Tamil Festivals
தமிழ்ப் பண்டிகைகள்
Chithiraiசித்திரைmid-April to mid-May
Aadiஆடிmid-July to mid-August
Aadi 18Aadi Perukku
ஆடிப்பெருக்கு
On the 18th day of Aadi, Tamil families gather at riverbanks to thank the swelling Kaveri and other rivers for water and harvests.
Friday before the Aavani full moonVaralakshmi Vratham
வரலட்சுமி விரதம்
On a Friday before the Aavani full moon, women worship Lakshmi as Varalakshmi, the giver of boons, in a kalasam dressed as the goddess.
Purattasiபுரட்டாசிmid-September to mid-October
Aippasiஐப்பசிmid-October to mid-November
- Naraka Chaturdasi in Aippasi
Deepavali
தீபாவளி
Tamil Nadu celebrates Deepavali at dawn with an oil bath, new clothes, sweets, crackers and the story of Krishna's victory over Narakasura.
- Six days from the day after the new moon following Deepavali
Kanda Sashti
கந்த சஷ்டி
Six days of fasting and prayer to Murugan after Deepavali, ending in Soorasamharam, the victory over Soorapadman, at Thiruchendur.
Karthigaiகார்த்திகைmid-November to mid-December
Thaiதைmid-January to mid-February
Thai 1Pongal
பொங்கல்
Tamil Nadu's four-day harvest festival, thanking the sun, the land and the cattle with pots of freshly boiled pongal.
- Poosam star in Thai, near the full moon
Thaipusam
தைப்பூசம்
A great festival of Murugan on Poosam star in Thai, when devotees carry kavadi and milk pots to Palani, Batu Caves and beyond.