Temple Festivals (Thiruvizha)

Tamilnadu has more than 10000 temples and Each has a unique history and importance. Temples will be celebrating Utsavam or festival, monthly, annually  and  on seasons to mark an occasion. It is said that Srirangam Ranganathaswamy Temple will have 365 days of celebrations and festivals.  Apart from this some of the major events or festivals are as below:

Thaipoosam, very famous in Murugan temples and people carry Kavadi as a owe to the temples, 

Panguni Uthiram is famous in Murugan temple as well as Vishnu temples. It is believed that on this day the celestial wedding of Goddess Mahalakshmi and Vishnu took place. In many temples there will be live Kalyanotsavam (Thirukalyanam) performed.

Adiperukku  will be celebrated on the 18th day of Tamil month Aadi in worshipping River Cauvery, as Cauvery is the only major source of water in Tamilnadu.  People visit the river in groups and offer their prayers and worship her as Cauvery Matha.

Karthikai deepam at Thiruvannamalai is the most famous festival which attracts lakhs of people to witness the  huge Deepam lit on top of the hill

Sura samharam is a local festival celebrated at Tiruchendur in the month of Aippasi Tamil month. Lord Muruga destroys Demon Suran being demonstrated . Lakhs of devotees gather to witness the Surasamharam at the beach front.

Chithirai Festival or Thiruvizha is  very famous in Madurai and is celebrated for 12 days long. Every day there will be an event commencing from Kodiyetram,  Meenakshi Pattabishekam, Dig Vijayam, Meenakshi Sundareswarar Kalyanam, Ther Thiruvizha and Lord Alagar(Vishnu) visits Madurai to attend the wedding of his sister Meenakshi but arrives a day later.  People of Madurai receive him Near Vaigai . He gives gifts to Meenakshi and returns back to Alagarkoil.It is an important event Tamilnadu which draws maximum crowds to witness.

Brahmotsavam: In Vishnu temples , Brahmotsavam is celebrated annually for 10 days.  Day one starts with Kodiyetram, and on 10 days the Murthi will come in procession on different vahanas. End of the Utsavam will be Ther, (Ratotsavam) and the last day will be chakra Snanam marking the end of the Utsavam.

Mahamaham: Mahamaham is celebrated  once in 12 years in the month of Tamil month Masi in the Town of Kumbakonam . People take a dip in Mahamaham tank, which has 20 small wells and it is believed that the rivers from all over the country reached this tank. It is believed that taking a dip will ward off Sins