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திருவிழாக்கள்The Shaiva Festival Year
From Thai Poosam to Arudra Darshan — the great festivals of Śiva, Murugan, Amman and Gaṇapati, month by Tamil month.
Thai (Jan–Feb)
தைப்பூசம்
Thai Poosam · Murugan
Pārvati gifts the Vel to Murugan — the great kavadi day, grandest at Palani and worldwide at Batu Caves.
Masi (Feb–Mar)
மகா சிவராத்திரி
Maha Sivarathri · Śiva
The 'Great Night of Śiva' — an all-night vigil, fasting and abhishekam, honouring the Lord's cosmic dance and infinite Lingodbhava form.
Masi (Feb–Mar)
மாசி மகம்
Masi Magam · All
Deities are borne in procession for a holy sea or tank bath (theerthavari); grand at Kumbakonam (Maha Magam every 12 years), Mamallapuram and Thiruvanmiyur.
Panguni (Mar–Apr)
பங்குனி உத்திரம்
Panguni Uthiram · Murugan / Śiva
The great day of divine weddings — Śiva–Pārvati, Murugan–Deivanai and more; the flagship of Thiruparankundram.
Chithirai (Apr–May)
சித்திரைத் திருக்கல்யாணம்
Chithirai Thirukalyanam · Meenakshi
The celestial wedding of Meenakshi and Sundareswarar at Madurai — the state's grandest temple festival.
Vaikasi (May–Jun)
வைகாசி விசாகம்
Vaikasi Visakam · Murugan
The birth-star of Lord Murugan — paal-kudam and abhishekam at all his abodes, grandest at Swamimalai and Tiruttani.
Aadi (Jul–Aug)
ஆடி கிருத்திகை
Aadi Krittikai · Murugan
Murugan's star in the Devi-centred month of Aadi, honouring the six Krittika mothers who nursed the infant Skanda.
Aavani (Aug–Sep)
விநாயக சதுர்த்தி
Vinayaka Chaturthi · Gaṇapati
The appearance of Gaṇeśa — clay-idol worship, kozhukattai/modaka offerings and immersion.
Purattasi (Sep–Oct)
நவராத்திரி · விஜயதசமி
Navaratri · Vijayadasami · Devi
Nine nights of the Goddess (Durgā–Lakṣmī–Sarasvatī) with Golu, culminating in Vijayadasami, Saraswati/Ayudha Puja and Vidyarambham.
Aippasi (Oct–Nov)
கந்த சஷ்டி
Skanda Sashti · Murugan
A six-day fast culminating in Soorasamhāram — Murugan's victory over Surapadman; grandest at Thiruchendur.
Karthigai (Nov–Dec)
கார்த்திகை தீபம்
Karthigai Deepam · Śiva
The festival of lights — the Maha Deepam blazes atop Arunachala at Thiruvannamalai, Śiva as the infinite column of fire.
Margazhi (Dec–Jan)
ஆருத்ரா தரிசனம்
Arudra Darshan · Naṭarāja
Darshan of Naṭarāja's Ānanda Tāṇḍava, the cosmic dance — supreme at Chidambaram.
All dates follow the lunar/nakṣatra calendar and shift each year; consult the panchāngam for the coming observances.