Hamsa, also worshiped Devi Kanyakumari. In fact, Swami Nirmalananda brought several small girls from many parts of Kerala to worship goddess here in 1935-36 period. Seven girls later on became the members of the first batch of Nuns of the "Sarada Ashrama", a Hindu nunnery started later in 1948 in Ottapalam, Palakkad, Kerala by Swami Vishadananda. Temple festivals Chitra Pournima Festival: on the Full moon day in May Navaratri festival: 9 day festival in (September–October). The music artists get an opportunity to offer their artistic skill to the goddess by performing in the Navarathri Mandapam. Vaisakha festival: 10-day festival in May–June culminating by a Thoni Ezhunellathu in May–June. During this festival Devi will be taken in procession both in the morning and evening, during Aaraatu the eastern door is opened. On the ninth day, the Thoni Ezhunellathu takes place. Devi will be taken round the water on the western part in a boat. Kalabham festival: The idol is smeared in Sandal paste in the last Friday of the month of Karkidaka or Aadi, in July–August. Pooja and worship schedule The temple is opened for darshan from 6.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m. Administration The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu. See also Kaumari Kumari (goddess) Kanwari Matrikas Suchindram Temple, Kanyakumari Nagaraja Temple, Nagercoil, Nagarcoil Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple, Trivandrum Attukal Temple, Trivandrum Kottiyoor Vysakha Mahotsavam, Kannur Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple, Thrissur Kamakshi Amman Temple, Kanchipuram Meenakshi Amman Temple, Madurai Mookambika Devi Temple, Mangalore References Further reading Durga Puja Beginner, Swami Satyananda Saraswati, Devi Mandir, 2001. () Aurobindo, Sri. "The Mother". . Kinsley, David. Hindu Goddesses: Vision of the Divine Feminine in the Hindu Religious Traditions. Motilal Banarsidass, New Delhi, India. . Pattanaik, Devdutt. The Mother Goddess: An Introduction. . Pintchman, Tracy (1994). The Rise of the Goddess in the Hindu Tradition. SUNY Press, New York, USA. . Sen, Ramprasad (1720–1781). Grace and Mercy in Her Wild Hair: Selected Poems to the Mother Goddess. . Wangu, Madhu Bazaz (2003). Images of Indian Goddesses: Myths, Meanings, and Models. Abhinav Publications, New Delhi, India. . External links Durga Puja at NetGlimse.com 108 names of Durga from the Durgāsaptaśatī all about kanyakumari Temple Lakshmi Forms of Parvati Mother goddesses Hindu goddesses