Sivakasi
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| ?Sivakasi Tamil Nadu • India |
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| Coordinates: | |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Area • Elevation |
• 101 m (331 ft) |
| District(s) | Virudhunagar |
| Population | 72,170 (2001) |
- For the film, see Sivakasi (film).
Sivakasi (Tamil:சிவகாசி) is a city and a municipality in Virudhunagar district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
The town is famous all over India for its fireworks factories. There are at least 300 manufacturers based in the city but that number blooms during Diwali. Many of these factories (mostly small-scale and unorganized sector) only exist during the festival season and then vanish for the rest of the year.
The town is also known for its powerful printing industry and match-making industries. It was given the nickname "Kutty Japan" ('Little Japan' in Tamil) by Jawaharlal Nehru.
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[edit] Demographics
As of 2001 India census[1], Sivakasi had a population of 72,170. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Sivakasi has an average literacy rate of 77%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 82%, and female literacy is 72%. In Sivakasi, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.
[edit] History
Sivakasi has a history of more than 600 years.
Between 1428 and 1460 AD, King Harikesari Parakkirama Pandian, then king of Tenkasi, ruled the southern region of Madurai, with his capital at Tenkasi. According to legend, he wanted to construct a temple for Lord Shiva at his palace. Therefore he went to Kasi Varanasi and worshiped Lord Shiva there and brought a Shivalingam from there. While returning to his palace with the prized lingam, he took rest under a grove of Vilva trees, which are favored by Shiva. The cow which carried the Shivalingam refused to move from that point which prevented the carrying of the lingam to Tenkasi. The king realized that the wishes of Lord Shiva were different from his own and placed the lingam in the place where the cow had halted. The place which was sanctified by the "Shivalingam brought from Kasi" henceforth came to be called Sivakasi.
Later on, King Pandia and King Thirumalai Naicker contributed to the expansion of this temple and named it "Kasi Viswanatha Swamy" Temple. The period of construction was between the 15th and 16th centuries. Aanaiappa Gnani reconstructed this temple. Under the rule of the Naickers, the temple was developed even more. In 1659, the Ratham (the temple chariot for processions during festival times) was constructed by Muthu Veerappa Naicker.
Its home to the tallest tower ever built in Tamil Nadu for Pathira Kali Amman - a 'kaval deivam' (protecting goddess). The temple is maintained by Sivakasi Nadar Devasthanam committee. "Kumbabhishekam" for this temple was held on 11-06-1987. "Kumbabhishekam" for the "Raja Gopuram" (Main Tower) was held on 7-7-1995. Raja Gopuram has the length of 66 feet, width of 44 feet and the height of 110 feet of 7 stages. The base was constructed by stone, for 30 feet with 100 sculptures in 6 years. 80 feet of 7 stages was constructed with 30 architects within a period of 1½ year. 'Powrnami Puja' is celebrated grandly on the full moon day. Large numbers of people come to worship the Goddess. There is a very beautiful garden in this temple, and it impresses the visitors to a greater extent.Every summer a ten days festival or 'Thiruvilaa' is celebrated in this temple which brings together people invariably from all walks of life.On the final day of the 'Thiruvilaa' there is a grand display of fireworks crafted in Sivakasi - a visual feast.
[edit] Geography
Sivakasi is located at [2]. It has an average elevation of 101 metres (331 feet). Sivakasi being a very dry area, is ideally suited for the manufacturing of fireworks, printed materials, paper and the match factories which are abundant there.
[edit] Industry
Sivakasi's industries grew out of the economic struggles of India in the 1960s. Without government aid, the local Nadar community constructed matches, fireworks, and printing industries, which today contribute 80% of India's total safety matches production, 90% of India's total fireworks production, and 60% of India's total offset printing solutions. It is one of the highest Sales/Excise/Customs Duty paying towns, and has achieved 100% employment.Child Labour was once high during the 80's, but now it's completely eradicated. Sivakasi may be called as "A town of three industries", namely
- Printing / Offset Printing Press
- Pyrotechnics (Fireworks) & Crackers
- Safety Matches & Colour Matches
Sivakasi town has an astounding number of offset printing machines - the second largest number in the world, next only to Gutenburg, a city in Germany. Shri K. S. A. Arunagiri Nadar was responsible for bringing Printing into this town, and hence became known as "The Founder of Printing" in Sivakasi.
Ayya Nadar and his brother Shanmuga Nadar founded the match industry and several colleges.
Of notable importance are Srinivas Fine Arts - the designers and manufacturers of Nightingale stationeries and SPK Chinnakani Nadar Firm, a manufacturer of high quality note books.
[edit] Education
Sivakasi has very good educational institutions both for secondary education as well as professional studies. It has many schools, most of which are government-run or aided institutions. Sivakasi Hindu Nadar school is more than a century old institution successfully managed by local uravinmurai committee, with nearly 10,000 boys and girls studying there each year. The education is literally free, with minimum payments only for books and other stationery. YRTV and Lions school are popular private institutions.
Mepco Schlenk Engineering college, caters to a large number of students from other states.
Standard Fireworks Rajarathnam College for Women (SFR) is perhaps the town's most popular college. It is funded by the trust run by the world's largest fireworks manufacturer, based in Sivakasi, Standard Fireworks. On the outskirts of the town are Kaliswari college, AJ Polytechnic and Mepco Schlenk Engineering College. Bell Institute of Catering Technology, established in 2006, is a great educational institution for students opting to work for the hotel industry.
- Ayya Nadar Janaki Ammal College
- Arasan Ganesan Polytechnic
- MEPCO Schlenk Engineering College
- Ayya Nadar Janaki Ammal Women's Polytechnic College
- Standard Fireworks Rajaratnam College For Women
- Sankaralingam Bhuvaneswari Pharmacy College
- P.S.R. Engineering College
- Sivakasi Institute of Printing Technology
- Kaleeswari College
- Sivakasi Hindu Nadar Victoria Higher Secondary School
- Coronation Girls' Higher Secondary School
Also A.V.M.Marimuthu Nadar Higher Secondary School and V.N.U.Periakaruppa Nadar & Thillaiammal Matriculation School in Vilampatti provides good education to the rural areas.There are more than 1000 pupils studying in this school and got several awards. The Sankaralingam Bhuvaneeswari college of pharmacy provides a good pharmacetical education and is situated in Annaikuttam.
[edit] Culture
The town's population is predominantly Hindu, although there are many muslim schools and a few churches. The annual agni thiruvizha festivals for Mariamman and Kaliamman temples are very popular among the people. Annual exhibition is organised by local uravinmurai committee attracts lot of crowd with enthusiasm to witness cultural events. Sivakasi has an active Lion's Club, Rotary Club and the Inner Wheel club for enterprising women.
The Nandavanam maintained within the Kaliamman temple complex is very thrilling and maintaining its old tradition till today. Lot of peacock and peahen live inside this Garden. S R Government Higher Secondary School
[edit] References
- ^ Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns. (Provisional). Census Commission of India. Retrieved on 2007-09-03.
- ^ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Sivakasi
