Sivakasi
Encyclopedia
- For the film, see Sivakasi (film)Sivakasi (film)Sivakasi is a Tamil action-masala film directed by Perarasu, starring Vijay, Asin and Prakash Raj in lead roles. Nayantara perform in an item number. The film's music is composed by Srikanth Deva. The film released during Diwali 2005 and was declared a "blockbuster". It was leter remade into...
.
Sivakasi is an active town and a municipality
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
in Virudhunagar District
Virudhunagar District
Virudhunagar District is an administrative district of Tamil Nadu state in southern India. Virudhunagar is the district headquarters. Virudhunagar district was formed from parts of Tirunelveli and Madurai districts....
in the India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n state
States and territories of India
India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...
of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
. It is the capital of India’s firecracker industry with about 8,000 factories, big and small, producing 90 percent of the total fireworks output.It is also known as "kutti japan" meaning "small Japan" as its a small and active town.
Linked to printing presses with in-house studios and artists, Sivakasi produces a kaleidoscopic range of colourful, kitsch posters and calendar art for millions in India. The town is famous all over India for its fireworks factories. There are almost 400 manufacturers based in this industrial city.
The town is also known for its printing industry and match-making industries. It was given the nickname "Kutty Japan" ('Mini Japan' in English) by Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru , often referred to with the epithet of Panditji, was an Indian statesman who became the first Prime Minister of independent India and became noted for his “neutralist” policies in foreign affairs. He was also one of the principal leaders of India’s independence movement in the...
. Nearby towns are Srivilliputtur, Sattur
Sattur
Sattur is a town in Virudhunagar district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The district has 8 taluks, namely Aruppukkottai, Kariapatti, Rajapalayam, Sattur, Sivakasi, Srivilliputur, Tiruchuli and Virudhunagar.In 1937 elections Former chief minister of Tamil Nadu K.Kamaraj had first won unopposed...
and Thiruthangal
Thiruthangal
Thiruthangal is a panchayat town in Virudhunagar district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Thiruthangal Nindra Narayana Perumal Temple is also one among the 108 Divya Desams, Vishnu temples reverred by saint poets, Alwars of 6th-9th century. It is 2 kilometres away from the industrial town of...
.
Demographics
India censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, Sivakasi had a population of 72,170. Males constitute 51.76% of the population and females 48.24%. 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.
Sivakasi --- "Shivalingam brought from Kasi"
Sivakasi has a history of more than 600 years. Between 1428 and 1460 AD, King Harikesari Parakkirama Pandian, then king of MaduraiMadurai
Madurai is the third largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It served as the capital city of the Pandyan Kingdom. It is the administrative headquarters of Madurai District and is famous for its temples built by Pandyan and...
, ruled the southern region of Madurai
Madurai
Madurai is the third largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It served as the capital city of the Pandyan Kingdom. It is the administrative headquarters of Madurai District and is famous for its temples built by Pandyan and...
. According to History, he wanted to construct a temple for Lord Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
at Tenkasi(south kasi). Therefore he went to Kasi Varanasi
Varanasi
-Etymology:The name Varanasi has its origin possibly from the names of the two rivers Varuna and Assi, for the old city lies in the north shores of the Ganga bounded by its two tributaries, the Varuna and the Asi, with the Ganges being to its south...
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. After that king built another temple in Tenkasi for SIVA.
"Kasi Viswanatha Swamy" Temple
Later on, King Pandia and King Thirumalai NaickerThirumalai Nayak
Thirumalai Nayak ruled Madurai between 1623 to 1659 CE. He was the most notable of the thirteen Madurai Nayak rulers in the 17th century. His contributions are found in the many splendid buildings and temples of Madurai. His kingdom was under constant threat from the armies of Delhi Sultanate and...
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
Temple car
Temple cars are chariots used to carry representations of Hindu gods. The car is usually used on festival days, when many people pull the cart....
for processions during festival times) was constructed by Muthu Veerappa Naicker.
