Went to the Angalamman Koyil on Chinna Subbaraya street in Pondy town, met Vijayakumar subinspector who told us that on Amavasya Koozh oothara practices are important for Bhadrakali. The utsava murti was out, there had been an unjal utsavam the night before (which was Amavasya). We’re told to come again on Pournami for a similar festival.
We are given koozh and then prasadam is a very nice thair saadam with carrot and mango bits. Somehow manage to carry it all around with us.
I spend some time talking to a woman near the deepam table, where there are small pooshanis halved, filled with ghee she says, and with a kunkumam-smeared red thiri – they’ve used nool, should be panju for better uptake. People who want something leave these lamps – she says in odd numbers but I only see even. 6 Pooshanis, 2 coconuts (she says should be 9 moodis), and 2 limes inverted to make vilakku.
At the Muthialpet Angalamman, there is less crowd. The utsava murti is out here as well, albeit locked behind bars. She is also bedecked because she, too, had an unjal utsavam the night before. Haven’t seen a deity with more arms: four concentric layers! Each extending layer containing more arms than the previous!!
Both temples have “Kalkatta Kali” figures, so named because the pratishtha was done in the ‘Calcutta way’. Not sure what that meant though, and no elaboration was offered.