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Nestled in the southern part of India, Tamil Nadu is not only known for its rich culture, but also for its colorful array of festivals that are deeply rooted in tradition and spirituality. From the grandeur of Deepam in Tiruvannamalai to the joyous celebrations of Diwali in Chennai, each festival in Tamil Nadu offers a unique glimpse into the cultural heritage of this enchanting state.
One of the most spectacular festivals in Tamil Nadu is Deepam in Tiruvannamalai, celebrated with fervor and devotion. Held during the Tamil month of Karthigai, this festival revolves around lighting a colossal lamp atop the Annamalai hill, symbolizing the divine presence of Lord Shiva. Thousands of devotees gather to witness the majestic sight of the beacon of light illuminating the night sky, filling the atmosphere with spirituality and reverence.
Diwali, the festival of lights, holds a special place in the hearts of Tamilians. Festivals in Tamil Nadu, Diwali is celebrated with great enthusiasm, marked by the lighting of oil lamps, bursting of firecrackers, and exchange of sweets and gifts. In Diwali Tamil Nadu, the streets come alive with colorful decorations, making it a sight to behold. Families gather to perform traditional rituals, worship deities, and relish sumptuous feasts, fostering bonds of love and unity.
Every twelve years, the town of Kumbakonam becomes the epicenter of spirituality during the Mahamaham festivals of Tamil Nadu. Held at the Mahamaham tank, thousands of pilgrims flock to take a dip in its holy waters, believed to cleanse sins and bestow blessings. The air is filled with the chanting of hymns, the fragrance of incense, and the fervent prayers of devotees, creating an aura of sanctity and devotion.
Pongal, the harvest festival in Tamil Nadu, is celebrated with great gusto in Tamil Nadu, especially in Chennai. The aroma of freshly cooked rice, sugarcane, and traditional delicacies fills the air as families come together to thank the sun god for a bountiful harvest. Colorful kolams (rangoli) adorn the entrances of homes, while bull-taming events and cultural performances add to the festive fervor, making it a joyous occasion for all.
Madurai, the cultural capital of Tamil Nadu, hosts the grand celebration of Ramarayar Mandapam, commemorating the coronation of Lord Rama. The streets around the iconic Meenakshi Amman Temple come alive with processions, music, and dance performances, depicting scenes from the Ramayana. The highlight of the festivals of Tamil Nadu is the spectacular display of fireworks, lighting up the night sky and captivating spectators with its brilliance.
In essence, the festivals of Tamil Nadu are not just events, they are reflections of its rich cultural heritage, deep-rooted traditions, and unwavering spirituality. Each festival of Tamil Nadu brings people together, transcending barriers of caste, creed, and religion, uniting them in the celebration of life and its myriad blessings. So, immerse yourself in the festivities of Tamil Nadu, and experience the magic and charm that these festivals have to offer.
Every festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu is taken seriously and celebrated in a special manner. Whether it’s a religious festival or a cultural one, people get together, visit each other’s homes, draw rangolis and wear new clothes. Of course, there’s delicious and lip-smacking food that is prepared and eaten at this time. The holidays extend over several days as there seems to be no end to the celebrations. If you happen to visit Tamil Nadu during any of these events, you’ll be surprised and amazed at the intensity of celebration that takes place. Here are some of the festivals of Tamil Nadu.
The state of Tamil Nadu is not just another fascinating tourist destination. It is home to plenty of great festivals as well. Pongal is a festival in Tamil Nadu that engages people in a way that becomes a medium of unity and integrity. Despite being a harvest festival, the Pongal festival is much more than that.
Regarding festivals, no one can ignore the importance of food. In this case, the food and the festival go by the same name. The Pongal festival is a harvest celebration where Pongal food is served to deities.
This article is about various Pongal dishes and the other side dishes that come with the recipe.
Pongal festival is one of the biggest festivals in Tamil Nadu. Pongal indicates the beginning of a Tamil month named Thai. This month is considered holy for the people of Tamil Nadu. They celebrate Pongal through a four-day-long ceremony. The first day is Bhogi Pongal, and the main festival falls on the second day, Surya Pongal. The festival concludes with Mattu Pongal and Kaanum Pongal.
Through the Pongal festival, the Uttarayan of the Sun begins. It means that from this time on, the Sun starts to move north. According to the Hindu religion, Uttarayan is a holy occasion when people must request mercy for their wrongdoings. They pray to the Sun god to shower blessings.
