Kerala temple fire: We take a look at the temple history

Trivandrum - A firework competition called 'Malsara Kambam' on the last day of the festival is the main attraction.

The Puttingal Devi temple at Paravur is one of the oldest temples in Kollam district. The name of the temple is derived from Malayalam word 'Puttu' which means 'ant hill'.
The temple was constructed centuries ago when the presence of the deity herself was experienced on an ant hill. The temple was reconstructed a couple of centuries back and it is now one of the biggest temples in Quilon district.
The Puttingal temple is one among very few where everybody irrespective of their caste had the right to enter even before the Temple Entry Proclamation came into force.
The temple is being renovated since 2006.
The temple authorities say on completion of the renovation work it will become one of the biggest temples in Kerala. The temple is surrounded by a huge compound that can accommodate nearly 100,000 people.
The major festival in the temple is the seven-day annual festival celebrated on the birthday of the deity. It is celebrated on the day of the Bharani in the Malayalam month of Meenam (March-April). A firework competition called 'Malsara Kambam' on the last day of the festival is the main attraction.
There are two store rooms in the temple to keep the fireworks, the south and the north ones. Both were wooden rooms with tiled roof till three years ago. As part of the renovation, both the rooms were rebuilt with concrete roof. Local residents say this was a reason for the increased number of casualties as many people were injured by concrete pieces.
The fireworks usually start around 10pm in the last day and goes on till next morning. Teams from several parts of the state take part in the competition. The winners are given trophies. People from all over the state and even from outside come to the temple to witness the fireworks.
As it has been leading to unhealthy competition and given rise to complaints from people living around the temple, the district administration had denied permission for the competition this time.
(With inputs from Anu Warrier)
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