INDIALINE
Complete India Travel Guide

Tamil Nadu Festivals

Pongal Festival

A Date With The Most Memorable Calendar.....

Tamil Nadu. There is no place like this. Having fascinated tourists for decades, Tamil Nadu has something new to offer every year. Tamil Nadu is blessed with a rich culture and a traditional past. The glory and the gradeur comes alive to greet you every day. Temples, beaches, hill stations, gopurams, mountains, waterfalls, wildlife... name it, you have it. The festivals and the festive moods of Tamil Nadu are other reasons for the constant inflow of tourists. There is a festival for every month.

Festivals serve as an occasion for family reunion from long time and now become a part and parcel of people's lives, occasions like the Natyanjali Dance festival, has started attracting tourists from all over the world. Tamil Nadu is also blessed with innumerable number of temples, almost all of these religious structures have their own special festivals and fairs to celebrate. Most of these temple festivals are in the month between September and November and between March and June. Come, and join the soil of verginity along In festivals of Tamil Nadu you will see a perfect blend of dance, music and religion that will give you an insight into the real world of frolic and celebrations. Festivals that make a year full of fond memories. We welcome you to share the same.

Pongal Festival

January - Pongal Festival First Day of the Tamil Month - Thai
Pongal is one of those festivals that is celebrated almost everywhere in India but with different names. It is the most important festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu to mark the harvesting of crops. The festival and celebrations are spread over a period of four days. The celebrations are generally confined to people's home and you might not be able to see much activities on the roads but the third day is for thanking and paying homage to natural factors like Sun god, earth and cattle that play a major part in the harvesting of crops and you might just spot locales outside their homes worshiping their cattles. These sights will introduce you to a different kind of relation between man and animal, different than any that you have ever imagined.

Tourist Fair

January - Chennai
Welcome to the colourfull TTDC Trade Fair at Chennai. The exhibition introduces you to Tamil Nadu. It`s cultural wealth, places of tourist interest, economic scenario and much more.

Tea and Tourism Festival

Last week of January - Udhagamandalam/Coonoor A 3-day festival at the Hill Stations. Varieties of tea are on display. Also available for tasting. Cultural extravaganzas, Cuisines of the South and the pleasant climate adds more flavour. For the right blend, Join in.

Natyanjali Festival

February - March /Chidambaram - Natyanjali Dance Festival
A festival dedicated to dance in devotion to Lord Shiva in the form of Nataraja is what Natyanjali Dance festival is all about. This is one of the main festival that is celebrated with a lot of enthusiasm and fervor. The festival is celebrated in Chidambaram every year in the month of February-March. It all begins from the day of Mahashivratri for the next five days. The visitors get a chance to see the performance of all the prominent dancers of India on the same platform. The performances are delivered in front of the Nataraja temple as a devotion to Lord Nataraja. The festival witnesses a large number of spectators so it is advisable that you book your ticket well in advance.

Chithirai Festival

April - Madurai
Venue is the famous Madurai temple, 500 knlS. from Chennai. The festival starts from the Tamil month -Chithirai, and goes on for ten days. The highlight is the procession of Lord `Kallazhagar` (Lord Vishnu) the elder brother of Goddess Meenakshi, who proceeds from his abode - Azhagarmalai 30 kms. from Madurai, to give away his sister in marriage to Lord Sundareshwar. The celebration is filled with pomp and festivity: The `Kallazhagar` entering the river Vaigai is indeed a spectacular sight.

Mango Festival

Last 3 days of June - Krishnagiri
Krishnagiri is the venue for the famous mango festival. Valrious mangoes are kept on display. It is also an event for the buyers and sellers to meet. Come, and you`re sure to go mangoes!

Saral Festival

July - Courtrallam
The monsoon brings happiness. And waterfalls at Courtrallam. The water falls on rocks and tiny droplets are sprinkled into the air. Thus, giving a `fog-like` appearance. The breeze carries this `fog` far. The phenomenon is called `Saral` in Tamil. The falls are known for its medicinal value. This is the only `spa` of its kind in the South. Cultural programmes, competitions, fun and frolic make this festival remarkable.

Summer Festival

May - June/Udhagamandalam, Kodaikanal, Yercaud, Elagiri Hills
There are several beautiful Hill Stations in Tamil Nadu. With the Summer Festivals, the hills are even better. Clutural programmes, adventure sports, boat races, flower shows and fruit shows add to the splendour.

Cape Festival

October - Kanyakumari
Kanyakumari is the Southern tip of the Indian Sub-continent, surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. The Hindus consider a bath in this confluence as very sacred. The Vivekananda Memorial set amidst the sea is a place known to give mental emancipation. The Cape Festival is marked by a series of cultural programmes. Lasts for 3 days.

Dance Festival

December- February / Mamallapuram
The Dance Festival starts on the 25th of December every year and is conducted on all Saturdays, Sundays and Government holiday`s, upto February first week. Dancers and n1usicians of repute from India and abroad thrill the crowds every year. Folk dances of India are other added attractions.

Karthigai Deepam

Karthigai Deepam, called the festival of lights, is celebrated in the month of November- December. It is a very big and prominent festival of Tamil Nadu which goes on for a period of nine days. On these days all the houses are lit up with different lights and lamps few of which are made in the house itself. You will be delighted to see so much of lighting every where you gaze. On important days in between, you can witness the grand processions of deities on different types of decorated vehicles which is a real treat for eyes. Also visit the ten day cattle fair which is held in Thiruvannamalai where you will see cattle that are brought here from all parts of Tamil Nadu specifically for this fair.

More Reasons To Visit Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu is well connected by road anti rail. All important destinations are accessible by air. Tamil Nadu also has an International Airport. Tourists can directly come to Tamil Nadu from London, Germany, Singapore, Malaysia, Dubai, Sri Lanka, etc. TTDC offers a wide range of hotels, motels and youth hostels for your comfortable stay. Quality cuisine is another hallmark of Tamil Nadu. What`s more, everything comes at an affordable price.