Draupadi Amman and Mariamman Temple

The Draupadi Amman and Mariamman Temple is a Hindu temple located in Chettipet, a locality in Puducherry, Puducherry Union Territory, India. It enshrines Goddess Draupadi Amman, revered as an incarnation of Shakti and consort of the Pandavas, alongside Goddess Mariamman, associated with health and protection. The temple is notable for its Dravidian-style shrines, vibrant annual Thimithi fire-walking festival, and its role as a community religious centre for local Tamil devotees.

Visitors can expect a compact South Indian temple complex with two main shrines dedicated to Draupadi Amman and Mariamman, featuring colorful gopuram-style entrances, decorated sanctums and an open courtyard for gatherings. The temple is situated within the residential area of Chettipet surrounded by local streets and shops. Visitors can observe daily puja rituals, view decorated deities, and during festival periods witness large gatherings, processions and the Thimithi fire-walking ceremony in a devotional, community-oriented setting.

The temple reflects Tamil folk traditions venerating Draupadi Amman as a form of Shakti and Mariamman as a guardian goddess of health and rain. Amman temples in the Puducherry region have long served as community centres preserving rituals such as Thimithi, which commemorates Draupadi's trial by fire from the Mahabharata.

The temple is culturally significant for the local Tamil community, hosting the annual Thimithi fire-walking festival where devotees walk on hot coals to demonstrate faith and fulfill vows. It also serves as a centre for Mariamman worship associated with protection from illness, with regular pujas, festivals and processions that reinforce community identity.