Chennai Music Festival
The annual musical retreat for the music lovers across the globe is Chennai Music Festival. The month long festival includes musical performances by veterans in the field and thousands of music fans flying to Chennai from different countries to attend the concerts scheduled throughout the month. Getting a slot to showcase their musical talents in various community halls and Sabhas is considered to be a pride among the musicians. The religious beliefs and culture deep rooted in the traditions of India are highlighted through these musical festivities.
Where : Chennai, Tamilnadu
Upcoming Dates: December 16, 2020 – January 12, 2021
Mahabalipuram Dance Festival
The four week long annual dance extravaganza in Mahabalipuram, popular as a global tourist destination in Tamil Nadu, draws lakhs of tourists from across the world. The regional performances of Bharathanatyam, Kathakali, Kathak, Kuchipudi are the highlights of this festival. Eminent Gurus, artistes, dancers and troupes assemble to celebrate the art forms with a perfect backdrop of the rock carvings embedded with centuries’ old history.
Where : Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu
Month of Celebration: December – January
Vaikunta Ekadasi – Door To Paradise
Vaikunta Ekadasi,also called “Door to Paradise” is celebrated during December – January every year in all the temples following Sri Vaishnavism. Though this is a commonly known festival, Srirangam in Tamilnadu is known to be most popular for this occasion. Basically the rituals and celebrations for Vaikunta Ekadasi are carried out in an exhaustive manner for a period of twenty two days. Pagal Pathu is one prominent event of this festival, lasting for ten days when the verses from the 6th century Vaishnavite canon Nalayira Dhivya Prabhandham will be recited by the clans of those who carried out the rituals in the early centuries.
Further to the ten day celebrations of the Pagal Pathu, Lord Renganathaswamy dressed up very gorgeously, comes out of the Door to Paradise called “Paramapadha Vaasal” witnessed by lakhs of devotees. This ceremonious ritual will normally be before dawn at around 4 am. You can see lakhs of devotees assembled in the temple premises from the previous night itself to be a part of the morning festival. Following the day of Vaikunta Ekadasi, there is yet another series of celebrations called Ira Pathu. For the subsequent ten days starting from Vaikunta Ekadasi, again the verses from Naalayira Dhivya Prabhandham will be recited with amazing dance performances by a clan of people called Arayars and the ritual is called as Arayar Sevai.
Where : Srirangam & Across India
Upcoming Date: December 25, 2020
Arudhra Dharshan – Emarald Nataraja
Situated as a very small hamlet in the South Indian state Tamilnadu, Uthirakosamangai houses a 3000 years old temple with Lord Shiva as the presiding deity manifested as Lord Nataraja. The temple is named as Mangalanathar Temple. The place is believed to derive its name from the incident when Lord Shiva taught the Vedic secrets to Goddess Parvati.The huge idol of Lord Nataraja is made up of a monolithic emerald stone and due to the radiating properties of Emarald, the statue is smeared with sandal paste throughout the year. Lakhs of devotees flock this small village on the day of Thiruvadhirai in the Tamil month Margazhi. It is an excellent moment to see the emerald idol without the sandal paste worshipped with decorations and lamps. There are few other smaller sub shrines in this temple as old as the sanctum. Built during the Pandya dynasty, the temple remains to raise questions to the historians and researchers about the presence of such a huge single emerald stone in drought driven area like Ramanathapuram district.
Where: Uthirakosamangai, Tamil Nadu
Upcoming Date: December 30, 2020 & December 20, 2021
Thyagaraja Aaradhana – Musical Tribute
Series of music concerts rendered as a tribute to one of the greatest music trinity Thyagaraja at Thiruvaiyaru, a small town which is at 13kms from Tanjore, called as Thyagaraja Aaradhana. The grand music festival is conducted usually around first week of January. Hundreds of renowned musicians render the five songs called as “Pancharathna Krithis” composed by the Vetaran. It will be a divine experience to enjoy the concerts at His Samaadhi (Tomb) premises. Though the concerts will be there on all the five days, the main rituals and celebrations will be on the concluding day.
