Vilathikulam
Vilathikulam is a selection grade panchayat town in Thoothukudi district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a small town near the southern tip of mainland India. Vilathikulam is a little town, on the northern bank of the Vaipar river, which has water flowing only 15 to 25 days per year. It had major issue as the bridge connecting the Vilathikulam town on the southern side to the Kovilpatti and Tuticorin routes gets submerged completely when the river flows. It is a single lane bridge constructed during the British Era and is about 1.5 km in length . In year 2012, new double-way Bridge was constructed adjacent to the old bridge to avoid roads from getting submerged. As the panacea of water problem a dam has been constructed across Vaipar in 2006. Etymology. Vilathikulam owes its name to a temple pond "Vila" + "Athi" + "Kulam". The Meenakshi Amman Temple has a temple pond, which had a "Vila" tree and an "Athi" tree and hence, the name. Every year during Chithirai month, ( same day and dates as of Madurai Meenakshi amman Temple), Chithirai Festival is celebrated and ends with a Car Festival crowded by the people from  nearby villages. Demographics. India census, Vilathikulam had a population of 13,540. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Vilathikulam has an average literacy rate of 72%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 77%, and female literacy is 67%. In Vilathikulam, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age. Entertainment. "Sithirai Thiruvizha" in Meenakshi Amman temple is the most famous festival in Vilathikulam which will last for more than 10 days. Another big entertainment for the people in and around Vilathikulam is the famous "Rekla Race" (bull cart race), which happens usually for  most festivals and functions. The people in and around Vilathikulam will host the "Rekla Race" and people from all over Tamil Nadu participate with their trained bulls. Purana Nadagam (Stage shows) like "Arichantra Mayana Kandam", "Veera Pandiya Katta Pomman", "Valli Thirumanam", "Pavalak kodi" are arranged every year during the "pongal" festival at the Amman temple at Karisalkulam, Velidupatti, Singilipatti, Perilovanpatti, Lakshmi Puram and also some nearby villages. Other events at such festivals include Karakaattam, Narikurathi aattam, etc. "Pathirakali Amman" temple festivals like "Silampattom" and "Mulaippari" are other major religious events in the region. Railway Projects. The Vilathikulam people's major  expectation is that the proposed Railway line connecting Madurai with Tuticorin through Vilathikulam, Pudur, Pandalkudi and Aruppukottai, should bring in more developments to the region. The project is confirmed and now started. Politics. Vilathikulam assembly constituency is part of Thoothukudi (Lok Sabha constituency). K.Subramaniyapuram Education. Schools Professional training Institutes