Celebrations
The months of the Tamil Calendar have great significance and are deeply rooted in the faith of the Tamil Hindus. Some months are considered very auspicious while a few are considered inauspicious as well.
Some of the celebrations for each month are listed below. Dates in parentheses are not exact and usually vary by a day or two. Underneath (or beside) the months of the Hindu calendar are their Gregorian counterparts.
| Month | Approx Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| சித்திரை - Chithirai(April) | 14 April - 14 May | Chitra Pournami & Varusha pirappu are the most important festivals in this month. Famous Chithirai thiruvizha is ceiebrated in Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple. |
| வைகாசி - Vaikaasi(May) | 15 May - 14 June | Vaikaasi Visaakam is the most important day in this month.This month is most favorable month of Lord Subramainya (Murga Kadavul). Thirumangalam Shri Pathrakali Mariamman Temple 13day Vaigasi Festival starts at Sunday followed by vaigasi ammavasai. |
| ஆனி - Aani(June) | 15 June - 14 July | Aani Thirumanjanam or Aani Uttaram for Lord Nataraja is the most famous day in this month. |
| ஆடி - Aadi(July) | 15 July - 14 August | A most important month for women. The most auspicious days are Fridays and Tuesdays in this month, these are called Aadi Velli and Aadi Chevvai and the Aadi Amavasya. Aadi Pooram is also a special day.18th day of adi is the most important day for the farmers (delta region) they prepare paddy seedlings.during this month "kanchi varthal" is famous in amman temples |
| ஆவணி - Aavani(August) | 15 August - 15 September | An important month with many rituals. Brahmins change their sacred thread on Aavani Avittam. Each Sunday of the month is dedicated to prayers - Aavani Gnayiru. |
| புரட்டாசி - Purattaasi(September) | 15 September - 15 October | An important month for Vaishnavas. Purattaasi Sani(Saturday) is an auspicious day for Lord Vishnu. |
| ஐப்பசி - Aippasi(October) | 15 October - 14 November | The monsoons typically start over Tamil Nadu in this month. Hence the saying, "Aippasi Mazhai, adai mazhai" - meaning "Aippasi rains are persistent rains".
Also Annaabishekam for Lord Shiva is very famous in this month. The most famous Hindu festival "Deepavali" is celebrated in this month. The Fridays of this month - Aipassi velli - are dedicated to religious observance. |
| கார்த்திகை - Karthikai(November) | 15 November - 14 December | Another auspicious celebration for Shiva devotees is Thirukaarthigai. The Krithikaa Pournami is the special day of the full moon in the month of Kaarthikai, and the star is Krithikaa.
Each Monday of this month is dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva. Every Monday is called "Somavaaram" when 108 or 1008 sangabhishekam are offered to Lord Shiva and Lord Muruga. |
| மார்கழி - Maargazhi(December) | 15 December - 14 January | This is another special month in the Tamil Calendar. Temples open earlier in the mornings and Devotees throng the temples early for puja and prasadam - the offering made to the deity which is later distributed to the devotees. Arudra Darisanam (Thiruvaadirai star in Tamil) is the most auspicious day in this month. This is also a very popular festival in Kerala, where it is called Thiruvaadira. The offering made to Lord siva is the Thiruvaadira Kali. Mukkodi Ekathesi is called "Paramapadha vaasal Thirappu" for Lord Vishnu. The Tiruvembaavai and Thirupaavai fast takes place in this month. |
| தை - Thai(January) (pronounced Thy) |
15 January - 14 February | Pongal, which is the harvest festival, is celebrated on the first day of this month. Thai Friday is a popular day among Telugu speaking peoples settled in Tamil Nadu. Thaipusam is also a special day for Murugan devotees, who carry Kavadis to one of the Aarupadaiveedu (Literally meaning "six abodes"). |
| மாசி - Maasi(February) | 15 February - 14 March | Maasi Magam is the special day of which comes in this Month. Shivaratri is an important festival widely celebrated by Hindus in this month. |
| பங்குனி - Panguni(March) | 15 March - 13 April | Panguni Uthiram, the last month of the year, is a famous festival and special to Murugan and Siva devotees. |
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