Pathira Kali Amman - a 'Kaval Deivam'
Panguni Pongal and Chithirai Pongal
Every year Panguni Pongal and Chithirai Pongal festivals are celebrated for the Deity "Mariamman" and "Badrakaaliamman" on April and May respectively. Both the festivals lasts for ten days from the day of Flag Hoisting in the respective temples.In Chithirai Pongal 5th and 6th day celebrations are very famous because of its "Art Direction" which usually is a replica of a temple's interior decoration in front of Shivan temple in the town. On that time exhibition will also be organised by the local "Uravin Murai Group". 9th day festival is "Kayiru Kuthu" (Piercing threads around the hips). On that day people in the town use to paint their face and body with black and white dots and go to the respective temples. 10th day festival is the Therottam (CAR FESTIVAL). Everyone in the town gather together and pull the two RATHAS through all the four ratha veedhis(Streets). And for the final day festival sweets like "Karupatti Mutaai" and "Vellai Mutaai" will be available in box made of dry palm leaves.
04/05/2011
Chithirai Pongal - 2nd day Thiruvizha is being conducted by "PIONEER GROUP, SIVAKASI". URAVIN MURAI HAS GIVEN THIS RIGHT TO PIONEER GROUP FROM THIS 2011.
Geography
Sivakasi is located at 9.45°N 77.82°E. It has an average elevation of 101 metres (331 feet). Sivakasi experiences dry and pretty hot weather throughout the year. The town gets scanty rainfall during the monsoonMonsoon
Monsoon is traditionally defined as a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation, but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with the asymmetric heating of land and sea...
.
Industry
Sivakasi's industries grew out of the economic struggles of India in the 1960s. Without government aid, the local people 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.
- Pyrotechnics (Fireworks) & Crackers
- Safety Matches & Colour Matches
- Offset Printers .
Sivakasi town has many offset printing machines - the second largest number in the world, next only to Gutenberg
Gutenberg, Germany
Gutenberg is a municipality in the district of Bad Kreuznach in Rhineland-Palatinate, in western Germany....
, a city in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Shri K. S. A. Arunagiri Nadar was responsible for bringing Printing in this town, and hence became known as "The Founder of Printing" in Sivakasi.The earliest printing press of the town Coronation Litho works- printers of diaries, calendars etc. is famous of the town. Thilagaraj Textiles, a well known Textile Showroom, started in 1969, is a landmark of Sivakasi.
Ayya Nadar
Ayya Nadar
P. Ayya Nadar was an Indian enterpreneur from the southern city of Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu. He along with Shanmuga Nadar is credited for transforming the small village of Sivakasi into a thriving industrial town...
and his brother Shanmuga Nadar
Shanmuga Nadar
Shanmuga Nadar was an Indian enterpreneur from the southern city of Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu. He along with his cousin Ayya Nadar is credited for transforming the small village of Sivakasi into a thriving industrial town. He was the founder of Kakka firework industry. He was the chairman of...
founded the match industry and several colleges.
Apart from printing and fireworks, Granite
Granite
Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite usually has a medium- to coarse-grained texture. Occasionally some individual crystals are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic...
(yellow) quarrying takes place in a small level in Thiruthangal
Thiruthangal
Thiruthangal is a panchayat town in Virudhunagar district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Thiruthangal Nindra Narayana Perumal Temple is also one among the 108 Divya Desams, Vishnu temples reverred by saint poets, Alwars of 6th-9th century. It is 2 kilometres away from the industrial town of...
, near Sivakasi. There has been a number of protests by the residents against quarry owners as quarrys lie in close proximity to residential areas.
Economy
Sivakasi enjoys huge revenue by producing fire crackers,matches,calenders,posters and other printing works.Sivakasi supplies firecrackers and sparkers for all over India for diwali
Diwali
Diwali or DeepavaliThe name of the festival in various regional languages include:, , , , , , , , , , , , , popularly known as the "festival of lights," is a festival celebrated between mid-October and mid-December for different reasons...
, this industry has huge turnover of around 1000 crore rupees (around 200 million dollars) per year.
This city supplies matches for 70% of India and has large number of industries around the city.
Sivakasi has become the printing hub of Tamil Nadu and has enormous job openings of DTP operators for creating printing designs using computer. This makes Sivakasi one of the major computer users town in Tamil Nadu. One can see lot of computer hardware servicing companies in Sivakasi.
