Tamil Nadu is known for various
different festivals celebrated in temples and home. Here are the top 10
festivals of Tamil Nadu you should know and plan your trip. Tamil Nadu tourism
is famous for its unique temples and different festival celebration.
Top 10 Festivals of
Tamil Nadu You Should Know About and Experience
1.
Pongal
Pongal festival is celebrated every year
on 14th Jan in Tamil Nadu. It is the most popular festival among all tamilans
and farmers. The term Pongal in Tamil means “to boil”, it is a thanksgiving
festival to celebrate the year’s harvest. Pongal festival lasts for four days.
Meaning of Pongal is “Spilling Over” it has been named so because it has a
tradition to boil rice in a pot until it starts overflowing. On this occasion,
people use to cook a sweet dish called Pongal made up of rice, moong dal, jaggery,
ghee, and dry fruits.
2. Tamil New Year’s Day
Tamil New Year’s Day is celebrated on
14th April every year and this festival is known Puthandu in Tamil Nadu. This
festival is celebrated with neem flowers and raw mangoes. People decorate their
homes and it is a belief to visit Meenakshi Temple on this day. Puthandu is a
day of new beginnings; people celebrate this with the hope that this year will
bring newer opportunities and growth in their lives.
3. Natyanjali Dance Festival
Natyanjali means dancers dedicating
their art of dance. The artists pay their respect to Lord Shiva. The festival
is celebrated at the beginning of MahaShivratri and it continues for 5 days.
The different artists are dressed in colourful attires and perform their dance. The
people come from different countries and states to perform and watch this dance
performed in Chidambaram’s temple.
4. Thaipusam
Thaipusam is a festival that is
celebrated as birth anniversary of Kartikeya the son of Lord Shiva. Festival is
celebrated in February every year. The penance and devotes wear fakir dress and
beg for money or food and then they give it to charity and in temples. Piercing
is done in the body with sharp objects without hurting oneself.
5. Mahamaham Festival
Mahaman festival in Tamil Nadu is
celebrated every 12 years. It is a bathing ceremony that is believed to cleanse
one of their sins. The festival takes place in Kumbakonam and thousands of
devotees take a dip in Mahamaham tank. This festival is considered one of the top
spiritual festivals of southern India. 22nd Feb 2016 was the last time this
festival was celebrated.
6. Tyagaraja Festival
Tyagaraja festival is celebrated in the
month of January every year. People in Tamil Nadu gather near river Cauvery and
play music, sings to hope for the rain. This festival is worshipped in the
memory of AntharangaSishya saint of Thyagaraja. The festival is celebrated for
five days Aradhana festival that includes harikathas and concert.
7. KarthigaiDeepam
Karthigaideepam is celebrated in the
Tamil month of karthigai (November or December). Karthigai festival is the
festival of lamps celebrated after Diwali. It is a belief that the lighting of
oil lamps brings positivity and warden’s away negative energy. KarthigaiDeepam
is observed on full moon day in the month of karthika.
8. Bhogi Festival
Bhogi festival is celebrated with
discarding everything that is old and thus brings new fortunes and prosperity
in life. Festival is celebrated on the last day of Tamil month of margazhi.
Bhogi festival is dedicated to Lord Indra. Farmers worship Lord Indra to seek
blessings for a good harvest. People celebrate Bhogi by discarding old things
and clean their houses and decorate with marigold flower, mango leaves, and new
things.
9. VaikuntaEkadesi
VaikuntaEkadesi is celebrated Margali
month in Tamil Nadu. Festival is celebrated in a grand manner in
VittalapuramPandurangaVittaleshwara Temple in Tamil Nadu. Lord Panduranga is
decorated with jewelry and flower garlands.
10. AadiPerukku
Many people gather on the river Cauvery
to celebrate this festival. The festival is celebrated to show the gratitude to
the Cauvery River for sustaining prosperity. Festival is celebrated in the
month of July-August. Women’s perform AadiPerukkupooja in the banks of a river.
People take a holy dip in the river and wear new clothes.
Conclusion
Tamilnadu tourism packages
can help you plan your trip to Tamil if you are planning to see all the above
festivals. We as an individual had to lots of research about the different
festival so it is better to book a tourism package and enjoy your holidays with
different cultural celebrations.
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