Music Festivals

In December, Chennai celebrates her priceless heritage of Carnatic music and dance recitals to the public. Artistes both old and new participate in the festivals.

Mahamagam Festival  This holy festival takes place once in 12 years and it will bring you to Kumbakonam the temple city that gets its name from the Kumbha or the divine pot. Legend has it that Brahma, the Creator, held a pot containing nectar and the seeds of creation. Shiva in the form of a hunter shot an arrow at the pot and spilt the nectar into the famous Mahamagam tank at the Adi Kumbeswarar Temple.

Arubathimoovar Festival Literally the word Arubathimoovar refers to the mathematical number 63. There are 63 saints who were ardent devotees of Shiva canonised for leading exemplary lives of devotion and penance. Bronze figures of these 63 saints adorn the magnificent Kapaleeswar Temple at Mylapore, Chennai. Once, every year, they are carried in a colourful procession through the streets of Mylapore.

Summer Festival The summer festival might find you in the Queen of Hill Stations, the evergreen Ootacamund or Udhagamandalam. There is a flower and fruit show and the boat race.

In the other hill resorts, Kodaikkanal or the salubrious heights of Yercaud too there are boat races, flower and fruit shows that are specially organised. It offers a splendid opportunity to go trekking in any of Tamil Nadu's other hill stations that promise you an unforgettable holiday.

Saral Vizha (Kutrallam or Courtallam) It is a festival that makes a ritual and a celebration out of a simple, daily bath! And indeed, a bath at these picturesque waterfalls is no ordinary event. The healing waters of the roaring falls are famed for their medicinal properties.

Kanthuri Festival This festival attracts devotees to the shrine of saint Quaderwali, believed to do equal good to people of all faiths. One of the descendants of the Saint is chosen as a Peer or spiritual leader and is honoured with offerings. On the tenth day of the festival, the Saint's tomb is annointed with sandalwood past and later this sandal paste, renowned for its healing powers, is distributed to everyone.

Kavadi Festival Dancing in a hypnotic trance to the rhythm of drums, the devotees of Muruga carry the 'Kavadi' which is a flower decked decoration that is carried on the shoulders, all the way up the Palani Hills to fulfil their vow. According to Hindu mythology, Idumban is said to have placed two sacred hillocks on two ends of a pole and carried them on his shoulders.

Velankanni Festival Wondrous legends surround and several miracles are attributed to this church. The most famous being that of the Portuguese sailors, who in the 16th century, vowed to build a great shrine for the Virgin Mary, if their lives were saved during a shipwreck, in a terrible storm, off the coast of Nagapattinam. The sailors faithfully carried out their promise. The main altar at Velankanni Church carries blue and white tiles of this legend. Miracles of being restored to good health have given the church the name Arokiya Matha Church, meaning the Church of Our Lady of Good Health.

The festival attracts thousands f pilgrims. Many clad in orange robes come to the sacred spot where the ship is said to have landed many centuries ago. The Virgin Mary's miraculous healing powers have earned for the church the name Lourdes of the East. The Velankanni festival is in the month of September.