Culture of Sivakasi
The 'Traditional Nandavanam' maintained within the Pathirakaliamman temple complex is very traditional and maintaining its old tradition till today. Lot of peacocks and peahen persist in the Garden without any industrious involvement will move your time machine back to the olden days.
During Dinner, the localites have a simple supper with Rice, Milk and crispy "Pakkoda" in most of their homes. Karrupatti (sweet candy made from Palm tree) mittai and Vellai mittai (made from kalgandu sweet candy), is also a favorite snacks in Sivakasi. "Kara Sev" is another spicy & crispy snacks, mostly made from Sattur, which is 15 km, away from Sivakasi. Even during the marriages when all the other cities in Tamil nadu serve Thayir sadham(curd rice), it is Milk rice (paal sadham) which is served predominantly.
Sivakasi cuisine
A notable Sivakasi dish is parottaParotta
A Parotta or Barotta, is a common layered flat bread of Southern India. This is not to be confused with the North Indian Paratha. Parottas are usually available in restaurants and road side shops across Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and and the Middle East A Parotta or Barotta, is a common layered...
, served with a special gravy. Sivakasi is famous for its pakoda
Pakora
Pakora is a fried snack found across South Asia. Pakoras are created by taking one or two ingredients such as onion, eggplant, potato, spinach, plantain, cauliflower, tomato, chilli, or occasionally bread or chicken and dipping them in a batter of gram flour and then deep-frying them...
. Milk rice (paal sadham) frequently accompanies pakoda, and is served at weddings also. During festival seasons, sweets like Karupatti Mittai (made with rice flour and palm jaggery) and Vellai Mittai (made with rice flour and sugar) are sold in sweet shops in the town.
Idli with Kothukari (a Khurma with minced meat and spices) is a popular breakfast item. Boli
Boli (food)
Boli is a golden yellow sweet pancake from South India. It is eaten during a traditional Sadhya along with Payasam.There are varieties of boli available. Thaenga boli and sarkarai boli are among them. It is especially famous in the southernmost districts of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, India...
, a kind of sweet pancake made of maida flour
Maida flour
Maida is a finely milled and refined flour of wheat, closely resembling cake flour, and used extensively in making Indian fast food and Indian bakery products such as pastries and breadand sometimes in making traditional Indian breads such as paratha and naan. It is made from the endosperm of the...
, jaggery
Jaggery
Jaggery is a traditional unrefined non-centrifugal whole cane sugar consumed in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. It is a concentrated product of cane juice without separation of the molasses and crystals, and can vary from golden brown to dark brown in color...
, and Bengal gram
Chickpea
The chickpea is a legume of the family Fabaceae, subfamily Faboideae...
, are sold in roadside shops.
For the Karthigai
Karthikai deepam
Karthigai Deepam is a festival of lights celebrated by Tamil Hindus on the full moon day of Karthigai month , which is observed in every home and in every temple. This occurs on the day when the moon is in conjunction with the constellation Karthigai and purnima...
festival, people of Sivakasi prepare laddu
Laddu
Laddu or Laddoo is a ball-shaped sweet popular in South Asian countries including India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh as well as countries with immigrants from South Asia. Laddu is made of flour and sugar with other ingredients that vary by recipe...
with groundnut
Peanut
The peanut, or groundnut , is a species in the legume or "bean" family , so it is not a nut. The peanut was probably first cultivated in the valleys of Peru. It is an annual herbaceous plant growing tall...
and jaggery
Jaggery
Jaggery is a traditional unrefined non-centrifugal whole cane sugar consumed in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. It is a concentrated product of cane juice without separation of the molasses and crystals, and can vary from golden brown to dark brown in color...
.
Sivakasi Travel Guide
Sivakasi is served by town bus service, which provide connectivity within the town, suburbs and places 20 km in the radius of Sivakasi. There are even private operated MINI-Bus services that connects almost every street in and around Sivakasi town.By road
The government transport operates air-conditioned AC bus and private travels operates semi-sleeper buses such as KPN TravelsKPN Travels
KPN Travels is a private company operating long distance bus services between major towns in South Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Pondicherry.-History:...
