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...
Photo: A Kaitkar holding rooster before starting the fighting (All rights are reserved ©Swattik Jana) Cock fighting is one of the oldest sports in India. Due to various reasons, this game is on the way to disappear today. Recently Purulia, West Bengal and India's biggest "cock fighting" competition took place. This arena is at least 63 years old. Like every time this time also thousands of rooster owners and village people from Belpahari, Dhanbad, Odisha, Jhilimili are participated in this event. Sometimes one rooster is responsible for village's fame. Rarh bhum region cock fighting means organizing a big village fair. Pan, Bidi, Gutkar Shop, Chop, Panpar, Televaza Shop, Jilipi, Goja, Sandesh etc sweet shops are there. At the same time, it is seen that the women of the neighboring village come with "Haria" (the traditional alcohol from made from fermented rice) loaded on their heads in the early morning. Early in the morning, the preparation of dishes from...