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Feast of St Francis Xavier: The festival marks the day when St Francis Xavier, the patron saint of Goa, was buried. Attended by over two lakh devotees from across the world, it is celebrated every year on 3rd of December.
Of the 40 lovely beaches in Goa, the most developed beach segment is the Calangute - Baga - Anjuna belt north of Panaji.
Pongal (is the harvesting festival of Tamil Nadu in mid Jan. Jallikattu, the bullfight is held on the last day known as Kannum Pongal. Jallikattu can be witnessed best in Madhurai, Tiruchirapalli and Tanjore )
Chithirai Festival - Madurai
Dance Festivals- Mamallapuram
Natyanjali Dance Festival (February-March on Shivratri day at Chidambaram, 5 days)
Mahamagam Festival
Aurbathimoovar Festival
Summer Festivals
Saral Vizha (Kuttalm or Courtallm)
Kanthuri festival (Held at the shrine of Saint Quadirwali in July/August)
Kavadi festival
Velankanni festival (September
Navrathri
Karthigai Deepam (a festival of lamps in November - December, Nov 21, 2010, mainly at Thiruvannamalai)
Thyagaraja Music Festival
Kavadi Festival of Tamil Nadu : Devotees undergoes to offer his prayers to Lord Muruga is known as the Kavadi. A Kavadi is a generally a wooden stick, which has two baskets hanging from it. The Kavadi that is carried by the bearers in their shoulders may vary in shapes and sizes. The Kavadis are adorned with peacock feathers and numerous brass bells. The two baskets are usually filled with rice, milk or any other things, which the devotee has promised to offer the Lord in his Vow.
One of the most difficult Kavadi offerings is the Agni Kavadi, where the devotee has to walk over a pit of burning coals while carrying the Kavadi. It is believed, the amount of virtue one receives by performing the Kavadi is million time greater than the pain he suffers.
The Kavadi Festival is celebrated at all shrines of Lord Murugan and all over the state of Tamil Nadu in April / May. Among the many Kavadi venues, the Ettukudi Kavadi festival (30 km south west of Nagapattinam) is the most celebrated one.
More than 10,000 kavadis come to the temple on the Thaipooyam day. It is the birthday of Lord Subramanya in the Makaram month's pooyam.
Many strangely and ghastly traditions, like the lips pierced with mini silver lance, and locking of the mouth with metal ring to maintain perfect silence and drawing of small make shift chariot with its chain hooked into the back of devotees strike the eye of spectator during the festival.
A hundred thousand people tonsure their heads.
The main festival at Palani is Pankuni Uttiram (Mar/Apr). The main chariot will be pulled by hundreds of devotees. More than 50,000 kavadis participating in the festival. March 29, 2010
Palani is 60 km from Pollachi. Good road/rail connections to Coimbatore/Palakkad/Thrissur. Kodaikanal hill station is 60 km away.
Varadarajar temple, Kanchipuram near Chennai is a massive and impressive edifice. The riders on horseback, beautiful figures of Rathi and Manmatha, exquisite temple jewellery are other notable features. This temple provides a glimpse of a 16th century pillared pavilion with an exuberant workmanship.
Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, this temple was built by the Vijaynagar kings and the presiding deity is Devarajaswamy. The 100-pillared hall of this temple proves the mastery of the sculptors of Vijayanagara in fine artists. The ornamental rings carved out of a single stone in a chain at the four corners are the special features of the hall and the figures of the God of Love and his consort astride a swan and a parrot.
The annual Garudothsavam (May - June) is most colourful and draws thousands of devotees.
Vaikuntam Perumal Temple
This is one of the important Vishnu temples which was built by Pallava King Nandivarman Pallavamalla in the 7th century A.D. Numerous inscriptions are found in this temple relating to the wars between the Pallavas and Challukyas. The presiding deity Lord Vishnu is depicted in sitting, standing and reclining postures.
Kailasanathar Temple
This Pallava temple was constructed in the 8th century and has an attractive panel depicting Shiva and Parvathi in the midst of one of their innumerable dance competitions. The architecture of this temple resembles the Shore Temple at Mamallapuram.
Ekambareswarar
Another ancient temple of Kanchipuram, it has been renovated by the Pallavas, the Cholas and the Vijayanagar Kings. The 57 metres (188") high Rajagopuram is one of the tallest towers in South India. The 2,501 - year old mango tree inside the temple has 4 branches each yielding different varities of mangoes. This temple has five spacious corridors (prakrams) and a beautiful 1,000 - pillar hall.
Kamakshi Amman Temple
This is one of the three holy places of Sakthi worship in India, the others being Madurai and Varanasi. The temple in the present form was built by the Cholas during 14th centuary A.D.
Thiruthani ( 42 km from Kanchipuram )
Karthigai festival (December) is celebrated with great pomp here.
Vedanthangal bird sanctury ( 48 km from Kanchipuram )
Season : November and February
Sriperumpudhur (29 km from Kanchipuram on the Chennai road)
Rajiv Gandhi memorial
Kanalattom
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The annual festival at the Kadungonchira Sree Maha Ganapathy Temple, West Hill, Kozhikode on 28 Jan 2010 with Kanalattom (kicking of red hot charcoal).
On 26 Mar 2010, Kanalattom was performed (around midnight) at Badirur Kali temple near Kakkodi in Kozhikode district in Kerala.
About 7 km south of Chalakudy, there is an ancient and beautiful village called Koratty. There is an old catholic church there built in honour of St. Mary which is locally known as "Koratty Muthy's Church". The most important festival in this church is the 'Koratty Muthy's festival celebrated during the second week of October every year.
Pandharpur Yatra, world famous pilgrimage to Pandharpur Vithoba temple, starts from Dehu in Pune district and continues till Pune city, Alandi and the 21-day Palki yatra ends on the previous day of Ashadhi Ekadasi at Pandharpur Vithoba Temple. In 2010, Sant Tukaram Palki yatra begins on 3rd July 2010 and on 5th July 2010 Gnaneswar Mouli Palki Yatra begins. After procession of 17 days, both these Palki Yatra will culminate in Pandharpur temple on 20th July 2010, the previous day of Ashadhi Ekadasi.
Location : Maharashtra, India
Mode : By walk