Manamadurai is a Town in Sivaganga district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Situated 58 kilometres away from the heart of Madurai on the Cochin - Dhanushkodi National Highway. It is the 4th Largest Town in the Sivaganga district followed by Karaikudi, Sivaganga and Devakottai. Manamadurai represents its seat in Manamadurai Legislative assembly constituency. It is a river-based settlement town developed on banks of river Vaigai around 2 BCE. The River flows through the core of town dividing the town into Upper Western banks and lower eastern banks.
Etymology The Name Manamadurai is said to be derived from Vanara Veera Madurai. As mentioned in the epic Ramayana, Lord Rama, Hanuman and "Vaanara Sena" - the Monkey Force which embarked on a search for Sita, ended in the banks of the river Vaigai, hence all of them took a bath, slept a night here, and left. Hence the name was applied to this place, with the Sanskrit word Vaanaram, meaning "monkey" and veera, meaning "powerful". As centuries rolled, it became Vaana Vīra Madurai, then Vaana Madurai, and finally became Manamadurai. An inscription with a low relief was found at a site near the Thulukkanendhal village of Manamadurai Panchayat Union. It was inspected by the research personnels of The Pandiya Naadu Culture society and they carbon dated it to 1700 A.D. The sculpture in Tamil read as /ʋaːn̪a ʋiːɾa maðɯɾaɪ̯ aɻaɡaɾ t̪iɾuʋiɖaɪ̯jaːʈʈam/ which literally discusses about the land donation of someone to the Azhagar Temple in Manamadurai. Thiruvidaiyattam refers to a stone which sculpted on resemblance of Land donation. And the wheel like structure below the text is actually present in the coin of the Madurai Nayaks who ruled Madurai from 1529 to 1815.
Architecture The City was designed pre historically around the Anandavalli Amman Temple, The Quadrangular road around the temple is the Tēr Veedhis (Car streets), and every concentric quadrangle road is filled with houses, community wise hierarchially arranged. Facing the River Vaigai. Similarly on the other bank, which was fully farm & fields, later urbanized on construction of Veera Azhagar Temple by Madurai Nayaks. Same type of Dravidian Quadrangled roads concentrically surrounding the temple, people residing together in communities, while the pottery artisans alone live too close to the banks for easy collection of mud.
Upgradation of Manamadurai town Panchayat to municipality The Tamil Nadu Government Department of Municipal Administration and Metro Water Supply Additional Chief Secretary Shiv das Meena issued an ordinance for the Promotion of Manamadurai Selection grade town Panchayat to Manamadurai Municipality on 16 October 2021.kumbakonam corporaon and 19 muniicipalites தமிழ்நாட்டில் புதிய 19 நகராட்சிகள் அறிவிப்பு
Political administration
Manamadurai falls under Manamadurai State assembly constituency and Sivaganga Loksabha constituency. For further details, see Manamadurai State assembly constituency Sivaganga Parliamentary Constituency
Geography Manamadurai is at . It has an average elevation of . The Vaigai river flows from north to south through Manamadurai and divides the town into Eastern bank and Western bank.
Demographics As of 2011 census of India, Total number of households in Manamadurai is 52,131. Manamadurai has a total population of . In which 50.39% (1,04,428) are Males and 49.61% (1,02,795) are Females. In which children below the age of 12 is 22,403. Literacy rate is 69.99% (1,45,052)
Geographical indication
This town is famous for manufacturing Ghatam musical instruments, clay pots, clay horses, and other clay items. The Manamadurai Pottery Works Co-operative Society - a renowned local community of Artisans traditionally working on Mud crafts, applied for Geographical indication for Manamadurai Pottery on 28 July 2016. The Geographical Indications Registry Of India under World Trade Organizations Act, issued the Certificate of Geographical Indication for Manamadurai Pottery officially on 31 March 2023 on the journal numbered 166 and certificate number 446.
