Festivals in Pondicherry South Indian States India

Pondicherry - Festivals

Pondicherry - Festivals

Pondicherry is an abode of temples dedicated to Lord Sulramaniar and various forms of ammans viz, Muthumariammam, Angalamman, etc. The famous fire walking and Sedal festival are generally the most important festivals of these temples.

1. Fire walking - Those who vow to take part in the fire walking ordeal observe 40 days fast and wear saffron coloured clothes and after a purificatory bath, walk through the fire stretch to the astonishment of the spectators.

2. Sedal - The famous sedal is understood to mean self-imposed physical torture undertaken by devotees who pierce small silver hooks and spears in their body or tongues in fulfillment of some vow. It is said that as many as 100 needles are pierced over their body. They then go in a procession after a bathclad in turmeric strained clothes.

3. Mascarade Festival - Mascarade or Mask festival is celebrated sometime during March-April in Pondicherry It reflects one more facet of the French sense of humor with fantastic mask and fancy costumes, revelers go round the streets in joyous merriment indulging in a kind of gimmic dance to the accompaniment of beating accordion the trumpets.

4. International Yoga Festival - Yogis and Yognis from the world over assemble in Pondicherry from the 4th to the 7th January every year. Through live show and talks, through the display and sample of the varied yogic food and through Indian dance and music, they keep alive the art of Yoga. Its science. And its Pondicherry.

Other festivals/fairs include, one in Karaikal Ammayur temple which holds the annual 'Mangani' festival (July) which is a well attended 'Mela' as also Kandoori festival celebrated by Karaikal Durga and the feast of our lady of Lourdes celebrated by our lady of Lourdes church. The St. Theresa Church in Mahe celebrates St.Theresa festival in October every year which is attended by even non-Christians.

Bhagavathi temple which conducts 'Thiraiyattam' which is a kind of dance of ancient art coupled with divinity is another worth mentioning celebration. Another important festival is 'Masimagam Festival'- on the Full moon day of the 'Magam' asterism in the Tamil month of Masi (Feb-March) thousands of people in good faith go the sea shore in the early morning to have a holy dip in the sea for ablution of their sins. Deities from as many as fifty temples in Pondicherry and from the outlying areas of Tamil Nadu are brought in ceremonial procession to the sea-shore with accompaniment of Nadhaswaram near Kuruchikuppam in Pondicherry municipal area for the symbolic immersion.

Pondicherry will wear a festive galore from early morning to the late night of the day. The deities which are taken to the shore early morning make their return journey to their respective places in procession along the streets of Pondicherry in the evening. In Thirukannapuram village in Tamil Nadu area there is a saying that deity of sowriraja perumal married a fishermen community woman and hence the moment the deity enters the village the fishermen take charge of the deity and after the festival is completed the charges are replaced. Other festivals or fairs celebrated in Pondicherry include Putha Lanthira, Mandolilthira, Koyodan Korothithra, Pandokuloththira, Mandalam vilakku, vishnutheertham, Swamikalyanam, etc.

The Mahe district which is situated near Kerala celebrate festivals similar to Kerala like Onam, Vishu, Sri Krishna Jayanti, Vinayaga Chathurthi etc. Pondicherry is richly cosmopolitan. In Pondicherry, people are easy and happy going. Every faith has a festival, although in Pondicherry it is believed that life itself is a celebration.People of different cast creed origin get together for public festival.

The various festivals of Pondicherry monthwise are:

International Yoga Festival in January : Every year from 4th to 7th January yogies and yoginies from worldwide have a congregation in Pondicherry to exchange ideas and ways.Various live shows and talks are organised through Indian dance, music and various Indian yogic food.The idea is to keep alive the art of yoga and its philosophy.

Pongal - During 13th to 16th January, the harvest festival of rural Pondicherry changes the atmosphere here. The houses are spring cleaned and adorned with colourful patterns of "Kolam". Old clothes and mats are ritually burnt on the bhogi day.Pongal made with new rice and jaggery sugar and raisins is cooked in new mud pots.On the third consecutive day, herds of cattle are washed and decorated.People dress up, visit, their friends and relative houses to wish each other. During Pongal time, the park and beach has a colourful look flooded with people.

Maasi Magam - March - Maasi Magam festival is celebrated in Kurichikuppam situated in north and comprises basically of fishermen community.Deities from as many as 38 temples are brought in a procession to Pondicherry and taken around town with accompaniment of Nadaswaram (horns).It concludes with images of Chakra (the discus - the symbol of Vishnu) and the trisul (the trident - the symbol of Siva) for ablutions in the sea.

Maangani Festival - July - Karaikal breaks into a month-long festivity which accompanies this feast dedicated to Karaikal Ammaiyar.When for 4 days, the ground-breaking events from her life are reenacted.The image of Lord Siva, is taken out through the streets, in a decorated palanquinat which the townsfolk throw mangoes from rooftops, much to the delight of the crowd gathered below.

Bastille Day - On 14 July, Bastille Day, Pondicherry witnesses an Indo-French pageantry.Uniformed war veterans march through the street singing 'Marsellaise'.Heart-warmingly, the French flag can be seen flying alongside the Indian flag on many housetops.

Fete De Pondicherry - A cultural pageant, coinciding with the Liberation Day and the Independence Day.The brilliantly lit Park Monument makes for a marvellous sight.

Pondicherry - Festivals