Fairs & Festivals of Tamil Nadu

Pongal

In Tamil Nadu Makar Sankranti becomes Pongal. It is a celebration of the harvest, which is observed for three days in January. Bhogi Pongal, Surya Pongal and Mattu Pongal, are the three days of Pongal festivities on successive days. In certain parts cattle races still enliven the village festivities. Pongal is a colourful and traditional festival with many a ceremony devoted to various deities.

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Chithirai

This is celebrated in the month of April as Tamil New Year. The festival starts in the month of April-May and ends on the tenth day. It is celebrated with great enthusiasm at Meenakshi temple, Madurai (500 kms from Chennai). The festival witnesses the marriage of Meenakshi (Parvati) and Sundareshwara (Lord Shiva) that attracts large crowds from all over the state and also from the whole country.

Adi Perukku

This is a unique festival that is celebrated all over the state by offering sweets and different kinds of rice preparations to different rivers to mark the onset of the monsoon.

Navaratri Gollu

The festival of Navratri Gollu in Tamil Nadu lasts for nine nights. According to the Hindu calendar Navratri celebration begins from the first day of the bright fortnight of Ashwin. This festival is fully dedicated to Goddess Durga and her nine forms. These nine days are celebrated in all over the state with an ardent zeal and enthusiasm.

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Karthigai

In the month of Nov/Dec people decorate their homes with lights to celebrate the birth of Murugan, son of Lord Shiva. This festival is particularly celebrated in Thiruvannamalai, one of the pancha bootha kshetras and also an Agni (fire) Kheshtra. On Karthigai Deepam day, a huge vessel is filled with oil and gigantic wicks are lit on top of the hill.

Apart from these regional festivals the state also celebrates all important national festivals like Diwali, Holi, Christmas, Eid, Muhharam etc.

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