■PART:2■7 Festivals of Tamil Nadu You Should Know About And Experience

4. Thaipusam

This festival is celebrated in Tamil Nadu on a full moon day in the month of Thai in the Tamil calendar. 

It celebrates the Birthday of Lord Subramaniam, the younger son of Lord Shiva.

This is the day when people with utmost faith make and keep their vows.

They pray to the Lord for help and once granted they keep up to their vows.

This festival is a day of penance.

The main highlight is when the devotee takes the ‘Kavadi’.

The ‘Kavadi Bearer’ wears the clothes of a ‘Pandaram’(a person who lives on alms alone).

The devotee carries two pots attached to long stick containing rice, milk, and other things that the devotee wishes to offer the Lord and he carries this till the Temple.

But some devotees prefer to carry empty pots and fill it up by begging and even choose to walk barefeet till the temple.

It also sees people pierce their body with sharp objects, they feel very close to God and are said to feel no pain, their wounds do not bleed and no scars are left behind.

The most difficult Kavadi offering known as the Agni- Kavadi is one where the devotee while carrying the Kavadi over his shoulder walks on burning coals.

Almost 10,000 Kavadi bearers reach the temple at Tamil Nadu.

It is day that will leave you inspired as you see the faith of the people strong as ever almost changing your view about the world.

5. Mahamaham Festival

This is a Hindu Festival that is celebrated once in 12 years in the State of Tamil Nadu in a small town called kumbakonam. On this day, people from all over the country come to take a dip in the famous ‘Mahamaham tank’ as it is considered sacred. The last time it was celebrated was back on March 6th, 2004.

It generally occurs in the month of Masi in the Tamil calendar that is February to March.

Once in twelve years when Jupiter enter the Leo sign in the Constellation is when this grand festival is celebrated.

It is a bath which is believed to purify you of your sins and wash away your sins.

This festival sees the arrival of more than 1 million people.

The tank is a 6.2 acres one and is surrounded by shrines and wells.

The day of this festival begins by praying at the Temple, then dipping in the 20 wells, then a visit to the Kumbeswarar Temple, then a dip in the holy tank and lastly to complete it a dip in River Cauvery.

6. Thiruvaiyaru Festival

This is celebrated in Thiruvaiyaru, a town in the district of Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. It is a music festival in honour of the famous music composer and Saint Thyagaraja and is held every year in the month of January. It is celebrated every year on the Pushya Bahula Panchami day when the saint Thyagaraja attained samadhi.

The festival is held near his Samadhi, on the banks of River Cauvery.

This is one of the biggest music festivals of India and welcomes music-lovers from all the the country.

Apart from the music, rituals and Pujas are also conducted during the two days of this festival.

This festival promotes Carnatic and classical music and is so global that it is also celebrated in USA, Mauritius and Nigeria.

7. Karthigai Deepam

It is known as the ‘Festival of Lights’ and falls in the month of Karthigai (November to mid-December) according to the Tamil Calendar. 

This happens on the day when the moon is aligned with the constellation Karthigai.

The main idea of this festival is to keep away bad things from life and welcome the good ones. 

Tamil Nadu celebrates this festival for 10 days. 

All the people wear new clothes and enjoy themselves without any worry.

They exchange gifts and try to meet all their relatives during the festival.

People believe that on this day Lord Shiva appeared in Thiruvannamalai hills and they mark this by lighting a huge fire on the top of the hill.

Ghee and camphor are used to light the huge fire and people shout saying Annamalaiyarku Arohara.

There is even a fair held on this day which is one of the main attractions.

It is one of the best celebrations of Tamil Nadu and trust me when I say this you need to be there !