Kalikambal Temple

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[edit] The Temple

The Kalikambal temple located in Thambu Chetty Street in the heart of George Town in the business district of Chennai is among the most visited temples in the metroplolis. This temple enshrines Kalikambal (Kamakshi) and Kamateswarar and a host of parivara devatas.

[edit] History

The history of the temple goes bacj to a few hundred years. The great Maratha ruler Shivaji is said to have visited the Kalikambal shrine in Chennai, during his tour of the southern region of the Indian subcontinent. It is said that the original location of this temple was closer to the sea shore and that is was relocated to its present location during the period of British rule in India. It is believed that a fierce for the of the Goddess was held in worship earlier and that this form was replaced with the shanta swaroopa form of Kamakshi.

[edit] Festival

This temple has a rich tradition of festivals, which are celebrated in splendoe evven today in the limited space that is available in the neighborhood.

The Kinnitter - a Chariot lined with metal cymbals is unique to this temple and the Kinnitter procession in the month of Vaikasi (Tamil Month) attracts large crowds. The Navaratri and the Vasanta Navaratri festivals are also of a unique nature here.

This temple has grown in popularity exponentially over the last two decades. Unprecedented crowds throng the neighborhood on Fridays and during special celebrations and the last two decades have seen major construction activities within the temple complex.