Generally, the Pongal festival falls in the middle of January. Schools and colleges of Tamil Nadu remain closed this time around. People rise early in the morning, wear new clothes, and decorate their houses with Kolam. They boil newly harvested rice with milk and sweet ingredients and adorn house premises. The more the milk spills over, the more prosperity spills over. Theres an interesting ritual conducted around the boil with people chanting.
Pongal dishes in Tamil Nadu are quite famous. During Pongal, several popular Pongal dishes are traditionally prepared in Tamil households. Pongal recipes are of two variations: sweet Pongal and spicy Pongal. Spicy Pongal is a form of khichdi made during the Pongal festival and an everyday breakfast recipe.
Below are some Pongal South Indian dishes, including Pongal special foods:-
Sweet Pongal
Sweet Pongal is a significant Pongal food in Tamil Nadu. It also goes by the name of Sakkarai Pongal. In this Pongal dish, rice is boiled with moong dal, ghee, and jaggery and garnished with nuts, cashews, and cardamoms. People believe that this recipe is essential to bring prosperity after harvesting. They serve it to the Sun god as a part of the Pongal ritual. It is made either in a pressure cooker or in a traditional pot. It is cooked in the direction facing the Sun, in the east.
Ven Pongal
Ven Pongal is one of the variations of Pongal khichdi. This particular Pongal dish is full of spice. For the people who seldom like the sweet version of Pongal rice, this recipe is for them. It is also a very significant part of the Pongal festival. While Sakkarai Pongal is prepared as prasad in temples, Ven Pongal is made in households. People prepare this as a symbol of a never-ending supply of sustenance. The ingredients for this Pongal dish include rice, moong dal, black pepper, ginger, cumin, curry leaves, and ghee. Most South Indian dishes are paired with sambar or coconut chutney for the perfect taste.
Coconut Chutney
Coconut chutney for Pongal is immensely popular in Tamil Nadu. It enhances the taste of any South Indian recipe. Since coconut is easily available in South India, its use in most dishes prepared in the state is daily. Popular South Indian recipes such as Upma, Dosa, Idli, Vada, Appam, Paniyaram, and Pongal dont taste the same unless paired with coconut chutney. A famous Pongal chutney, it is made with chana dal, raw coconut, tamarind, green chillies, curry leaves, ginger, and mustard seeds.
In South India, including Tamil Nadu, chutney powders are prepared from dried and roasted lentils. Because of the British invasion, chutney is now widely recognized in the world. Coconut chutney can be stored for some in case some good quality ingredients are used.
Traditional Sambar
Sambar, a famous recipe of Tamil Nadu, is a Pongal special food item in addition to a regular meal component. It complements every Pongal dish prepared, especially Ven Pongal. At the time of the Pongal festival, sambar is made with a varied range of vegetables.
According to legend, the traditional Sambar recipe has come from Maratha ruler Shivajis son Sambhaji. While the people of Tamil Nadu make this with brinjal, and drumstick radish, in Kerala, they use carrots and potatoes.
Payasam
It is not possible to celebrate any South Indian festival without preparing payasam. This Pongal dish is considered lucky for any special occasion. The history of payasam goes back thousands of years. During the Pongal festival, several payasam recipes are popular. Sabudana payasam, Kadalai Paruppu payasam, Aval payasam, Semiya payasam, and Rice payasam are the best options to celebrate this festival. Traditionally prepared with rice, milk, dry fruits, and jaggery, every payasam recipe is delicious.
Medu Vada
Medu Vada is a famous breakfast recipe in Tamil Nadu. This savoury doughnut-shaped breakfast snack goes well with coconut chutney or sambar. Prepared with coconut, herbs, black grams, and other spices, it is tender on the inside and crunchy on the outside. It is one of the authentic Pongal dishes. Most people make this Pongal dish easily at home. The recipe originated from a small town in Karnataka, Maddur.
Coconut Rice
In Tamil Nadu, people like to include coconut no matter what they make. Likewise, coconut rice is a beloved Pongal rice recipe on the day of Kaanum Pongal as Naivedyam. On this day, preparing a rice recipe is compulsory. In this recipe, rice is mixed with coconut, ginger, curry leaves, and other spices. This Pongal food item is entirely different because of the sweet coconut and hot spices.
