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Pondicherry is an abode of temples dedicated to Lord Sulramaniar and various
forms of ammans viz, Muthumariammam, Angalamman, etc. The famous fire walking
and Sedal festival are generally the most important festivals of these temples.
1.
Fire walking - Those who vow to take part in the fire walking ordeal observe
40 days fast and wear saffron coloured clothes and after a purificatory bath,
walk through the fire stretch to the astonishment of the spectators.
2.
Sedal - The famous sedal is understood to mean self-imposed
physical torture undertaken by devotees who pierce small silver hooks and spears
in their body or tongues in fulfillment of some vow. It is said that as many as
100 needles are pierced over their body. They then go in a procession after a
bathclad in turmeric strained clothes.
3. Mascarade
festival - Mascarade or Mask festival is celebrated sometime
during March-April in Pondicherry It reflects one more facet of the French sense of
humor with fantastic mask and fancy costumes, revelers go round the streets in
joyous merriment indulging in a kind of gimmic dance to the accompaniment of
beating accordion the trumpets.
4. International Yoga
Festival - Yogis and Yognis from the world over assemble in Pondicherry from the 4th to
the 7th January every year. Through live show and talks, through the display and
sample of the varied yogic food and through Indian dance and music, they keep
alive the art of Yoga. Its science. And its Pondicherry.
Other festivals/fairs include, one in Karaikal Ammayur temple which
holds the annual 'Mangani' festival (July) which is a well attended 'Mela' as also
Kandoori festival celebrated by Karaikal Durga and the feast of our lady
of Lourdes celebrated by our lady of Lourdes church.
The St. Theresa Church in Mahe celebrates St.Theresa festival in October
every year which is attended by even non-Christians.
Bhagavathi temple which conducts
'Thiraiyattam' which is a kind of dance of
ancient art coupled with divinity is another worth mentioning celebration.
Another important festival is 'Masimagam Festival'- on the Full moon day of
the 'Magam' asterism in the Tamil month of Masi (Feb-March) thousands of people
in good faith go the sea shore in the early morning to have a holy dip in the
sea for ablution of their sins.
Deities from as many as fifty temples in Pondicherry and from the outlying
areas of Tamil Nadu are brought in ceremonial procession to the sea-shore with
accompaniment of Nadhaswaram near Kuruchikuppam in Pondicherry municipal area
for the symbolic immersion. Pondicherry will wear a festive galore from early
morning to the late night of the day. The deities which are taken to the shore
early morning make their return journey to their respective places in procession
along the streets of Pondicherry in the evening.
In Thirukannapuram village in Tamil Nadu area there is a saying that deity of
sowriraja perumal married a fishermen community woman and hence the moment the
deity enters the village the fishermen take charge of the deity and after the
festival is completed the charges are replaced.
Other festivals or fairs celebrated in Pondicherry include Putha
Lanthira, Mandolilthira, Koyodan Korothithra, Pandokuloththira, Mandalam
vilakku, vishnutheertham, Swamikalyanam, etc.
The Mahe district which is situated near Kerala celebrate festivals similar
to Kerala like Onam, Vishu, Sri Krishna Jayanti, Vinayaga Chathurthi etc.
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