The Chithirai Thiruvizha As Similar to Madurai's Chithirai Thiruvizha and Meenakshi Tirukalyanam, Manamadurai people too celebrate the Chithirai Thiruvizha and Aananthavalli Tirukkalyanam.
The 'Chithirai Thiruvizha' festival is celebrated every year in the Tamil month of Chithirai (April–May) for 15 days. The festival commences by Hoisting the Holy flag in the Temple's sacred flagpole and this occasion is called Kodiyettram. This is a festival without caste and Religion Discrimination celebrated by all people in and around Manamadurai together in the riverbanks. As the thiruvizha begins, the Aananthavalli ascends the throne as Queen of Manamadurai in a Ritual called "Pattabishekam". After pattabishekam, she parades around the town in different Vahanams namely Simma Vaahanam, Mayil Vaahanam, Rishaba vaahanam, Garuda Vaahanam, Nandhi Vaahanam and finally Kamadhenu Vaahanam for 8 days. then, she marries her destinied Husband Somanatha. Lord Shiva Incarnates as Somanatha, a common man. Aananthavalli decides to marry him. they both get married in a marvelous manner. People call it "Sri Aananthavalli – Somanatha Tirukkalyanam" and the next day, they are paraded around the Car streets (Thēr Veedhis) in the huge Chariot hauled by local People with help of ropes tied to chariot. This occasion is called Thirutherottam. The festival crowd reaches the peak during the Azhagar Uprising on the Vaigai River on the morning of first full moon day (Chithra Pournami) of Chithirai. It happens to commemorate that, Veera Azhagar's Sister Aanandhavalli marries Somanatha without the presence of her brother Azhagar as he delayed to the marriage. He arrives lately and uprises into the Vaigai River in his golden horse on the dawn of first full moon day of Chithirai. The Aananthavalli and Somanatha immediately rushes to riverbanks and get the praisings from Azhagar on the riverbanks. The next day, the slightly full moon of Chithirai, all the local people of Manamadurai and surrounding areas gather in the riverbanks at night to celebrate "Nila Chōru" – The moonlight feast. People believe that Newly married couples Aanandhavalli and Somanatha will need deep sleep in silence, hence people leave their house and spend the night on river banks, Even the temple is closed with both their Idols being kept on Palliyarai within the temple premises. People who cannot come to riverbanks celebrate it on their home terraces. The street food vendors in and around Manamadurai Gather here and make their stalls. Amusement Rides, Circus, Family Games, Bike Stunt Amusements, and fireworks display, and toy shops and fruit vendors make this festival unforgettable. The amusement rides were temporarily set up on the riverbanks. Temporary stalls were made, and taxes were collected from the vendors by contractors.
Vaigai flood threat As the Tamil Nadu Government usually opens the Vaigai Dam located in Theni for the Madurai's Chithirai Thiruvizha, Sivaganga district collector usually issues an counter-ordinance to stop the water in Madurai itself as the Thiruvizha setup were made at Manamadurai riverbeds. And orders to close the Viraganoor Barrage dam, So the River water won't affect Manamadurai and the Thiruvizha won't be spoiled by river water. But during 2022 and 2023 festival, the Government failed to close the Viraganoor Barrage dam and ruined the Manamadurai's Festival leaving the riverbanks messy and floody.
Other festivals The annual urus (Santhanakoodu) festival marking the martyrdom day of the Panch shuhadas is commemorated on the 17th of the Islamic month of Jamadil Awwal every Hijri year.
Other prominent Hindu Festivals include The Dhayapuram Mariyamman Thiruvizha, Burma Colony Santhana Mariyamman Thiruvizha, A.Vilakulam Niraigulathu Ayyanar Thiruvizha, Thayamangalam Muthumaari Amman thiruvizha, Prathyangira Devi Sahasra Sandi Maha Yagnam, Sri Veera Azhagar Temple's Vaikuntha Ekadesi Sorga Vaasal Opening ceremony, Maha Shivaratri at Aananthavalli Somanathar Temple, Vaikasi Visakam & Panguni Uthiram at Vazhividu Murugan Temple, Aadi Ammavasai Thiruvizha at Annavasal Somanathaswamy Temple are some of them.