, MUTHUMARI, PARVEEN, APS, VIVEGAM, AMARNATH everyday to Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
and the Town is well connected with major cities like Coimbatore
Coimbatore
Coimbatore , also known as Kovai , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a major commercial centre in Tamil Nadu and is known as the "Manchester of South India"....
, Madurai
Madurai
Madurai is the third largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It served as the capital city of the Pandyan Kingdom. It is the administrative headquarters of Madurai District and is famous for its temples built by Pandyan and...
, Tuticorin and Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
. There are also private bus services operated on daily basis to all major cities.
Madurai
Madurai
Madurai is the third largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It served as the capital city of the Pandyan Kingdom. It is the administrative headquarters of Madurai District and is famous for its temples built by Pandyan and...
, a nearby city which is 72 km away is well connected by government and private buses running periodically around the day.
By train
The Podhigai Express (12662) that travels from Sengottai to Chennai EgmoreChennai Egmore
Chennai Egmore , formerly known as Madras Egmore, is a railway station in Egmore, Chennai , South India. The station acts as the arrival and departure point for trains connecting Chennai and southern, central Tamil Nadu and Kerala.This is one of the two main railway terminals in the city along with...
halts at 20.53 in Sivakasi (SVKS) and it reaches Chennai (MAS) at 07.10. The same train (12661) leaves from Chennai at 20.05 and halts at 05.54 in Sivakasi.
In order to reach Coimbatore
Coimbatore
Coimbatore , also known as Kovai , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a major commercial centre in Tamil Nadu and is known as the "Manchester of South India"....
one can take Coimbatore express from Virudhunagar (23 km away from sivakasi), which departs Virudhunagar everyday at 23:45 which reaches Coimbatore
Coimbatore
Coimbatore , also known as Kovai , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a major commercial centre in Tamil Nadu and is known as the "Manchester of South India"....
at 07:30. The same train departs Coimbatore at 20:30 and reach Virudhunagar at 03:00.
There is also a passenger train running to Madurai via Virudhunagar, Tirumangalam at 08.53, 14.02 and 18.00 which connects to Sengottai via Tenkasi, Srivilliputhur
Srivilliputhur
Srivilliputhur is a semi-urban town and a municipality in Virudhunagar district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu....
, Rajapalayam
Rajapalayam
Rajapalayam is a town and a special grade municipality in Virudhunagar district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located 85 km southwest of Madurai in the state of Tamil Nadu. Its main attractions are the Ayyanar Falls and the neighbour town of Srivilliputtur...
, Sankarankoil at 07.00, 11.25 and 17.30 daily.
Educational Institutions in Sivakasi
Sivakasi has very good educational institutions both for secondary education as well as professional studies. It has many schools, and colleges most of which are owned and run by private and some are government aided institutions. Every institutions here in Sivakasi stride for discipline and integrity of students.Arts and Science Colleges
- Ayya Nadar Janaki Ammal CollegeAyya Nadar Janaki Ammal CollegeAyya Nadar Janaki Ammal College is an autonomous college in Sivakasi in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, affiliated to Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai regarded as a college with Potential for Excellence with re-accreditation of A+ college rating from NAAC, an autonomous body of University...
of arts and science(Autonomous,CPE status,A+ grade) - Standard Fireworks Rajaratnam College For Women
- Sri Kaliswari CollegeSri Kaliswari CollegeSri Kaliswari College is housed in a campus in a three-storied Palatial Building on the Sivakasi Virudhunagar Highway, at a distance of about 7 k.m from Sivakasi....
of Arts and Science - Sankaralingam Bhuvaneswari Pharmacy College
Polytechnics and ITI
- Arasan Ganesan PolytechnicArasan Ganesan PolytechnicArasan Ganesan Polytechnic college is a technical institute based in Sivakasi town in the southern state of Tamilnadu in India. It is a government-aided co-educational institution founded in 1981 by Arasan A.M.S...
