Tamil Nadu Festivals

One of the most popular and well known festivals of South India, Pongal is very close to nature and is intrinsically associated with the harvesting season. This four day long gala is celebrated in mid-January with pomp and gaiety by one and all. The farmers and the people as a whole celebrate this fiesta to offer gratitude to the Lord, Earth and the cattle for blessing the land with so much of fertility. The very word 'Pongal' has its origin in a Tamil word that suggests 'to boil' or 'to spill over' which is very much evident as a dish of boiled rice mixed with fresh milk is considered auspicious.

South India has maintained its reputation as a region rich in Dance forms down the decades. The Natyangali Dance Festival is just one another feather in the cap that carriers forward the tradition of Dance and Devotion going in tandem. The Chidambram temples in the city of Chidambram in Tamil Nadu is home to this festival that marks the commencement of the Mahashivratri. The center point of this carnival is the ethereal Dancer,Lord Natraja.

Having close association with the Deepavali festival, Karthigai Deepam is hailed as the oldest celebrations of Tamil Nadu. Essentially a festival of lights, it marks the full moon of Kaarthigai month and continues for nine days. The domestic arena of the state also sees some colourful arrangements with 'Kolams' (Rangoli) and various other household activities.