Adi Thapasu Festivel is the main festival of Sankaranainarkoil alias Sankarankoil (56kms from Thirunelveli) celebrated in the month of Adi (June-August) on Uthirada day The festival which attracts a large number of people lasts for 12 days. Sankaranainarkoil is dedicated to Lord Sankaranarayana, a combination of Shiva and Vishnu. It is believed that on this day that Lord Shiva gave his darshan as Sankaranarayanaswamy to Sri Gomathi Ambal at the time of her meditation to signify that God Shiva and God Vishnu are same.