Where: Tiruvaiyaru, Tamil Nadu
Month of Celebration : January
Pongal – Makara Sankaranthi
The four day festival thanking the Sun God for an abundant harvest is called as Pongal. Its other names are Makara Snakaranthi,Utharayana and Maghi. Pongal is celebrated by the ethnic Tamils and also across all states. The people of Indian origin in almost all countries are celebrating this festival in a grand manner.
The festival marks the travel of the Sun towards the equinox for a period of six months. Makara Sankaranthi marks the journey of the Sun called Utharayanam. According to Gregorian Calendar, Pongal is celebrated between 14th to 16th January of every year. This falls in the tenth Tamil month called Thai. The philosophical knot behind this festival is that the mankind need to keep on moving, letting behind the older theories and adopt newer advancement for a prosperous life. Socially, this festival enables the farmers to get ready for the next cultivating season.
Where: Pongal, Tamil Nadu : Makar Sankaranthi in other states
Upcoming Date: January 14th, 2021
JALLIKATTU – EMBRACING THE BULL
Jallikattu is the typical Tamil festival falling on the second day of Pongal (January). During this day the cows, bulls and buffalos are given a complete wash, beautified with garlands, and are worshipped in the morning, the most welcoming event of this day is bull race in the late afternoons don’t ever miss a chance to enjoy this nail biting race.
Alanganallur in Madurai district of Tamil nadu is popular among the global travellers for Jallikattu festival. Witnessing the bulls rushing out of the gate, called Vaadi Vasal and the young men trying to calm them down is a breath taking experience. Though serious injuries and casualties occur every year, people are keen to celebrate Jallikkattu,as this festival is synonymous to their bravery and courage and also to show their love and care to those domestic animals. The winners of this event are awarded with huge sums and even jewels. There has been evidences that Jallikattu has been celebrated since ancient name Eru Thazhuvudhal, meaning Embracing the Bull.
Where : Tamil Nadu
Upcoming Date: January 15, 2020
FLOAT FESTIVAL – MADURAI
A unique festival in world’s one of the oldest cities Madurai is Float festival dating back to 17th century When Nayaks ruled the region. The man made tank houses an ornate structure housing Lord Ganesh in the middle of the tank. During full moon day of the tamil month Thai, falling around mid of January to February, the idols of Goddess Meenashi and Lord Sundareswarar are taken on golden palanquins from the world renowned Meenakshi Amman temple to the banks of the tank. People throng to worship them and the idols are placed on the raft and taken to the middle of the tank. Thousands of devotees arrive at Madurai to worship the deities and towards the evening the entire region becomes colourful with lighting of hundreds of oil, electrical lamps and bursting of crackers.it is a visual retreat to witness the deities coming back to the banks amidst the flickering lights and taken back to the temple premises in golden horses. Float festival is an iconic celebration in the sleepless city.
Where: Madurai, Tamilnadu
Month of Celebration – January / February 2021
THAIPOOSAM – PALANI
Be a part of the Thaipoosam celebrations at Palani in Tamilnadu where Lord Muruga is worshipped by lakhs of devotees in the Tamil month of Thai. The festival Thaipoosam generally falls in the month of January.The temple atop the hill housing Lord Murugan as the presiding deity, witnesses devotees carrying bedecked wooden decks, milk pots on their heads and lances pierced in their bodies. As an offering to the God for their prayers responded, devotees undergo these rituals and surrender to His feet. The temple will be kept open throughout the day of Thaipoosam. You have the options of climbing the 700 steps to reach the temple along with the other devotees carrying their offerings or you can go up by the rope car and winch.
