Amma Tookay Kovil
The spiritual jewel of the South
The south of Mauritius is known for several iconic places. One of them is the prominent and picturesque Amma Tookay Kovil. Nestled in the village of Camp Diable, in the Savanne district, where peace and tranquility reign, Amma Tookay Kovil is one of the most popular kovils on the island. Inspired by the Dravidian/South Indian temple style, this temple has in its midst, a colorful stepped pyramid featuring several colorful statues of deities. In the main hall of the temple, Amma Tookay is the main deity. Next to her statute are Mathas (Seven Divine Mothers). Altogether, the kovil is beautifully juxtaposed in a sugarcane field, making it a magnificent meeting place.
Throughout the year, Amma Tookay Temple attracts many local as well as foreign visitors in a unique setting where energetic colors and positivity are naturally blended. But trust us, a long stop is required to immerse yourself in the beauty of this location which uncovers its origins.
Once you get there and as you pass by the magnificent alley of palm trees which leads to the entrance of the Kovil, your journey within begins and believe us, it is a complete disconnection from life in town. And when reaching the courtyard, you will be for sure mesmerized with queues of devotees dressed in their traditional outfits, holding thalis in their palms and proceeding for their offerings to Amma Tookay, in the form of Amman.
Same like Goddess Durga, she is considered as the protective mother of the Universe. She is also revered for prosperity and good health. With a 5 ft high effigy, Amma Tookay is always beautifully adorned with South Indian style saris, flowers and offerings placed on her feet.
While the officiating priest recites in tamil, sacred verses of holy books which resound in the air filled with a fine fragrance of burning sandalwood, devotees join their palms at heart level to ask Amma Tookay for her grace and blessings. And that what renders the atmosphere even more amazing and serene.
Origins of Amma Tookay Kovil
In reference to the Kovil Amma Tookay website, the origins of this temple date back to the 19th century when indentured laborers were brought to work in the sugar fields of the Riche Bois Sugar Estate, which later became the Britannia Sugar Estate. And in order to cope with the hard times, they invested their faith in religious worship and established a small site of prayer there. We learn also that the original structure of the Amma Tookay Temple was made of bamboo and straw in which they placed a statuette of the goddess Amma Tookay. However, after a cyclone hit in 1945, the temple was severely destroyed. And efforts were made by Goinsamy Thungapen, a sugarcane farmer, to revive the temple with a wooden and corrugated iron structure. Nevertheless, it was hit again by a powerful cyclone. It was not until the 1960s that the management of the temple was delegated to the Savanne Tamil Benevolent Society, a newly registered religious and cultural organization. According to the research paper (11 ICLEI 2018-020 Angela Ramsoondur), it was in 2002 that the Kovil was rebuilt with concrete. However, legends are told about the foundation of the temple in this village. It is said that about a hundred years ago when the workers were working in the fields, they fell on a rock that proved to be unmovable for anyone. As efforts to move it would only bring bad luck, it was claimed. So, the workers began to worship at this spot. Other mysteries dictate that the rock, which seemed to be very holy, was the deity Amma Tookay herself.
Crop seasons
Although the kovil is renowned for its spirituality and its vivid landscape beauty, it is mainly during the crop season prayer that planters of all faiths and faithful visitors flock there to pray. Every year, at the beginning of the sugarcane cutting season in June, it is customary for devotees to gather in mass at the kovil. In particularly, they worship to the main deity’s benevolence for a bountiful season and for her protection against injury or accidents during the harvesting process. More so, the event is almost a national affair. It is heavily mediatized. And among other activities that attract people in Amma Tookay Temple is the firewalking ceremonies organized in the middle of the year.
Did you know that ?
Amma Tookay Kovil has been a source of strength for the community that lived nearby for hundreds of years and that belief in her is still as powerful today. Although its foundations are based on unproven legends, no one can dispute that the divine connection and spirituality that this kovil exudes is irrefutable. No need for religious recitals to feel it. Indeed, the feminine divinity of Amma Tookay is very much present.
