Fair & Festivals, Tamil Nadu

Jalli Kattu (Bull battle) - Around the 2nd day from the Pongal i.e. on Mattu Pongal day, Jalli Kattu or bullfight will take location in virtually all villages. Youths come ahead to tame the bull because they arrive ferociously rushing on them. It is a classic, spine-chilling battle. The winner will get the prize cash tied around the horns. Alanganallur close to Madurai is famous for this activity.

Republic Day - The Republic Day falls on 26th January. It truly is a nationwide festival. Spectacular march past, cultural and gay pageantry mark the celebrations within the state money as well as the capitals of the districts.

Sivarathri - A festival observed in all Siva temples and Saivaite families. Special poojas and chanting of 'Siva Siva' are done all through the night. Devotees observe fasting and remain awake all through the night. Special abhishekam or holy anointing and ablution of Lingams are done from midnight.

Tamil New Year’s Day - It arrives in the center of April heralding the spring season. The Sun raises from the 1st constellation Aries on this day. The year's astrological prospect is read and folks worship their family deity and check out temples. The neem flower is used in a single way or other as a side dish and eaten along with sweet kheer called payasam. Huge queues is going to be found in all crucial temples on this day. Tamil New Year greetings will also be exchanged. This month is known as 'Chitthirai' and in olden days, around the full moon day of this month a great festival was celebrated, referred to as lndra Vizha or Vasantha Vizha(spring festival).

Sri Rama Navami - It is celebrated in all Vishnu temples and at homes. It is the birthday of Rama, 1 with the Avatars of Vishnu. The Ramayanam is recited on this day.

Good Friday - The holy day from the Christians is observed all through Tamil Nadu.Churches all above Tamil Nadu would conduct special masses on this day.

Adi Perukku - It really is the eighteenth day of the Tamil month Adi, on which most with the rivers will be in spate after rains. Individuals go to the river banks and worship the river goddess and float their offerings on river. They also carry different varieties of cooked rice and eat them around the banks and spend their time merrily.

Independence Day - 15th August is the day on which India won Independence. It's a nationwide festival. The National Flag is hoisted each year on this day. Processions and meetings are held. Flag hoisting ceremony at Fort St. George, Chennai and cultural pageantry mark the occasion. It really is a public holiday and public buildings are illuminated colorfully on this day.

Krishna Jayanthi - It is the birthday of Lord Krishna. It truly is celebrated in all Vishnu Temples and at homes. Individuals prepare different delicacies and offer them to Lord Krishna. Balls of butter are also supplied.

Kanthuri Festival - This too could be said to be of a secular nature since people of all faiths flock to the shrine of saint Quadirwali believed to be doing good to all. One with the descendants of the saint is chosen as the spiritual leader or 'peer' and honored with offerings. The tenth day is most critical. On that day, the tomb of the saint is anointed with sandal paste and later it truly is distributed to one and all. This holy paste is believed to possess healing powers as it really is considered a remedy for all ills. The festival is celebrated at Nagore durgah near Nagapattinam.

Natyanjali Festival - It truly is a dance festival at the Nataraja temple at Chidambaram. It really is a homage paid by all the dancers to the cosmic dancer, Lord Nataraja. It's celebrated close to the thousand-pillared hall of the temple wherever 108 dancing poses of Lord Siva are depicted. The poses are from Tamil Nadu's classical dance Bharatha Natyam. Dancers all above India come to pay their tribute by performing dances like Bharatha Natyam, Kuchipudi, Kathakali, Odissi and Kathak are performed.

Besides, all of the Muslim festivals like Ramzan, Bakrid, Milad-un-Nabi etc. and all the Christian festivals like the New Year Day, Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and Christmas etc. are also celebrated in Tamil Nadu.