Where: Palani, Tamil Nadu
Upcoming Date: January 28, 2021
MAHA SHIVARATRI
An annual event to offer a night long worship to Lord Shiva is Maha Shivaratri, celebrated in Shiva temples across the country. Devotees will tend have a daylong fasting and visit the temples. Chanting the names of Shiva and listening to the discourses describing His supreme powers are the regular schedules carried out. Temples witness increased numbers of devotees offering their prayers during the special poojas hosted followed by anointing the linga idols with various ingredients like sandalwood powder,honey, milk, curd, ashes and flowers. Later, the idols are decorated and worshipped with lamps. All the temples are kept opened throughout night and devotees throng to worship Him during the midnight poojas. Besides, special dance programmes are conducted in temples and popular community centres, as a tribute to the cosmic dancer, Lord Nataraja, a manifested form of Lord Shiva.
Where: Across India
Upcoming Date: March 11, 2021
NATYANJALI – TRIBUTE TO COSMIC DANCER
Participating in “Natyanjali” is considered to be very sacred by the Dancers across the country and the globe. Natyanjali is a Five Days Dance Festival conducted as a tribute to the Cosmic Dancer Lord Nataraja at Chidhambaram Temple. The epicenter of the five days festival is the 108 poses of Bharathanatyam.
The visitors can enjoy all the dance forms of India like Bharatha Natyam, Kuchupudi, Mohini Attam, Kathak, Odissi, Chhau under one roof. The annual celebration of the Natyanjali festival is aimed at offering tributes to the cosmic dancer Lord Nataraja. Though Natyanjali is celebrated in most of the places, Chidambaram in Tamil Nadu is believed to have the origin of this festival.
Where: Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu
Month of Celebration February / March
Panguni Uthiram Festival
The last month of tamil calneder Panguni(Phalguni) is an auspicious month for religious festivals. Panguni Uthiram on the full mon day of Panguni month is considered to be very sacred as according to Hindu Mythology, the celestial weddings of Goddess Deivanai and Lord Murugan, Goddess Parvati and Lord Siva, Goddess Sita and Lord Rama took place. So, temples especially Murugan temples host elaborate poojas and rituals witnessed by thousands of devotees. Out of all the temples the Murugan Temple situated at Vayalur in Trichy city is more popular for the grand procession of devotes carrying milk pots on their heads and bedecked woods on their shoulders is an awe inspiring event. As Panguni Uthiram is also believed to be the incarnation day of Lord Ayyappan, those temples also deserve a special mention here.
Where: Vayalur , Trichirapalli, rest of Tamilnadu & Kerala
Upcoming Date: March 28, 2021
KUTTI KUDI THIRUVIZHA – FESTIVAL OF GOAT SACRIFICE
The annual festival with unique rituals of offering goat blood sacrifice is Kulumai Amman Festival. The festival is celebrated to please and get blessings from the deity Goddess Kulumai Amman, a ferocious yet benign Goddess, believed to be a supreme power protecting Her devotees.. The venue is a small area called Puthur in Trichy city in Tamilnadu. The highlight of the event is that Marulali, the designated person to represent Goddess Kulumai Amman, sits on fasting for more than month and purifies himself for the rituals. On the day of the Kutti Kudi Thiruvizha festival, Marulali accepts the goat sacrifice and drinks the gushing blood of the goats, sometimes the number exceeds thousand. The festival is attended by thousands of devotees from nearby villages. People enjoy the festivities and the grand feast following the rituals.
Where: Kulumai Amman Temple Grounds,Trichy, Tamilnad
Month of Celebration : March, 2020
CHITHIRAI THIRUVIZHA – MADURAI
Madurai, an ancient city in Tamilnadu hosts world’s one of the longest festivals, lasting for about a month is Chithirai Thiruvizha, celebrated throughout April every year. The grandest Meenakshi Amman temple is the epicentre of this festival. Series of cultural events take place across and the entire city wears a festive look. People from nearby villages throng Madurai city and a month long exhibition is held in the Thamukkam Grounds. Highlights of this festival is the celestial wedding of Goddess Meenakshi Amman and Lord Sundareswarar, attended by lakhs of devotees. It is mesmerising to see number of little girls dressed up as Goddess Meenakshi on the day of the wedding. Also, presiding deity of Alagarkoil, a popular temple near Madurai outskirts, KoodalAlagar gets into the Vaigai River in on a Golden Horse, a beautiful event to witness and enjoy is another spectacular event in Chithirai Thiruvizha.
