Tiruvannamalai - Festivals

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Tiruvannamalai - Festivals

ThiruVoodal Festival :

This is the another grand festival for Lord Arunachaleswarar on the day after 'Mahara Shankaranthi' or 'Pongal' day in the month of January. It will come usually on 15th of January every year. During the leap year it will come on the 16th January of every year. This festival is for only one day. The importance of the festival is that swamy will not come on any chariot on any vahanam. But 40 persons will carry swamy in their shoulders.

On the early morning, 'Maha Deeparadhana' will be performed and then he will come and sit on the 'Kedaya'. And then more than 40 persons will carry the swamy on their shoulders to the mandapam outside the temple. There very big Umberlla will be put for the swamy. The total weight of swamy and the umberlla is in tonnes, but they are carrying with the grace of Lord Arunachaleswara. Swamy will make three rounds of the temple and in the Evening 'Thiruvoodal' festival will be performed. This festival also is important and to see.

The importance of this festival is that Lord Arunachaleswara is giving darshan in three form as Brhamma, Lord Vishnu andLord Rudhra. There was a Saint called Bhringu Maharishi who was a follower of Lord Shiva only. He worships only Lord shiva and not Goddess Parvathi. In the Mount.Kailash he usually go rounds Lord Shiva and not Lord parvathi. Once Parvathi gets angry and sit very close to Lord Shiva. As usual Bhringu Maharishi came and see parvathi is sitting very close to Lord Shiva. So he makes half round as human form and take a form of insect that will penetrate into woods. He penetrates in between Lord Shiva and parvathi and completes his pradhakshana(rounding). And parvathi gets really angry and takes all the energy from his body. Bhringu Maharshi is now with only Bones and skin. By seeing his condition Lord Shiva became very pity on him and he wants to give him "Mukthi". But parvathi objects to that. But Lord shiva goes ahead and gives him "Mukthi".

Important Festivals

• An important festival, Karthigai Deepam is being celebrated in the month of November and this festival is scheduled based on the Tamil month Karthigai and normally falls during the months November ,October and December.
• Thiruvoodal or The Holy Quarrel: This festival is being celebrated during the month of Tamil month 'Thai'or English month January.
• Full Moon Days: This town draws huge crowd during the full moon days and people from all over Tamil Nadu circumambulate the mountain.

1. Chithirai (April - May) Chitirai vasantha urchavam 10 days.

2. Vaikasi (May-June) Vaikasi Urchavam 1 day.

3. Ani (June - July) Ani Bramorchavam 10 days.

4. Adi (July - August) Adi Pooram Bramorchavam 10 days.

5. Avani (August - Sept.) Avani Moolam Urchavam 1 day.

6. Puratasi (Sept. - Oct.) Navarathri Urchavam 9 days.

7. Aippasi (Oct. - Nov.) Annabisheka Urchavam 1 day.
Kanda Sashti urchavam 6 days.

8. Karthigai (Nov. - Dec.) Karthigai Deepa Bramorchavam 17 days.

9. Margazhi (Dec. - Jan.) Vaikunda Ekadasi Urchavam 1 day
Arudra Darisanam (Lord Nataraja Urchavam) 1 day.

10. Thai (Jan. - Feb.) Uthrayana Punyakala Bramorchavam 10 days.

• Thiruvoodal Urchavam 1 day.
• Manalurpettai Theerthavari Urchavam 1 day.
• Kalasapakkam (Rathasapthami)
• Theerthavari Urchavam 1 day.

11. Masi (Feb. - March) Maha Sivarathri Urchavam
Masi Makam Pallikondpattu Theerthavari Urchavam.

12. Panguni (March - April) Panguni Uthiram Thirukalyana Urchavam 6 days.

• Sri Durgambal Urchavam Night Sri Durgambal on Kamadenu vahanam
• Sri Pidari Urchavam Night Sri Pidariamman on Lion vahanam
• Sri Vinayagar Urchavam Night Sri Vinayagar on Mooshiga vahanam
• First day festival Morning Panchamoorthis Silver Vimanam
• Night Panchamoorthis, Mooshigam, Peacock, Adhikara Nandi, Hamsam small Rishaba Vaganam.
• Second day festival Morning Sri Vinayagar, Sri Chandrasekara vimanam Sun Crescent mount.
• Night Panchamoorthis, Silver Indra vimanam etc.
• Third day festival Morning Sri Vinayagar, Sri Chandrasekarar vimanam, Naga vaganam
• Night Panchamoorthis, Simha vaganam, Silver Anna vaganam etc.
• Fourth day festival Morning Sri Vinayagar, Sri Chandrasekarar vimanam, Naga vimanam
• Night Panchamoorthis, Silver Karpagavritcham, Silver Kamadhenu vaganam and other silver vaganams.
• Fifth day festival Morning Sri Vinayagar, Sri Chandrasekarar, Mooshigam Mirror Rishaba Vaganam
• Night Panchamoorthis, Silver Moohigam, Silver Peacock, Big Silver Rishaba Vaganam display
• Sixth day festival Morning Sri Vinayagar, Sri Chandrasekarar, Mooshigam, Silver Elephant, 63 Nayanmars vimanams.
• Night Panchamoorthis Silver car, Indra vimanam and other Silver vimanams.
• Seventh day festival Morning Panchamoorthis Maharahams between 5.30 a.m. and 7.00 a.m. in Viruchaga Lagnam Ratha Roganam Vadam.
• Night Panchamoorthis reach Asthana Mandapam from the car.
• Eighth day festival Morning Sri Vinayagar, Sri Chandrasekarar, Silver vimanam
• Night Panchamoorthis, Horse vaganam etc.
• Ninth day festival Morning Sri Vinayagar, Sri Chandrasekarar, Mirror Vimanam.
• Night Panchamoorthis, Kailasa vaganam, Kamadhenu vaganam etc.
• Tenth day festival Morning Udayathpurvam 4?O Clock Barani Deepam
• Day Bramhatheertham Theerthavari
• Evening At 6 p.m. Panchamoorthis on golden vimanams, Jyothi Swarooba Maha Deepam.
• Night Panchamoorthis, Golden Rishaba Vaganam etc.
• First day Theppal Night At 8 p.m. SriChandrasekara Thappal -- Sri Abithakusambal with Sri Arunachaleswarar Giripradhakshanam
• Second day Theppal Night At 8 p.m. Sri Parasakthi Amman theppal
• Third day Theppal Night At 8 p.m. Sri Subramaniar theppal
• Sri Chandikeswarar Utsavam Night Sri Chandikeswarar Utsavam, Silver Vaganam.

Tiruvannamalai - Festivals

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