Facts

Festivals in Tamilnadu

Tamil Nadu has perhaps the largest number of religious celebrations in the year. Most of the temple-festivals take place in September-October and in the post-harvest months of March-June. The duration of each festivals is from three to ten days more. The main deity is draped in colorful bright costumes and adorned with very valuable and rare items of jewellery of the distant past.

People meet at festivals which are designed to ensure individual happiness commingled with social joy and domestic éclat.

Major Festivals in Tamilnadu

  • Pongal
  • Deepawali
  • Vinayaka Chathurthi
  • Summer Festival







Major Festivals in Tamilnadu


Pongal Festival

Pongal
Pongal festival falls in the month of January, a festival of Thanks giving to the Sun, the Earth and the cow. They cook the Pongal made up of rice jaggery and milk in front of their houses in a mud pot. At dawn on this day families everywhere gather around a new earthen pot. As the pot of milk boils over, signifying prosperity, a shout of "Pongalo Pongal" rents the air.










Jallikatu - Bull Fight

Jallikattu
On the 4th day, Kanya Pongal, coloured balls of the pongal are made and are offered to birds. A kind of bull-fight, called the 'Jallikattu' is held in Madurai, Tiruchirapalli and Tanjore in Tamil Nadu.....Read more...







Vinayaka Chaturthi

Vinayaka Chaturthi
Lord Ganapathi or Vinayaka is one of the most popular deities in the State, this festival falls in the month of September / October, the pooja celebrated with traditional fervour and gaiety







Deepavali

Diwali
Deepavali is a festival of lights, marks Festival Of Lights celebrates the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. One of the many stories which explain why Deepavali is celebrated describes how Lord Krishna, a Hindu deity, defeated a demon and freed the people from suffering.







Navarathiri

This festival lasts for nine nights, hence the name Nava - rathri arrived, falls in the month of September / October Goddess Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathi are worshipped, celebration is marked by the displays of hand-made dolls in the houses.







Chithirai Festival

The festival is held in the famous Madurai Temples and lasts for 10 days during the Tamil month of chithirai Major attractions is the procession of lord kallazhagar otherwise known as lord Vishnu from Azhagarkoil to give away his sister goddess Meenakshi, in Marriage to Lord Sundareswarar.







Mahamagam Festival

A holy festival that will bring you to Kumbakonam once in 12 years - the temple city that gets its name from "Kumbha" - the divine pot. Legend has it that Brahma, the Creator, held a pot containing nectar and the seed of creation. Shiva. in the form of a hunter shot an arrow at the pot - spilling the nectar into the famous Mahamagam tank at the Adi Kumbeswarar Temple.










Summer Festival

The summer festival might find you in the 'Queen of Hill Stations', the evergreen Ooty; the exquisite Kodaikanal or the salubrious heights of Yercaud - where boat races, flower and fruit shows are specially organised. Also, a splendid opportunity to go trekking in any of Tamil Nadu's other hill stations that promise unforgettable holidays off the beaten track.











Music & Dance Festival, Chennai

The classical tradition is an ancient and sophisticated art form stretching back over thousands of years. Originating in the temples and performed by the devadasis, the classical styles have been associated with mythology, philosophy, and spiritual beliefs.