Where: Madurai, Tamil Nadu
Months of Celebration – April / May, 2020
Upcoming Date of Celestial Wedding , Meenakshi Tirukalyanam – April 24, 2021
KOOVAGAM FESTIVAL – World’s unique festival for Transgenders
Witness the world’s only festival for the transgenders, Koothandavar festival celebrated at a small village called Koovagam in the South Indian state Tamil Nadu. The isolated community of transgender have their own reasons to celebrate this festival in a pomp manner. One has to recall the scenes described in the Great Indian Epic Mahabharath to correlate to this festival. Kurukshetra War, lasting for 18 days comes to an end with Pandavas as the winners, only because of the sacrifice made by Arjuna’s son Aravan, depicted as a minor character in Mahabharat.His last wish of marrying a girl is satisfied by Lord Krishna himself, manifesting as a Girl called Mohini and she grieved as a widow the very next morning on the death of Aravan. The same sequence of events are enacted in the Koovagam festival attended by transgenders and cross dressers across India and nearby Asian countries. Festival that lasts for 18 days, witnesses all transgenders dressing up themselves as brides and get the mangal sutra tied by the priest. On the 18th day, when the procession of God Aravan starts, all the newly married transgenders become widows, shedding off their mangal sutra and breaking their bangles. Lakhs of transgenders take part in this festival witnessed by tourists from all corners of the country and beyond.
Where: Koovagam, Udumalpet, Tamil Nadu
Month of Celebration : April – May, 2020
SAMAYAPURAM MARIAMMAN CAR FESTIVAL
Goddess Mariamman, normally portrayed as ferocious at the same time benign and gracious towards Her devotees sits on a fast for 48days starting from Tamil month Masi. Rice Porridge and tender coconut are offered to her every day throughout this period. On every Sunday during this fasting period, tonnes of flowers are offered to Her and is called as Poochoridhal. Following this, the Chariot festival to mark the end of fasting by the Goddess is celebrated in a grand manner with devotees taking fire pots on bare hands and getting their body pierced with lances, offering their thanksgiving prayers for the boons granted by Her. The entire region and the nearby villages wear a festive look from March onwards and the celebrations come to an end during the third week of April.
Where: Samayapuram, Trichy, Tamilnadu
Month of Celebration: April
Sri Rama Navami – Birth of Lord Rama
The birthday of Lord Rama, hero of the great Hindu epic Ramayana is celebrated every year across all regions where Hinduism is prominent. Lord Rama, who is considered as an ideal man and believed to have lived in India is worshipped in almost all Vishnu temples accompanied by his wife Goddess Sita, Brother Lakshman and Lord Hanuman. Most of the temples conduct special poojas and rituals on this day and special enactments from the epic Ramayana are hosted by the devotees. Besides in bigger temples and community centres, ceremonial wedding of Lord Rama and Goddess Sita are conducted in a pomp manner involving spiritual discourses and cultural events, a sight to behold to understand the rich ancient tradition of India.
Where: Across India
Upcoming Date: April 21, 2021
SUMMER FESTIVAL – OOTY
Visit Queen of Hill Stations, Ooty during May and be a part of the Ooty Summer festival. An awe inspiring view of more than 8000 varieties of roses decorated in different shapes and forms in the most popular tourist location Botanical Garden. Besides these flower decorations, you have much more to see in Botanical Gardens including fossil trees, glass house and Toda tribe’s model house and lot more.Boat races, pageants, dog shows and other cultural events make this festival more colourful. Ooty summer festival attracts lakhs of national and international tourists during the month of May every year. Besides enjoying the events at Summer festival, you have other options to explore Ooty namely Dodda Bedda, Lake, Rose Garden, Toy Train and the list goes on.
