Annamalaiyar Temple – Fifth Prakaram – Valaikappu
Mandapam
This mandapa is used during the Adipuram festival for
the bangle wearing ceremony of the Goddess Unnamulai Amman. This is an open
sixteen pillared mandapa on a high plinth. This is facing west with a flight of
four steps. This is attached to the back of the garbhagriha of Kambatthu Ilayanar
shrine. The outer square is supported by 12 pillars. The inner raised platform
is supported by four pillars. The adhishtana of plinth resembles to that of the
Kambatthu Ilayanar shrine.
This mandapam is used during the Adipuram Festival i.e.
the annual 10 days Parvati Amman Utsavam Festival. The Festival concludes with
a traditional Valaikappu
(bangle) ceremony and worship of
Amman by lady devotees. On this day glass bangles are offered to Ambal and then
distributed to devotees.
These bangles are said to provide offspring and
generally protect the wearer from evils. In addition Valaikappu is a Festival
during which a pregnant woman wears glass bangles as the sound of the bangles
is believed to protect her and her pregnancy from evil forces.
