Kollam temple is dedicated to Puttingal Devi

Kollam, April 10: The Puttingal Devi temple, where a fire tragedy killed some 100 people on Sunday, lies in the coastal town of Paravur in this district in Kerala.

According to the temple web site, it was founded after the presence of the goddess was experienced on an ant hill -- "Puttu" being the Malayalam word for ant hill.

Every day, devotees flock to the temple in large numbers to pray and to make offerings seeking blessings. Special occasions attract large crowds, a temple official said.

IANS