Tomato Chutney
Tomato chutney for Pongal is one of the most frequently made recipes in Tamil Nadu. It is not only a Pongal side dish but also eaten with idli and dosa. Tomato chutney is made with fresh tomatoes, red chillies, groundnuts, sesame, and oil. It is delicious and goes best with Ven Pongal. People of Tamil Nadu enjoy this Pongal special food all time of the year. However, during the four day festival, sincere thankfulness and gratitude with near and dear ones for the elements is a privilege.
There are many tasty South Indian dishes every person must want to eat. All the famous restaurants in Tamil Nadu will serve some delicious dishes which include Masala Dosa, Kari Dosai, Elaneer Payasam, Nethili Fish Fry, Kothu Parotta, Sundal, Meen Kozhambu, etc.
One of the festivals of Tamil Nadu is Thaipusam. It is celebrated on a full moon day in the month of Thai in the Tamil calendar. Thaipusam celebrates the birthday of Lord Subramaniam, the younger son of Lord Shiva. Those who have faith, they make and keep vows and pray to the Lord. The actual festival day is a penance and devotees carry two pots that are attached to a long stick, and these pots have rice, milk etc which the devotee carries to the temple and offers to the Lord.
During Thaipusam, some devotees also pierce their bodies with sharp objects and profess to feel no pain. There are also some devotees who walk on coals to reach the temple and while this is a sight that is hard to behold, it just shows their devotion.
Karthigai Deepam is one of the festivals of Tamil Nadu, which falls in the month of Karthigai in the Tamil calendar, which is November to mid-December. This festival is celebrated for ten days in Tamil Nadu, when people wear new clothes, exchange gifts and meet their relatives. It’s known as the Festival of Lights but it’s actually like an extension of Diwali. People believe that this month has special importance as Lord Shiva appeared in Thiruvannamalai Hills. There’s also a fair which is held during this time.
Music has the power to drive away the impurities of the mind and the soul. It provides calmness, peace, and happiness which is not easy to find. It is also a medium to express oneself when a normal conversation is not enough.
Carnatic music is arguably the highest form of Indian Classical music. In this form of music, very few instruments are used. The power of vocalization is everything when it comes to Carnatic music. It is one of the top music genres in South India.
When it comes to Carnatic music, no one can ignore the importance and contribution of Saint Thyagaraja. He is the reason behind the overflowing success of Indian Classical Music in South India.
Thyagaraja was the greatest saint composer of Carnatic music, and this festival is named after him. Thiruvaiyaru in Tamil Nadu is his birthplace, and this is where he attained samadhi. Carnatic musicians from all over the globe attend the festival to pay homage to the great Saint.
Thiruvaiyaru festival is a music celebration where Carnatic music gets recognition, and homage as well. The Keertanas of Saint Thyagaraja are performed by devoted singers who worship their Guru.
Thiruvaiyaru is a town in Tamil Nadu, 312 km away from the city of Chennai. It is located on the banks of the Kaveri River. The name Thiruvaiyaru means five rivers. These rivers are Arisilaaru, Vennaaru, Vettaaru, Kudamurutti and Kaveri.
This place is mainly famous for hosting the music festival which attracts plenty of visitors. Most people know the name of this town as the birthplace of Saint Thyagaraja. There are several temples in Thiruvaiyaru as well. Thiruvaiyaru temple history is something to look forward to when visitors visit this town. Thiruvaiyaru Aiyarappar Temple is another popular place, famous for rituals and prayers.
Thiruvaiyaru Aiyarappar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is one of the famous temples in Thiruvaiyaru. This 15-acre temple includes five prakarams and a 7-tiered Rajagopuram. Devotees cannot circumambulate around the deity of Lord Shiva as it is forbidden.
There is an interesting characteristic in Thiruvaiyaru Aiyarappar Temple. If any devotee shouts the name of Aiyarappar from a certain spot in Thiruvaiyaru Aiyarappar Temple, it tends to echo seven times. This Thiruvaiyaru Sivan temple has everything a Lord Shiva devotee can hope for.
Saint Thyagaraja Temple is located on the northern shore of the Kaveri River. The Thiruvaiyaru festival is celebrated here each year. The musicians sing Kirtan, and the Saints compositions together by sitting on the two stages.
