Fairs & Festivals of India 2011

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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

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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.

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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.