Tamil Nadu is a land of temples. Temples and festivals go together.
Festivals are not only religious occasions but also cultural and
commercial land marks. They are part of the life of the people.
They help family re-unions. People meet at festivals which are
designed to ensure individual happiness commingled with social
joy and domestic éclat. At Ekadasi and Skanda Shasthi festivals,
devotees go on fast. All the other Hindu festivals are occasions
of great feasting.
The seasons of the Tamils are called Kar, Kuthir, Munpani, Pinpani,
Ilavenil and Mudhuvenil. Each of two month duration they denote
the cloudy, rainy and chill weather respectively.
The year is also divided into two periods of six months each
(1) Uttarayanam, the period of longer days and shorter nights
(mid Jan to mid July) and (2) Dakshinayanam, the period of shorter
days, longer nights and inclement weather (mid July to mid January).
The first is the chosen period for festivities. The second is
generally avoided for them. In the beginning of the Dakshinayanam,
spiritual heads and monks observe Chaturmasya halting at a particular
place, preaching and practicing a life of intense devotion and
meditation.
Festival
Calendar of Tamilnadu