Devotees believe that Saint Thyagaraja himself comes to listen to the music sung by his disciples. There is a bodhi tree as well where the Saint sought penance.
The Thiruvaiyaru festival goes by the name of Thiruvaiyaru Thyagaraja Music Festival. This festival is regarded as one of the biggest music festivals in India. It is a five-day-long music festival, dedicated to Saint Thyagaraja who was the greatest saint composer of Carnatic music.
Thiruvaiyaru is one of the popular festivals of Tamil Nadu. It is celebrated every year in Thiruvaiyaru in Tamil Nadu, close to Thanjavur. The festival is held in the Telugu month of Poush, the 5th day of Krishna Paksha. Some rituals are also performed other than concerts.
The Thiruvaiyaru festival concludes with the performance of Pancharatna Kritis. Music lovers from all over the country, and the world, explore Tamil Nadu tourism to witness this unique celebration.
As far as the history of South India is concerned, Thyagaraja was the greatest music composer ever. He created what people today know as Carnatic music. He was born in 1767, in a Telugu Brahmin family at Thiruvaiyaru.
At the age of 13, he composed his first song in Sanskrit. Sanskrit, Telugu, and other subjects were among his knowledge zones. He was considered a vastly talented music composer from the very beginning. Spirituality along with melodious tones was the main specialty of his compositions.
He was devoted to worshipping and composing songs on the characters of the Ramayana. He also sang many exceptional songs. Because of his contribution, people know him as the father of Carnatic music. He didnt live long after he took Sannyasa.
The disciples of Saint Thyagaraja arranged the very first Thiruvaiyaru music festival back in 1908. Before that, there were only ritualistic pujas in this place. Pujas are still performed today by Sadguru Sri Tyagabrahma Aradhana Kainkarya Trust.
The trinity of Carnatic music, Muthuswamy Dikshidhar, Shyama Sashtri, and Thyagaraja contributed a lot when it comes to Carnatic music. They composed a lot of unforgettable melodies which have made Carnatic music so regarded. These three are remembered during this festival.
The Thiruvaiyaru festival falls in January or February each year. Carnatic musicians from all around the globe gather here. They perform to give a tribute to their respective and beloved Saint Thyagaraja. Not only the performers, but thousands of Indian Classical Music lovers also call this place holy.
They sing the Pancharatna Kritis on the day of Pushya Bahula Panchami. This is when the Saint left his mortal body in 1847. This place is the Aradhana arena for the devotees of Carnatic music.
Aradhana means to pray for something good and holy. During the time of the festival, this place becomes a stage of unity as well.
Doordarshan National Channel broadcast the live telecast of the chorus recital of Pancharatna Keerthanas. The main goal of the festival is to preserve the traditional music of India.
Acharya Thyagaraja was able to bring a social evolution. He was able to unite society through the incredible power of music. This is something that every music lover needs to celebrate once in a while.
Tamil Nadu celebrates a number of festivals throughout the year, including Pongal Festival Thaipusam Festival, Karthigai Deepam, Natyanjali Dance Festival, Chitri Rai Festival, etc.
This festival is celebrated in Nataraja Temple in Chidambaram in Tamil Nadu. Nearly 400 dancers from all over the country come together to showcase their various dancing skills in Bharatnatyam, Kuchipudi, Kathak and Mohiniyattam. Dancers are dressed in their traditional outfits and they all focus on representing their diverse culture. This cultural festival aims to bring together diverse forms of dance for a single cause and spreads the message of Unity in Diversity.
The state of Tamil Nadu is rich in history and culture. Hence, it never goes short of festivals and celebrations. During the middle of January, the people of Tamil Nadu celebrate the Pongal festival.
Pongal festival is a harvest festival where devotees pay homage to the Sun God. This four-day-long festival is celebrated as the end of a farming season. Farmers get relief from their tedious farmwork and worship mother nature, the Sun God, and the cattle as well.
The Pongal festival includes Thai Pongal, Surya Pongal, Mattu Pongal, and Kaanum Pongal. People throw away old belongings and wear new clothes. They wake up early in the morning and decorate their houses with Kolam. People also make a bonfire in their house premises where newly harvested rice is boiled with milk.
This festival is immensely significant in Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu Jallikattu is a part of this Pongal celebration.
