Velipettai angalamman temple , Dharmapuri
Compiled by
P.R.Ramachander
The temple of Angalamman is situated in Dharmapuri town of Tamil Nadu.Though the main deity of the temple is angalamman who sits below the umbella held by the serpent holding a small drum , rope , sword and skull with fire as her crow. Before entering her temple is Nandi and on her left side in Nagar(*serpent). On her right side is Durga in a separate sub temple.In front of her is her primeval form which was being worshipped in early times. Outside the sanctum is Ganesa , Madhurai veeran , Bommiyamman and vellayamman. Pavazha mali tree and white Arali tree are the temple trees .On full moon(POurnami) ,on new moon(Amavasya) , Fridays and Tuesdays special worship is done to Angalamman .Chithra pournami , Adi pathinetteu , Navarathri and Maha Sivarathri are celebrated at the temple. The main festival is around the Maha Shivarathri day. After the flag is hoisted for the festival , for one week , the the goddess goes in a procession around the village around 7 Pm. On the last day of those 7 days , the marriage of the mother is celebrated..On that day the Goddess goes out in a glass chariot at night.That day newly harvested from several fields on the way are offered to her. Two days later early morning at 1 Am , five dolls of different colours made of Maida is taken to the cremation ground and they are smashed there,This is called Pancha Mukha Vettu festival.It is believed that the Goddess protects the villagers because of this. On that day at 10Am , the goddess travelling on a Bootha(ghost) goes to the cremation ground. Three days later a festival called Pillai Pavu is celebrated. It is believed that ladies without children would get children by participating in this festival.
The temple is about 1 km from the Dharmapuri town Bus stand.It is daily open from 6 Am to 12 noon and later between 4.30 Pm to 8 Pm,