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Festivals in Tamil Nadu showcase the state’s vibrant culture, traditions, and community spirit throughout the year. From temple rituals to harvest celebrations, these festivals are filled with music, dance, colourful processions, and local fairs. Each month brings something new, whether it’s a religious event, a seasonal festivity, or a folk celebration. People of all ages participate enthusiastically, keeping customs alive and welcoming visitors to experience the lively atmosphere. Festivals in Tamil Nadu reflect joy, unity, and the rich heritage of the region, making them a must-see for anyone exploring the state.
Top 10 Festivals In Tamil Nadu
Wondering how to start your festive journey? Explore these famous festivals of Tamil Nadu with us.
1. Pongal
Photo: Matthew T Rader / Wikimedia Commons
Pongal is Tamil Nadu’s most important harvest festival, celebrated every January with great joy. It is a time for farmers to thank the Sun God and nature for a bountiful harvest. The four-day festival begins with Bhogi, when houses are cleaned and old items discarded to welcome new beginnings. On Thai Pongal, the second day, rice is boiled with milk and jaggery until it overflows, symbolising prosperity. Colourful kolams decorate homes, and prayers are offered to the Sun. Mattu Pongal honours cows for their role in farming. Kaanum Pongal, the final day, is spent with loved ones, strengthening community bonds.
Location: Celebrated across Tamil Nadu
Month Of Celebration: January
Cultural Highlight: Kolam designs and cattle decorations
Suggested Read: Things To Do In Tamil Nadu
2. Thaipusam
Photo: ELAMARAN ELAA PHOTOGRAPHY / Shutterstock
Thaipusam is one of the most intense and spiritual festivals of Tamil Nadu, celebrated in January or February. It is dedicated to Bhagwan Murugan, who is worshipped for his courage and protection. Devotees take part in processions carrying kavadis, which are decorated wooden or metal frames balanced on their shoulders. Many people undertake vows before the festival and fulfil them during the event. Some pierce their tongues, cheeks, or skin with hooks as acts of devotion, while others simply carry pots of milk to the temple. The largest celebration takes place at the Palani Murugan Temple, where lakhs of devotees climb the hill while chanting hymns.
Location: Mainly celebrated at Palani Murugan Temple
Month Of Celebration: January / February
Cultural Highlight: Kavadi processions, milk offerings, body piercings, and devotional chanting.
3. Mahamaham Festival
Photo: Ms Sarah Welch / Wikimedia Commons
Mahamaham is one of Tamil Nadu’s few and most regal festivals, which is celebrated every twelve years in Kumbakonam. It is reckoned to be equivalent to the Kumbh Mela of North India because millions of devotees visit to bathe in the holy waters of the Mahamaham Tank. It is believed to remove sins and bless the devotee. The town becomes religious with processions, temple rituals, and chanting filling the atmosphere. The pilgrims also visit the nearby temples of Adi Kumbeswarar, Kasi Viswanathar, and Sarangapani, which perform special pujas during the festival. The roads are decorated, stalls are put up, and the town’s ancient heritage is uncovered.
Location: Kumbakonam
Month Of Celebration: Once every 12 years
Cultural Highlight: Holy tank bath, temple rituals, processions, mass pilgrimages.
Suggested Read: Tamil Nadu Travel Guide
4. Karthigai Deepam
Photo: gnanistock / Shutterstock
Karthigai Deepam is the famous festival of lights in Tamil Nadu, celebrated in November or December. It is devoted to Lord Shiva, and the biggest celebration happens in Tiruvannamalai. The best part is the huge fire lamp that is lit on top of Annamalai Hill, which can be seen from kilometres around. Thousands of devotees come together to see this holy event, which stands for the victory of light over darkness. In households, families decorate their entrances with colourful kolams and light rows of earthen lamps, creating a glowing and warm atmosphere. The streets shimmer with lamps while the fragrance of traditional sweets fills the air.
Location: Tiruvannamalai & across Tamil Nadu
Month Of Celebration: November / December
Cultural Highlight: Lamp lighting, giant hill beacon, kolams, temple worship.
5. Natyanjali Dance Festival
Photo: Matthew T Rader / Wikimedia Commons
Chidambaram hosts the Natyanjali Dance Festival, a cultural event dedicated to the cosmic dancer Lord Nataraja. It takes place in February or March and draws dancers from all across India to the temple complex, where they perform Bharatanatyam and other traditional dance genres. Each performance is a gift of devotion, with gestures and facial expressions telling stories about gods and goddesses. The old Nataraja Temple’s backdrop adds to the event’s grandeur and makes it more engaging. The festival is also a platform for young artists to perform alongside experienced dancers, which creates a blend of tradition and fresh talent.
