Pragasapuram

Pragasapuram
Subvillage/hamlet
State	Tamil Nadu
District	Thoothukudi district
Government
• Type	Nazareth Panchayat
Population
• Total	>5,000
Languages
• Official	Tamil
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
Vehicle registration	TN 69

Pragasapuram is a sub-village adjacent to Nazareth and Mukuperi in the Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu, India. ^[1] The Tirunelveli-Tiruchendur Railway Line divides the villages of Pragasapuram and Nazareth. Pragasapuam is included under Nazareth Village for Revenue and Land administration, but the Mukuperi Post Office provides postal service. Pragasapuram and Mukuperi are on the northern border of Therikaadu and Nazareth is on the northwestern border. It is surrounded by trees, lakes and paddy fields.

Pragasapuram is a village located in the Tuticorin district, between Nazareth and Mukuperi. The Tirunelveli-Tiruchendur railway line divides Nazareth and Pragasapuram. The village is near the Kuthiraimozhi Theri, an area known as the "Desert of Tamil Nadu."

Initially, Pragasapuram was called "Pudur" (New Village). Because of its proximity to Nazareth (Saanpaththu), it was known as "Saanpaththu Pudur." In 1831, the name was officially changed to Pragasapuram, meaning "City of Light," and it has been known by that name ever since.

Climate

The climate of Pragasapuram is usually dry and windy, but there is a short rainy season.

Education

Pragasapuram has three schools: St. Mary's Middle School, St. Trinity Church Middle School and James Memorial Matriculation Higher Secondary School. The literacy rate is above 96%

Religion

Pragasapuram is mostly populated with Christians and Hindus. It has five churches, Our Lady of Assumption Church (Catholic), St. Trinity Church (Protestant), Church of the Only Saviour (ERS), a Seventh-day Adventist church and a Pentecost Church, and two Hindu temples. More than 80% of the population are Christians.

Festivals

The Catholic Church's annual feast runs from 6 August to 15 August every year. Many people from Nazareth, Mukuperi and other surrounding areas celebrate the St. Mary's festival. They provide food (Samabanthi) for all people thrice a year.

The CSI Church gives Samabanthi once a year during their Church dedication remembrance ceremony. The ERS and SDA churches also celebrate their yearly dedication festival with free food. The ERS Church follows mostly the Old Testament of the Bible with a Saturday Sabbath and Jewish traditions including Passover.

References

1. "Basic Population Figures of India, States, Districts, Sub-District and Village, 2011". censusindia.gov.in. Ministry of Home Affairs. 2011. Archived from the original on 11 July 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2025.

Further reading

The Nadar of Tamilnad - The Political Culture of a Community in Change, by Robert L. Hardgrave, Jr. First published in 1969 by the University of California. ISBN   81-7304-700-6.