Where: Ooty, Tamil Nadu
Month of Celebration: May
Srivilliputhur Car Festival
The only female saint in Sri Vaishnavism, Sri Andal is the presiding deity of Srivilliputhur Temple, a small village in the down south of Tamilnadu. As per the ancient Vaishnavite mythology, Andal was found as a child in the Tulsi Gardens of another famous saint Periyazhwar. The event of him adopting Andal as his daughter is celebrated every year since the ancient times. The elaborate rituals and poojas is followed by procession of Goddess Andal in a huge chariot that goes around the temple. Thousands of devotees witness this festival called Thiru Aadi Pooram as Pooram is the birth star of Sri Andal as per the mythology.
Where : Srivilliputhur , Tamil Nadu
Upcoming Date : August 26, 2021
JANMASHTAMI – BIRTH OF LORD KRISHNA
One of the major festivals in the month of July or August is Janmashtami, the birthday of Lord Krishna. As Lord Krishna is believed to have manifested in the form of children, they become the epicenter of this festival. Children in the houses are dressed up like Krishna. It is believed that Lord Krishna comes to every house to bless the children and elders and to symbolize his arrival, the feet of small children are dipped in the rice paste and designed on the floor starting from door step throughout the house, an enthralling sight to behold. As Lord Krishna is fond of eating butter, several delicacies made of butter are offered to Him on that day with special prayers. Vishnu temples across the country witness large number of devotees to take part in the rituals and poojas. Out of all the places, Janmashtami is pompously celebrated for a week in Mathura, a sacred city in the state of Uttar Pradesh, believed to be the birthplace of Lord Krishna.
Where: South India & Few North Indian states
Upcoming Date : August 30, 2021
MOI VIRUNDHU – AN UNIQUE FESTIVAL OF TAMILNADU
A culture unique to the interior villages of Tamil Nadu is Moi Virundhu, a grand feast given by those in financial need. It may sound contradictory, but the practice of Moi Virundhu has its origin around the districts of Pudukottai in Tamilnadu. Those who are in critical need for money will host a grand non-vegetarian feast and the village members attending the feast will help them back with money whatever they can. This is in fact a timely help rendered and the person who has received the money has to payback as soon as he can during the other feasts. Separate accounting system is maintained and the entire Moi Virundhu process is carried out in a very systematic manner. This is yet another astonishing culture of leading a healthy social life.
Where: Tamil Nadu
When: July – August
AADI PERUKKU – WELCOMING THE RIVER MIGHTY CAUVERY
India has a culture of worshipping Rivers, the source of living for manhood. Aadi perukku is one such festival, welcoming River Mighty Cauvery on the eighteenth day of tamil month Aadi, as only after this period, the irrigation process will commence across the state. Also, the festival is celebrated by newly married couples praying to Cauvery for a flourishing future. The poojas and rituals done at the bank of River Cauvery is a delight to watch. People take food items and exchange with their family and friends, making the surrounding more vibrant and colorful.
Where: Places situated on the banks of River Cauvery
Upcoming Date : August 2, 2021
Ganesh Chathurthi – Birth of Lord Ganesha
All ends well, that begins well. India revolves around this philosophy and to succeed in everything, Lord Ganesha is worshipped before the start of every action. Lord Ganesha is loved by all for his invariably peculiar structure of human body with elephant head, symbolizing many religious concepts of Hinduism. Ganesh Chathurthi is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Ganesha, usually in the months of August or September. Rice balls called mothak is the most favorite food of this festival and people offer this with other delicacies. Rock fort temple at Trichy is renowned for making a huge rice ball with tonnes of ingredients and offering to the God Ganesh at the Rockfort temple atop the hillock. Large idols of Lord Ganesh are immersed in water called Visarjan after the festival and this is very pompously carried out in North India with long processions carrying hundreds of Lord Ganesh idols along with musical bhajans and dances.
