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Puducherry is a multi-lingual, multi-religious region with people from various
faiths. Around 350-450 temples are in and around Puducherry.Same are with
Karaikal which has half the strength of temples as Puducherry.Most of the
temples seems to have been built up during 10th and 12th century. A sizeable
share is dedicated to the local deities.
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| TEMPLES |
| 1.Villiannur:
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You can locate the architecturally fine sight of the Sri
Gokilambal Thirukameswara Temple, 10 kms from Puducherry. Thousands of
devotees converge here for a ten-day annual festival (Brahmotsavam), held
during May - June along with the appearance of the full moon.
A devout crowd takes out the massive 15m tall temple chariots, basking in
finery, on a procession. It's a remarkable sight. The Lt. Governor of
Puducherry ritually joins the heave. A secular practice, carried over from the
French days, when the French Governeurs themselves used to draw the car out on
the streets. Besides, the breath-taking Ousteri lake nearby, spread over 10
hectares, is home to rare varieties of birds.
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| (OR) |
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Ten kms from Puducherry the famous temple of Sri Gokilambal
Thirukameswarer is situated at a place called "Villiannur". This has massive 15
m tall temple chariot, which is usually taken out on a procession during the Brahmotsavam
festival during the month of May - June along with the appearance of the full
moon. Remarkable is the secular practice carried over from the French days when
the French Governers themselves used to draw the car out on the streets.
Besides, the temple is the calm cool serene Ousteri lake spread over 10
hectares. For the bird watchers this will be an interesting place to see rare
varieties of migratory birds.
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2.ThirunallarTemple:
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Thirunallar is 5 kms west of Karaikal. The sanctum sanctorum of Lord
Dharbaraneswara Temple holds Siva as the main deity. However, its shrine
dedicated to Saneeswaran (Saturn), which figures in the story of Naki
Damayanti; makes this the most famous Saturn temple in India.
The blessings of Saturn are said to be overwhelming, while its
wrath causes great misery. The temple hosts a mammoth festival (Shani
peyarchi), each time Saturn moves from one sign of the zodiac to another.
(OR)
To the west of Karaikal there is a famous Siva temple where the
shrine is dedicated to Saneeswaran (Saturn).This is among the very few Shani
(Saturn) temples of India.It is believed that blessings of Saturn are
overwhelming, while the wrath of Saturn (Sani) causes great misery.As per the
indian astrology each time the saturn moves from one zodiac sign to other, the
temple hosts a festival called "Mammoth Festival" (Shani Peyarchi ).
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| 3.The Varadraja Temple:
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The Varadaraja Temple (12th century) is the most important Vishnu temple in
town, located just west of Gandhi Road, off Tyagraja Street. Here Narasimha
sits behind Venkatachalapathy, the main deity.
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| (OR) |
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This 12th century temple is supposed to be the most important
Vishnu Temple in town. This is located in the west of Gandhi Road, off Tyagraja
Street.Here, Narasimha sits behind Venkatachalapathy, the main deity.
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| 4.Vedapureeswarer Temple |
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Another Siva Shrine but of 18th century stone inscriptions and a swayambhulinga
in Puducherry is very famous.Recently renovated, the gopuram (tower)
adds to its beauty and is brilliantly colourful.
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5.Manakkula Vinayakar Temple
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Manakkula Vinayakar Temple is located behind Raj Nivas and near
to Arabindo Ashram is a place of attraction for the tourist in Puducherry.The
story goes that a Frenchman finding the place of worship a nuisance made
several futile attempts to throw away the deity.Strangly it kept
reappearing.Convinced,he turned an active beleiver.There it is also fondly
referred to as Vellakkaran (White Man) Pillai (Ganesha). The
elephant belonging to the temple is an attraction for children.
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6.Karikal Ammaiyar Temple
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This temple has an image of the lady saint who is said to be among 63 saints of
Lord Siva. Legend says that Lord Siva disguised himself as an ascentic seeking
alms from a lady called "Punithavathi" from Karaikal.A small and beautiful
temple erected right where she lived and prayed.
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7.Srim Moolanthar Temple
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This is a 10th century Temple, about 25 km from the city. The temple boasts of
some granite carvings of Bharat Natyam Mudras (poses).
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| MOSQUES |
| Masthan Saheb Darga:
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Dedicated to Masthan Saheb Syed Dawood Buhari, a Sufi saint who came to
Karaikal from Buhara two centuries ago. He died aged 120, in 1829. Various
miracles are attributed to him. The above 170-year-old Kandhuri Festival
(November) is celebrated in his commemoration. It starts with the hoisting of a
huge flag on a pole - reminiscent of a ship mast and a sea-fairing tradition.
And winds up, 10 days later with a spectacle of floats lit with electric
colors.
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| (OR) |
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A Sufi Saint, Masthan Saheb Syed Dawood Buhari came to Karaikal two centuries
ago.Various Miracles are attributed to him.He died at the age of 120 in 1829.In
his commemoration 170 years old Kandhuri festival is celebrated.It starts with
hoisting of a huge flag on a pole depicting a ship mast and sea-faring
tradition.The festival concludes on the 10th day with spectacle of floats lit
with electric colours.
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CHURCHES:
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The Church of the Capuchins was the first built in Puducherry and the only
building that survived the destruction of the town in 1761. Today it is but a
shell, however it has an interesting gabel.
The Church of the Immaculate Conception, the Cathedral, was built in 1791 on
the place of a former church. It was built based on a design of an existing
church in France and has varied ornamental decorations.
The Holy Heart of Jesus is an example of Gothic masonry work. It contains rare
and beautiful stained glass panels depicting events of the life of Christ.
The Notre Dame des Anges (1852) is a beautifully built Church facing the ocean.
Its clear lines, Greek-Roman architecture and mellow colours add to its harmony
and the interior finish of shell-lime (Chettinad) plaster is superb.
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(Or) |
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French missionary zeal in the 17th and 18th centuries saw a
number of grandly embellished churches built in Puducherry. The Churches of
the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Eglise de Notre Dame de la Immaculate
Conception, Eglise de Notre Dame des Anges in Puducherry, the Eglise de
Notre Dame de Lourdes in Villianur are particularly noteworthy.
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