On the third day of Pongal, quite a few places in the state host the Jallikattu Bull Festival. Jallikattu festival is an important annual event that is hosted in the villages of Tamil Nadu.
In the past, this event was accused of being a part of animal cruelty. However, nothing seems to put this sport on a leash. This festival is very much like Spains bullfighting. This article is all about what is Jallikattu festival, bull Jallikattu, the Jallikattu history, and how it is important even today.
This festival is a bull-taming sport in Tamil Nadu. It is celebrated in January. This bullfighting also goes by the name of Sallikkattu, Yeruthazhuvuthal, Madu Pidithal, and Pollerudhu Pidithal. It usually falls on the third day of the Pongal festival, which is known as Mattu Pongal Day.
It is that kind of sport where a furious bull comes out on an open field from a contained place. A group of young people tries to take hold of the creature by pulling its horns. If anyone can make the bull lie down flat on the ground, that person would be the winner.
Areas like Madurai, Tiruchirapalli, Thanjavur, and Pudukkottai are especially known for hosting Jallikattu each year. In Tamil Nadu, specially bred bulls for this purpose are used.
The name Jallikattu has derived from two different words. One is Jalli, which means gold and silver coins. The other one is Kattu, which means tied. Some coins remain tied up by the horns of the bull. The one who can take hold of the bull can also take hold of the coins.
The rich history of Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu goes back more than two thousand years. Ayars played this sport around 400--100 BCE. During the Tamil Classical Period, the Ayars used to take part in it. In the Tamil epic, Silappatikaram, there was a mention of Jallikattu.
From the Indus valley civilization site, a seal which was an instance of this sport was found. Currently, the seal is kept in the National Museum. So, the history of Jallikattu is way more ancient than people might know.
There used to be a marriage prospect behind it as well. An individual who was able to control the bull could also win the hands of a maiden. In ancient times, the rulers and the warriors used to participate in the Jallikattu festival. It was an honourable way of showing pride, courage, and vanity.
The festival was very common in the Mullai division, which was a part of Tamil Nadu Tourism. Recently, a painting has been found in Madurai where the full picture of Jallikattu sports is depicted. This painting is more than 1500 years old.
There is also another legend around this festival where Lord Shiva sent his right hand, Basava, to deliver a message on earth. But Basava made a mistake, and the wrong message was delivered.
As a result, Lord Shiva cursed him to stay forever on earth and help the mortals as farming animals. Since then, the Pongal festival has started, and so has the Jallikattu bull festival.
This sport has many different versions. Every version of the game contains different rules as well. In Vatam Manjuvirattu, a group of players gets a limited period. Within the given time, they need to take a hold of the bull, tied with a long rope.
In Vati Manju Virattu, a person tries to take control of the bull within a particular time and distance. If they can fulfil the criteria, they will be declared the winner.
Veli Virattu, the bull Jallikattu is let loose in an open area. A person tries to take hold of it.
For the Tamil people, the Jallikattu festival is not just another form of celebration or just a matter of sport. Furthermore, it is the perfect platform for them to showcase their strength.
In Tamil Nadu, they arrange this festival much before the specific time. Invites are sent to the nearby villages. The owners of the bulls come to include the names.
On the specific date, all bulls go under a routine medical checkup before entering the arena. Some local TV broadcasting channels broadcast the whole thing live on national television. The bull Jallikattu that wins the festival has a higher chance of going big in the markets.
In Tamil Nadu, Jallikattu is a matter of dignity. It is an integrated part of rich Tamilian history and culture as well. Travellers from all over the globe come here to witness this exciting bull-taming sport.
The Jallikattu Premier League was started in 2018 by Tamil Nadu Jallikattu Peravai. An International Sports Arena was also built for this purpose.
Every festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu is celebrated in a special manner. There are various popular festivals in Tamil Nadu such as Thaipusam Festival Karthigai Deepam Thiruvaiyaru Festival Natyanjali Dance Festival Chitri Rai Festival
This festival takes place in Madurai in the month of April or May. It is a re-enactment of the wedding of Lord Sundareswarar and Goddess Meenakshi and the most famous temple of Tamil Nadu, the Meenakshi Temple in Madurai is the destination for this event. This is a two-week-long festival that takes place in the Tamil month of Chitrai.
Do check the SOTC website for offers and deals on Tamil Nadu Tour Packages if you are planning to visit to the land of Tamils.