Transport & accessibilities
Road
The Manamadurai Integrated Bus terminus is situated at Western bank of the town on Cochin – Dhanushkodi interstate Highway (Asian Highway; AH-45). It was formerly a two-lane road. Later, during 2017, a new fourway road was built from Viraganoor Ring Road (Madurai) with bypasses for every town and truck lay-by for every 5 kilometers and a petrol bulk every 4 kilometers throughout the highway. Initially it would take two hours to go to Madurai from Manamadurai. Now, this road makes it possible in 30 minutes. There are many TNSTC and TNSETC buses operated from various cities to Manamadurai. Some major stops for town buses inside the town includes SIPCOT, Udaikulam, Union office, Gandhi Statue, Devar Statue, Anna Statue, Old bus stand, By-pass
Railway
The Manamadurai Junction railway station is situated in southern part of the town at the Western Bank at 500 metres from the bus terminus.
It is a major stop for all the trains running between Rameshwaram – Madurai, Rameswaram – Chennai and Virudhunagar – Karaikudi. The railway junction in manamadurai connects with Virudhunagar railway junction in the southwest, Madurai railway junction in the northwest, Rameswaram railway terminus in the southeast and Karaikudi railway junction in the northeast. The thrice-daily operating passenger train via Manamadurai connects the main cities of Virudhunagar and Tiruchirapalli via Sivaganga, Kallal, karaikudi, Chettinad devakkottai road, Thirumayam, Pudukkottai, Vellanur, keeranur. A thrice-daily passenger train runs between Madurai to Rameswaram via Tiruppuvanam, thiruppachethi, Manamadurai, paramakkudi, Ramanathapuram, Mandapam, pamban and also uses the Pamban Railway Bridge. The railway line between Manamadurai and Rameswaram became the country's first green train corridor.
Rameswaram – manamadurai – Madurai line and Virudhunagar – Manamadurai – Tiruchirapalli line's Electrification works are completed smoothly and trains are hauled by electric locomotives at an average speed of 110 km/h.
Airports
Manamadurai doesn't have its own Airport. Some of the airports near Manamadurai are
Madurai International Airport (57 km )
Tiruchirapalli International airport(143 km.),
Tuticorin Domestic Airport (160 km.)
The Nearest Naval Air station is located in Uchipuli called as INS Parundu at a distance of 85 kilometres
Medical accessibilities
The Manamadurai Government Hospital is situated on the eastern banks on Thayamangalam road. It serves 24/7 Emergency Aid equipped with ECG, X-Ray, Labor wards, Free-of-cost Pharmacy, 20 beded Multi speciality ward, out patient block, Siddha medical ward, Vaccine point, Blood pressure and Insulin testing, Blood testing, Urinal and faecal testing, and a Intensive care unit with 24 hours duty doctors and staff nurses present. Two 108 Ambulance for emergency and referral cases and a TN Govt.Mother-child welfare vehicle to pick up and drop the labored women and their baby in their homes. Government Sivaganga Medical College hospital situated in Manamadurai-Sivaganga Main road about 18 kilometres from Manamadurai is the second and foremost important medical centre for People of Manamadurai Other prominent Hospitals include Nirubarajan Lifecare hospitals, The Tamil Nadu Leprosy Mission Hospital, Selva Hospital, Jayabal Nursing home and hospital, Unnamalai paediatric hospital
Safety accessibilities The Tamil Nadu Government Fire Station is situated near SIPCOT Estate, Manamadurai take cares the fire safety for the whole Municipality
The Police station (law and order) present at Kannar street, All Women's police station near Panchayat Union office, Another police station (Law & order, Traffic) at SIPCOT Estate take measures to control the crime in the town