic Soorasamharam , the slaying of the demon Mahishasura by Goddess Lalithambigai—an incarnation of Mutharamman , the fierce guardian deity of the town. Unlike Dussehra elsewhere, where the focus is on the Ramayana, the myth here centers on female divinity and creation’s power to restore mo...
©Swattik Jana Today, a major cultural rally was held in the presence of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to thank UNESCO for giving the Durga Puja event the "Intangible Cultural Heritage Tag." This rally includes a number of vibrant tabulex, folk dance, and traditional conch sounds. Numerous Durga Puja clubs as well as school children took part in this rally. This event travelled around 4.5 kilometres from Jorasanko to Red Road before coming to a conclusion. Following that, Red Road hosted a grand cultural programme. ©Swattik Jana ©Swattik Jana ©Swattik Jana ©Swattik Jana ©Swattik Jana ©Swattik Jana ©Swattik Jana ©Swattik Jana ©Swattik Jana ©Swattik Jana ©Swattik Jana ©Swattik Jana ©Swattik Jana ©Swattik Jana ©Swattik Jana ©Swattik Jana ©Swattik Jana ©Swattik Jana ©Swattik Jana ©Swattik Jana ©Swattik Jana ©Swattik Jana ©Swattik Jana ©Swattik Jana ©Swattik Jana ©Swattik Jana ©Swattik Jana ©Swattik Jana ©Swattik Jana ©Swattik Jana ©Swattik Jana ©Swattik Jana ©Swattik Jana ©Swat...