Location: Chidambaram
Month Of Celebration: February / March
Cultural Highlight: Classical dance performances, temple stage, devotional art.
Suggested Read: Places To Visit In Tamil Nadu During December
6. Aadi Perukku
Photo: Saravanan Varadharajan / Shutterstock
Aadi Perukku is a thanksgiving festival celebrated in August, primarily along riverbanks in Tamil Nadu. It coincides with the monsoon season and symbolises gratitude for water, which is essential for farming and life. Families gather near rivers, especially the Cauvery, to pray for prosperity and safety. Women prepare traditional meals, pack them in banana leaves, and share them with their families during riverside picnics. As part of the traditions, flowers and lamps are put in the water. People wear bright new outfits, perform folk music, and children play by the river during the event.
Location: Riverbanks (esp. Cauvery)
Month Of Celebration: August
Cultural Highlight: River worship, lamps, banana leaf meals, and folk music.
7. Meenakshi Thirukalyanam
Photo: Prakashkumar / Wikimedia Commons
The Meenakshi Thirukalyanam is among the famous festivals of Tamil Nadu celebrated in the city of Madurai in the month of April or May. The festival is the sacred wedding of Goddess Meenakshi with Lord Sundareswarar. The festival spans over many days with colourful processions, elaborate rites, and cultural events. The most significant function is the wedding, witnessed within the grand Meenakshi Amman Temple corridors by thousands of devotees. The roads of Madurai are richly decorated with flowers, lights, and stalls, with an air of celebration. Musicians and danseuses perform as part of the festivities and hence keep the atmosphere lively and vibrant.
Location: Madurai
Month Of Celebration: April / May
Cultural Highlight: Divine wedding, floral processions, temple music, dance.
Suggested Read: Things To Do In Madurai
8. Arubathimoovar Festival
Photo: Sailko / Wikimedia Commons
The Arubathimoovar Festival, held at the Kapaleeswarar Temple in Chennai, is celebrated in honour of the 63 Nayanmars, who were saints devoted to Lord Shiva. It is usually in the month of March or April and is one of the most vibrant temple festivals in the city. The highlight is the grand procession in which bronze statues of the saints are taken on elaborate chariots through the lanes of the city. The devotees assemble in large numbers, reciting hymns and saying prayers as the procession passes. The roads are filled with the beats of drums, flower decorations and food.
Location: Chennai (Kapaleeswarar Temple)
Month Of Celebration: March / April
Cultural Highlight: Nayanmar statue procession, chariots, hymns, decorations.
9. Avani Moolam
Photo: Napolee007 / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
Avani Moolam is a festival celebrated in Madurai during August or September, honouring Lord Sundareswarar. What makes it unique is the dramatic re-enactment of events from the life of Lord Shiva. Street plays and theatre performances bring mythology alive in front of large crowds. Actors costumed as gods, saints and devils tell well-known legends. One of the most famous is when Lord Shiva saved Madurai by drinking the deadly floodwaters. These shows are fun and spiritual at the same time because they remind people that God is watching over the city. The temple has special ceremonies, and the streets are full of music, lights, and happiness.
Location: Madurai
Month Of Celebration: August / September
Cultural Highlight: Shiva legends reenacted, street plays, temple rituals.
Suggested Read: Places To Visit In Madurai
10. Velankanni Festival
Photo: Krrishnah / Wikimedia Commons
The Velankanni Festival is one of the most important Christian celebrations in Tamil Nadu, held every September at the Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health. It attracts lakhs of pilgrims from across India and abroad. The festival lasts ten days with prayers, processions, and special masses conducted in multiple languages. People often carry candles, walk barefoot, or take long journeys as expressions of their faith. The streets near the church are all lit up and bustling with stalls offering food, rosaries, and handmade crafts. Every evening, there are processions featuring statues of Mother Mary, along with hymns and music playing in the background.
Location: Velankanni
Month Of Celebration: September
Cultural Highlight: Pilgrimage, candle processions, multilingual masses, festive stalls.
The festivals in Tamil Nadu reflect the state’s vibrant culture, blending religion, tradition, and communal spirit. From the harvest joy of Pongal to the glowing lamps of Karthigai Deepam, cities like Madurai, Chidambaram, and Kumbakonam come alive with processions, dances, and rituals. Villages celebrate unique traditions like Jallikattu and Aadi Perukku, keeping heritage alive. Experiencing these festivals is about faith, food, and togetherness. Plan your festive journey to Tamil Nadu with TripXL.
Cover Photo: Picnu / Unsplash / Image For Representation Only
