ASSEFA has long been intensively involved in rural development across Tamil Nadu, with a special focus on women’s empowerment. Believing that true progress begins with the
upliftment of women, ASSEFA supports hundreds of thousands rural women through access to credit, livelihoods, ownership over immovable assets, health care, social
security, and leadership development.

In the recent years, ASSEFA has been taking an unique step by blending its social mission with spiritual tradition through establishing a Centre for Goddess Annapoorani at Thonugal village, in Virudhunagar district, Tamil Nadu. The initiative reflects ASSEFA’s deep respect for women not only as contributors to development but as symbols of care, nourishment, and community strength.

This Annapoorani Centre is dedicated to the goddess of food and abundance, a powerful cultural icon in Indian tradition. Revered as the divine provider of nourishment, Annapoorani also reflects the role rural women play in their families and villages especially in nurturing, sustaining, and giving.

The centre is more than a spiritual space. It functions as a community hub, bringing women together for:

  • Cultural gatherings and festivals.
  • Training sessions and awareness meetings.
  • Collective planning and leadership development.

By linking spiritual identity with practical engagement, the centre helps build confidence and unity among women, especially those who are socially or economically
marginalized.
On April 30th, 2025, Akshaya Tritiya, a sacred day was celebrated as the birth of Goddess Annapoorani. ASSEFA facilitated a large gathering of rural women at the
Thonugal centre. The event became a vibrant blend of tradition and empowerment.

Highlights of the celebration included:

  • A symbolic procession of women with milk in the pot, representing nourishment and purity.
  • The traditional Mulaipari ritual, where women sprouted nine varieties of grains as an offering of fertility, abundance, and gratitude to the goddess.
  • Special poojas and vilakku pooja (lamp lighting), led by women.
  • A large-scale Annadhanam (community feast), where all participants shared a meal in a spirit of equality, togetherness, and joy.
  • Moments of collective prayer, bonding, and shared purpose.

The event went beyond spiritual observance, it was an opportunity for women to organize, inspire one another, and deepen their commitment to community
initiatives.

ASSEFA has consistently found that integrating spiritual and cultural elements into development work leads to stronger community engagement. In rural contexts, where
spirituality is deeply intertwined with daily life, development that resonates with people’s beliefs has a greater chance of success.
This approach:

  • Encourages participation from women who may hesitate to join formal programs
  • Strengthens emotional resilience, especially in the face of poverty or stress.
  • Builds trust and cooperation, creating strong foundations for collective action.
  • Promotes values-based leadership, rooted in compassion and service

The Annapoorani Centre exemplifies this model—where faith and function come together to empower women in a holistic way.
Building on the success of the Thonugal centre and the Akshaya Tritiya celebration, ASSEFA plans to:

  • Use this centre to scale training programs and economic initiatives.
  • Promote festivals as platforms for planning, education, and solidarity.
  • Track and share measurable outcomes such as increased group participation, improved health awareness, and financial literacy.

The Annapoorani initiative at Thonugal exemplifies ASSEFA’s holistic philosophy, one that empowers women not just through resources, but through identity, dignity,
and community. As we move forward, we invite the friends and other well-wishers to join us in scaling this innovative blend of cultural rootedness and
developmental impact, creating communities that are strong, self-reliant, and spiritually resilient.

Prepared by
ASSEFA’s Sarvodaya Action Research Centre