Fairs And Festivals

FAIRS AND FESTIVALS

Fairs and festivals are held in the different parts of the city throughout the year. The festivals associated with Hindu temple are more than 500 in a year. Apart from the traditional fairs and festivals, modern fairs such as exhibitions and national festivals like Independence day and Republic day are celebrated in the city. following are some of the important festivals celebrated in the city which are attended by thousands of devotees from far and near.

• The Brahmotsavam (including the Arupathumoovar festival) of Kapaleeswarar temple located in Mylapore is celebrated in the Tamil month of Panguni (March-April) and it lasts for ten days. A big fair is held near the temple. The floating festival held in January - February in Mylapore is also very popular.

• Of all the festivals celebrated in the Parthasarathy temple in Triplicane, the most important is the Vaikunta Ekadari observed (December-January).

• The Brahmothsavam in the month of Chithirai is celebrated for ten days. The car festivals falls on the seventh days and is attended by more than 50000 devotees.

• The Kirthigai (Karthigai asterism) day every month is a day of festival in the Vada Palani Andavar temple in Kodambakkam.

• The annual festivals are Skanda Sashti in Ayppari month and Uthiram in Panguni month. the floating festivals during the Panguni Uthiram is also well attended.

• The Kandaswami temple in Sowcarpet celebrate twenty festivals in a year.

• The Jathirai festival in Adhi Mottaiamman temple attracts a large number of crowds.

• Among the several festival celebrated by the Siva-Vishnu temples important ones are Navarathri, Sivarathri, Vaikunta Ekadasi and Sri Ram Navami.

• The Muslim festivals also attract crowds and give rise to fairs in the city. The Ramzan, Bakrid and Muharram are the important festivals, which is observed by thousands of devout Muslims in various parts of the city.

• The Easter, Christmas and the New year are marked by impressive festivities in the protestant and catholic churches in the city like St. Thomas and the Cathedral Church in Santhome.