- P.S.R. Polytechnic College
- Ayya Nadar Janaki Ammal Polytechnic College
- Sivakasi Institute of Printing Technology
- Ramalakshmi Industrial Training Institute
- Padmanaba Industrial Training Institute
- Pabanas Industrial Training Institute
B.Ed., and Teacher Training colleges
- Arasan Ganesan college of Preceptors
- P.S.R. College of Education
- Sri. R.Ponnusamy Naidu College of Education (Women)
- SRV College of Education
- MEPCO Schlenk Engineering College
Schools
- Hindu Thevamar Higher Secondary School, Sivakasi
- Velankanni Matha Higher Secondary School, Sivakasi
- Arasan Ganesan Nursery & Primary School, Sivakasi
- kammavar matriculation Higher secondary school
- Annamalai Nadar Unnamalai Ammal Higher Secondary School
- Sivakasi Hindu Nadar Victoria Higher Secondary School
- Sivakasi Hindu Nadar Victoria Matriculation Higher Secondary School
- Yennarkay Ravindran Thilagavathy Vidhyasala (YRTV)
- Lions Matriculation Higher Secondary School
- VSK Duraisamy Nadar Matriculation Higher Secondary School
- Sri Metha Jain Public School
- Jaycees Matriculation Higher Secondary School
- Kamarajar Matriculation Higher Secondary School
- Sri Vinayagar Matriculation Higher Secondary School
- Sivakasi Muslim Higher Secondary School
- Sivakasi Muslim Elementary School
- CMS Girls High School, Satchiyapuram
- C.S.I School for Mentally Retarded, Satchiyapuram
- Municipal High School
- Sruthi Vidhyodhaya
- Ragland Matriculation Higher Secondary School
- Seventh Day Adventist Matriculation School
- Coronation Girls Higher Secondary School
- Sivakasi Hindu Nadar Girls Higher Secondary School
- A.V.M.Marimuthu Nadar Higher Secondary School, VilampattiVilampattiVilampatti is a small village located in the Virudhunagar district, Tamil Nadu, India. It is about just 5 kilometres from Sivakasi. The total population is around 2000. There are about 2 marriage halls, 3 schools, Hindu temples, browsing centres, match factories and fireworks depots here. This...
- Amman Kovil Patti Govt High School
- N.P.S.S.Rathina Nadar Kanagammal Rotary Matric Higher Secondary School
- C.S.I.Primary School, Puthu Satchiyapuram, Sivakasi West. http://www.csischoolsvks.in/ Website
Holy places
- Sri Karkuvel Ayyanar Thiru Kovil
- Sri Anandha Udhanda Madaswamy Kovil
- Swamy Kasi Viswanatha Thiru Kovil (Sivan Kovil)
- Murugan Kovil
- Pathira Kali Amman Thiru Kovil
- Maari Amman Thiru Kovil
- Jakkammal Thiru Kovil
- Kadai Kovil
- Kamatchi Amman Kovil
- Kachakara Amman Kovil
- Perumal Kovil
- Ayyappa Swamy Thiru Kovil
- Karrupa Swamy Kovil
- UmaMaheshwari Amman Thiru Kovil
- CSI Ragland Memorial Church
- Romans Catholic Church for Matha
- Bazaar Mosque near Canara Bank, The first & ancient mosque till the year 1700,
- Shafi mad'hab periya pallivasal till the year 1827,
- Hanafi mad'hab pallivasal,
- Madhina Pallivasai,
- Tamil Nagar Pallivasal,
- Thowheed Jamaath Pallivasal,
- Rserve line Pallivasal, Near E.S.I. Hospital
- Saratha Nagar Pallivasai,
- Masjidh e Peermohamed, Pallapatti,
- Zindha Sheik Madhar Darga,
- Passipatanam Naina Mohamed Darga,
- Sangoor Pethapan Darga, Coronation Colony,
- Padayali Sahib Darga, Near Sengamala Nachiyar Puram,
- Wilayathulla Darga,
- Nagoor Andavar Darga,
- Ajmeer Kaja Mohideen Darga,
- Arulmigu Muthumariamman thirukovil, Muthuramalingapuram colony, Sivakasi-East
- Sivakasi Church of God, church
- Sivakasi East Gethsamne Prayer House
- Carmel Prayer Fellowship Church, Sivakasi
- Mispah Prayer House, Pallapatti
- Apostolic Christian Assembly, Tiruthangal
- Image of Christ Church of God, 56 house colony, Sivakasi
- CSI St.Peter's Church Satchiyapuram, Sivakasi West.