Located
in South India, Tamil Nadu is a land of colourful festivals and is a nature’s
paradise with crystal blue beaches. Tamil Nadu’s myriad festivals are
celebrated throughout the state with festivity.
Pongal :
India is bestowed with the bliss of festivity. A major segment of the
population here depends on agriculture. As a result, most of the festivals
are also related to the agricultural activities of the people. These
festivals are celebrated with different names and rituals in almost all the
parts of India. Pongal is one of such highly revered festivals celebrated in
Tamil Nadu to mark the harvesting of crops by farmers.
Chithirai Festival :
The Chithirai festival begins on the 5th day of the bright half of the
month of Chithirai. The key events fall on the 8th, 9th and the 10th days of
the festival. The eighth day of the Chithirai festival witnesses the
coronation of Meenakshi and procession on silver thrones, while the 9th day
is the digvijaya festival. The 10th day (Chitra Purnima) marks the wedding
of Meenakshi and Sundareswarar.
Cape Festival :
This three-day long festival is celebrated with grandeur and festivity in
Kanyakumari in the month of October and is marked by a series of cultural
programmes. Kanyakumari is also known as ‘Cape Comorin’ and is
located at the confluence of Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean.
Bathing here in the ocean is considered sacred.
Natyanjali Dance Festival :
Starts from the day of Mahashivaratri, for 5 days. Chidambaram is situated
along the coast of the Bay of Bengal, 75 kms south of Pondicherry. Lord
Nataraja, according to the Hindu mythology is a cosmic dancer. He is called
the Lord of dances. This is an opportunity for all dancers, from all India,
to perform and to pay their tribute to Lord Nataraja. The Natyanjali
festival, which brings all the prominent dancers of India, together on the
same platform, opens on the auspicious occasion of Mahashivaratri, in the
month of February.
Tea & Tourism Festival :
Tea & Tourism Festival, a three day extravaganza in Ooty in
January/February, is jointly organized by the Department of Tourism,
Government of Tamil Nadu and Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. Tea
lovers from all over the world converge during this festival and tourists
can also taste and select from wide varieties of tea available. Cultural
programmes, cousins of the south and a pleasant climate adds flavour to this
aromatic festival.
Karthigai Deepam Festival :
The celebration of Kartikai Deepam marks the conclusion of the ten day
Bhramhotsavam in the month of Kartikai (Scorpio, Nov 15 through December
15). Each of these festival days is marked by the procession of the Pancha
Murthy's (Somaskandar (Annamalaiyaar), Unnamulaiyaal, Ganapati, Subramanyar
and Chandikeswarar) in gaily decorated mounts. Most noteworthy among these
are the Rishabha Vahana Utsavam celebrated on the fifth evening of the
festival and the Rathotsavam, celebrated on the seventh day of the festival.
Dance Festival :
The Dance festival in Mahabalipuram starts on the 25th of December every
year and is organized on all Saturdays, Sundays and Government holidays,
upto February first week. Dancers and musicians of repute from India and
abroad participate in the festival and thrill the crowds every year.
Cultural programmes like folk dances from of India adds more colour to the
festival.
Mango Festival :
The famous Mango festival is organized at Krishnagiri during the last three
days of June. A wide variety of succulent mangoes are kept on display. It is
also an event for the buyers and sellers to meet.
Tourist Fair :
This colourful Trade Fair is organized by the Tamil Nadu Tourism
Development Corporation at Chennai. This fair introduces tourists Tamil
Nadu. Its tourist’s attractions, cultural wealth, economic scenario and
much more is presented in multiple forms and colours.
Deepavali Festival :
India is a land of festivals. Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is celebrated
with fervor and gaiety. The festival is celebrated by young and old, rich
and poor, throughout the country to dispel darkness and light up their
lives. The festival symbolizes unity in diversity as every state celebrates
it in its own special way.
Jallikattu (bull fight) :
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 and several places in
Andhra Pradesh. Bundles containing money are tied to the horns of ferocious
bulls, and unarmed villagers try to wrest the bundles from them. Bullock
cart races and cock-fights are also held.
Kavadi
Festival :
Dancing in a hypnotic trance to the rhythm of drums, devotees of Muruga
carry the 'Kavadi' a flower decked decoration, all the way up the Palani
Hills to fulfil their vow. According to Hindu mythology, Idumban is said to
have carried two sacred hillocks on two ends of a pole laced on his
shoulders.
Mahabalipuram Dance Festival :
The internationally acclaimed and globally renowned "Mahabalipuram
Dance Festival" is organized by the Department of Tourism, every year
in Mahabalipuram - the renowned and ancient 7th century centre for Pallava
culture and arts.
Mahamagam Festival :
The Kasi Viswanathar Temple in the temple town of Kumbakonam is associated
with the Mahamagam festival which occurs once every 12 years; when 9 of the
saters of the revered rivers in India are believed to assemble in the
Mahamagam tank.
Navrathri Festival :
Navratri - the nine sacred nights is one of the most celebrated festivals
of India. This begins from the first day (Pradhamai) after Amavasya in the
month of Purattasi as it is known in Tamil. This nine days festival is
essentially celebrated to worship Devi and to commemorate the victory of
good over evil, i.e. bringing to an end the atrocities of Asuras like
Mahishasuran, Shumban, Nishumban, Madhukaidapan, Thumralochanan and
Rakthabheejan.
Velankanni Festival :
Mysterious legends surround the church. A story goes behind the festival
Our Merciful Mother rescued a few Portuguese merchant sailors from a violent
storm, which wrecked their ship. When the merchants reached the shore of
Velankanni they were taken by local fisherman to the thatched chapel.
Vinayagar Chathurthi :
Ganesh Chaturthi or Ganesh Utsav or the birthday of Ganesha (the
elephant-headed God of Wisdom and Prosperity) falls on the fourth day of the
Hindu month of Bhadrapada (around August-September). It is celebrated all
across India and is the biggest festival in Maharashtra.
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