Festivals of Tamil Nadu

The Celebration of Pongal Harvest

The Majority of us think that the national harvest festival of Makara Sankranthi is known as Pongal in Tamil Nadu but Pongal has its own unique Tamil atmosphere. This is one of Tamil Nadu’s most famous Sun God or Surya festivals,  celebrated for four days of the Tamil Calendar Thai month and early in the new harvest season. They are Bhogghi, Pongal, Mattu Pongal and Kanumas.

The first day is known as Bhoghi, it ushers a new beginning of life on the first day of the festival. On this day, the locals put up bhoghi bonfires to burn useless old household goods and other waste for new things in their lives. The second day marks the start of the new harvest season and the largest festival, Pongal. The third day is Mattu Pongal, known as the cow festival,  a thanksgiving for the cattle as a reward for all their hard work on fields that resulted in good yields. The Pongal Festival ends with the last day of Kanumas, to call on the blessings of good fortune for families. Interestingly, Pongal is the popular sweet dish of this harvest festival and has the same name as the festival!

In fact, this festival is celebrated first and foremost to thank the Sun God for giving energy to agriculture. The citizens cook the first rice of the season as a tribute to the Sun God. Pongal is also the name of a dish which is very popular in the south and which is cooked for most of the festivals there.
One month before the festival, the women folk of the house create patterns at the entrance of their houses known as Kolam with rice and colour powder. This month is Margali, and the houses are whitewashed and kept ready for Pongal.

Tamil New Year or  Tamil Puthandu

It is one of Chennai’s most famous festivals, well known for the awareness of the local Tamil rituals and culture in Tamil Nadu Chennai. The Tamil New Year is the start of a new year in the Tamil calendar, known locally as Puthandu. The women at home make beautiful kolams or colourful drawings at the entrance of their houses this festival day. The main feature of Puthandu is a delicious pickle of mango, a sweet and sour dish made with raw mangoes, neem leaves and jaggery.

Natyanjali Dance Festival

The Natyanjali Dance Festival is another famous Tamil Nadu Festival with religious significance. Dance is “Natya” and bid for “anjali.” This dance festival is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is held every year, on the day of Maha Shivrathri, at the Nataraja Temple in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu. The festival strengthens the message of unity among Indians by bringing together Indian dance schools, at least 300 dancers from different cultures, including Kathak, Kathakali and Bharathanatyam, to dance.

Thai Pusam

Thaipusam is a popular Thai month Tamil Nadu Calendar festival. The festival marks the birthday of the younger son of Lord Shiva, Lord Subramaniam. The main highlight of the festival is that the devotees bring ‘Kavadis’ to the Lord on the festival day. A ‘Kavadi’ is a long stick with two pots offering rice and milk on either side.

Thiruvaiyaru Festival

Thiruvaiyaru Festival is a yearly Tamil Festival that honors saint Thiaygaraja, a famous Thiruvaiyaru music writer and Saint. The day of Pushya Bahula Panchami coincides. The Thiruvaiyuru Festival is essentially an annual music festival held in Thiruvaiyuru around January along the Cauvery Lake Samadhi. The festival involves religious ceremonies and “Pujas”.

Karthigai Deepam

Karthigai Deepam, also known as the “Light Festival,” is an annual ten day Tamil Festival, which takes place in the Tamil Calendar month of Carthigai from November to mid-December. The festival is seen as highly favourable and promises the devotees the beginning of positive things in life when all bad things disappear. Like other Hindu festivals, the Karthigai Deepam Tamil Festival takes place when one of the celestial bodies of your solar system shifts. When the moon enters the Carthigai constellation the Karthigai Deepam takes place.

Mahamaham Festival

Mahamaham is one of the most vibrant and popular Tamil Nadu festivals to be held on your Tamil Nadu holiday. The festival is unique, with devotees taking a plunge in Mahamaham tank waters to cleanse themselves. Interestingly, the Tamils celebrate this festival once in every 12 years during the month of Masi according to the Tamil calendar when the planet of Jupiter is connected to the Leo star sign in the constellation.

Arulmigu Kallalazhagar Temple Festival

One of the festivals declared by the Tamilnadu government is the 10-day Chithirai temple festival. This day is declared a local holiday. Lord Kallalazhagar in Chithirai starts from Kallar with Alazhagar Kovil and reaches Madurai on Pournami (Full Moon Day). He joins the Vaigai River on his Horse Vaganam. Lakhs of Devotees flock to the Vaigai River to see this happening. The “Ethir Sevai” festival takes place the day before Alazhagar hits Vaigai River. Alazhagar is Madurai people’s tradition.

Festivities at Ramarayar Mandapam in the northern part of the Vaigai River starts at night when Alazhagar returns from Vandiyur Dhasavatharam. After this incident, the decorated Anantharayar Palanquin takes Alazhagar to Mysore Veera Mandapam. In ‘Poo Pallakku,’ Alazhar returns to Alazhagar Kovil the next morning as Kallar.

In April and May, Pournami (the entire moon day) is the largest Chitra festival. The festival responds dramatically to Lord Kallalazhagar ‘s visit to Madurai. Faithful citizens’ throng the Vaigai river to see Lord Alazhagar as they personally walk down the river and gather his blessings.
The 10-day Aadi Brahmotchavam Festival takes place in July and August. This festival is held in shrine city. Devotees from various parts of Tamilnadu attend the festival. During the Pournami procession in Aadi (Brahmotchavam), the temple car “Amaintha Narayanan” is taken.