Sooran Poor Festival Kanda Sashti Kavacham New Kathiresan Pillayar kovil கதிரேசன் பிள்ளையார் கோயில்

Puthiya New Kathiresan Kovil Bambbalapitya #bambalapitiya #Kathiresan_Temple பம்பலப்பிட்டி கதிரேசன் கோவில் சூரன்போர் 👺 2023 | சூரசங்காரம் ⚔ #soorasamharam #bambalapitiya #சூரன் #sooran_poor #சூரன்போர் #soorasamharam #bambalapitiya #subscribe #kathiresan #KathiresanPillayarKovil #Suranpor #DivineJourney #spirituality #sooran_poor #culturetv #Suranpor's #Sooranpoor #சூரன்போர்

Paying Homage to the God of War - Kandasashdi ‘Sooran Poor’ Festival
Kathiresan Pillayar Kovil is not just a place of worship; it's a symbol of cultural heritage and spiritual significance. Discover the rich history behind the temple, which stands as a testament to the enduring faith of its devotees. “Kantha Shasti” is observed in the Tamil month of “Aippasi”, which falls either in October or November on the new moon. Hindus all around the world fast for six days for Lord Murugan. “Kantha Shasti Kavasam” a special hymn is sung at houses and temples during this period.

It’s believed that Lord Murugan defeated the demon Soorapathman and his army with the “Vel” (lance) given to him by his mother. Lord Murugan fought for six days, and on the last day he liberated “Devas” from “Asuras”.

“Sooran Poor” is held to celebrate the victory on the sixth day at dusk. The temple courtyard and backyard are made to look like a battle field. Idols of Lord Murugan and Sooran are taken out of the temple to have the battle and the celebration.

Devotees of Lord Murugan have a fast for six days during these days. It’s unlike any other fast; devotees do not have any meals except a glass of fresh milk and fruits in the night.It’s called “Upavaasam” (total fast). The seventh day is known as “Paaranai”

Devotees, who have fasted for six days wake up at dawn, have a head shower, go and pray at the temple, cook and have a vegetarian meal before the sun rises.

The devotees who observed the fast are not supposed to witness “Sooran Poor”, because it is considered inauspicious to witness a killing of Sooran after fasting.


The Kathiresan kovil or Puthiya (new) Kathiresan kovil is a beautiful one easily recognizable from Galle Road in Bambalapitiya -the temple is dedicated to the war God Skanda or Murugan.

Kovils are typically vertical structures heavily adorned with images from Hindu mythology. On the corners of the roof of the Kathiresan kovil you’ll find Bhairava the Frightful, a fierce manifestation of Shiva.

The men selling garlands at the front gate told us that the temple is likely more than a hundred years old.

The kovil has both old and new sections, some parts in bright colours and some in gold paint – it’s all very grand and superfluous, but the craftsmanship of the artist behind the sculpted figures is amazing. At the back of the premises to the left are the Kathiresan Hall and further in Manikka Pillaiyar Kalai Rangam, halls where weddings are often carried out.

If you go round the back of the temple, you’ll also find some cages of love birds and cockatoos and even a pretty peahen. We were told they’re kept as pets by the temple keepers. Photography is not usually allowed at the temple but luckily we got there when the temple was closed to the public.

The inside of the temple is spacious and has separate shrines for deities, similarly decorated. Visitors bring garlands sold at the gates and sometimes even expensive materials to adorn the deities. In July/August, or the Tamil month of Aadi, the Kathiresan temples of Bambalapitiya and Pettah take part in the Vel Festival, where a chariot is carried from the New Kathiresan in Pettah to the one in Bamba, surrounded by a procession of performers and musicians. Some of the very passionate devotees pierce their faces with spears for the occasion.

Temple hours are usually from 5.30AM to 10.30AM, and 5.30PM to 8PM, every day, although we were told the temple is particularly teeming with crowds on Fridays and Saturdays. The Kathiresan kovil is a very cool place to visit if Hindu architecture is something that fascinates you.

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