Where: Across India
Upcoming Date : September 10, 2021
DUSSEHRA – NINE DAYS’ CELEBRATION AS NAVARATRI
The Ten days long festival with Goddess Durga as the epicenter is Dussehra festival celebrated across India. Dussehra is called in different names and celebrated in different traditions exhibiting the diverse culture of India. The festival falls anytime between October and November.
The South Indian state Tamil Nadu celebrates Dussehra in the name of Navaratri, worshipping the THREE incarnations of Goddess as Durga,Lakshmi and Saraswathi, the tenth and final day of the festival is called as Vijayadasami, symbolizing the power of the Almighty in eradicating the evil and bestowing victory. KOLU is the highlight of this festival, where odd number of steps are decorated with different idols. The arrangement will be gradually upgraded starting from small animals, plants, grass, human beings and the uppermost step will be with gods and goddesses leaving behind an important philosophy that anyone can attain salvation if he leads a ethically valued life. Thus, arranging Kolu is highly significant and daily poojas are done to the idols and special food items are distributed.
Where: Across India
Upcoming Dates : October 7-14, 2021
DUSSEHRA – UNIQUELY AT KULASEKARANPATTINAM
Kulasekaranpattinam or Kulasai, a small village in the down south of Tamil Nadu, witnesses lakhs of devotees disgorging on the tenth day of Dussehra festival. The entire region is flooded with tourists and devotees where you can see hundreds of people dressing up themselves as Goddess Kali dancing terrifyingly. A newbie will never know what is happening around when such a ferocious crowd move towards the temple and they can find them finally in a trance state. A sudden chill runs down your spine when you are surrounded by hundreds of kalis, a never before experience,still, not to be missed. The procession and the vigorous dancing comes to an end at the sea shore very close to the temple. The festival is over with the ceremonial bathing in the sea and subsequent poojas and rituals in the temple.
Where: Kulasekaranpattinam, Tutocorin, Tamilnadu
Upcoming Date: October 15, 2021
DIWALI – FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS
Festival of lights, Diwali, an Indian festival during October or November, now celebrated across the globe is so enthralling to be a part of. With religious backdrop of the demon Naragasura being destroyed by Lord Krishna, Diwali is the most colorful festival in South Asian countries especially in India. The entire country wears a festival look weeks ahead of Diwali, engaged in purchasing gifts, costumes, crackers and lot more. The day of Diwali starts around 3 am when people take oil bathe and do special poojas before heading on to burst crackers on streets. Diwali is celebrated by the diasporic population across the world and in many of the countries, the day is declared as Government Holiday.
South India witnesses Diwali as a victorious deed by Lord Krishna, whereas in North India, the Greatest Hindu Epic Ramayana is related to celebrate this festival. The demon king Ten headed Ravan is killed by Lord Rama and the event is celebrated as Ram Leela Festival witnessed by thousands of devotees and tourists.
Where: Across India
Upcoming Date: November 4, 2021
Karthigai Deepam – Festival of Lights
One of the most prominent religious festivals across South India is Karthigai Deepam, celebrated in the Tamil month Karthigai, generally falling around between November – December. Lighting lamps is the epicentre of this festival with a religious reason that the rays emanating from the lights drive away the evils and welcomes victory. All the temples across Tamil Nadu wear a festive look days ahead with elaborate poojas and rituals done at various times. Out of all the temples, Arunachaleswarar temple at Tiruvannamalai in Tamilnadu is most significant. A huge cauldron filled with tonnes of ghee is placed atop the hills in Tiruvannamalai and on the festival day, the lamp lit there is visible across several kilometres radii. Lakhs of devotees attend this festival and take a girivalam around the mountain base for a distance of 14kms to be bestowed with the grace of Arunachaleswarar.
Where: Tiruvannamalai and rest of Tamil Nadu
Upcoming Date: November 19, 2021
