Chennai Festival Calendar
Every festival and observance for Chennai — from Pongal, Puthandu and Karthigai Deepam to Vinayaka Chaturthi, Navaratri and Deepavali, plus the monthly Ekadashi, Pradosham and Amavasai days — with Tamil and Hindi names. Dates are computed from the drik panchangam (Lahiri), the same engine behind our daily almanac.
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Festival guides
What happens, where to see it, what to eat and tips for visitors — one guide per big festival, ordered by the next date.
Deepavali
The pre-dawn oil bath, crackers at first light, lehiyam and sweets, where to shop and worship, and the firecracker rules.
Skanda Shashti
The six-day fast, the Kanda Sashti Kavasam and the Soora Samharam at Vadapalani, Kandha Kottam and Thiruchendur.
Karthigai Deepam
Rows of clay lamps at every doorstep, the Maha Deepam on the Tiruvannamalai hill, pori urundai and where to see it in Chennai.
Margazhi Music Season
How the sabhas work, how tickets work, the famous canteens, dawn bhajans in Mylapore, and the festivals that fall in the same month.
Vaikunta Ekadashi
The pre-dawn opening of the Sorga Vasal, the fast and vigil, Parthasarathy Temple and the Divya Desams around Chennai.
Arudra Darshan
Nataraja's pre-dawn abhishekam, the Chidambaram festival, Chennai's Shiva temples, and Thiruvathirai kali with seven-vegetable kootu.
Pongal
Bhogi bonfires, the pot boiling over on Thai Pongal, cattle honoured on Mattu Pongal and the Marina crowds of Kaanum Pongal.
Thai Poosam
Kavadi and paal kudam processions to Vadapalani and Kandha Kottam, the Kapaleeshwarar float festival, Palani and Thiruthani beyond the city.
Ayudha Puja & Vijayadashami
Decorated autos and offices, tools and books blessed, the pumpkin smashed, Golu dolls put to sleep and first letters written.
Navaratri & Golu
The Golu doll display, evening visits with sundal and song, where to buy dolls, the goddess temples, Saraswati Puja and Vijayadashami.
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