Panguni Uthiram
[page_title] English meaning of the festival Panguni refers to last month in the Tamil calendar and Uthiram refers to Nakshatra or star that is ruling. It falls on the day the moon transits in the asterism or Nakshatra of Uttara-Phalguni or Uthiram in the twelfth month of the Tamil calendar i.e. [...]
Tamil New Year
[page_title] English meaning of the festival Puthu means new and Aandu means year. Tamil people celebrate Puthaandu, also called Puthuvarudam, as the traditional New Year. How the date is decided annually This is the month of Chittirai, the first month of the Tamil solar calendar, and Puthaandu typically falls on 14 April. Significance of the [...]
Holika Dahan
[page_title] English meaning of the festivalHolika was the name of the lady who entered a blazing fire with her nephew Prahalad on her brother's instruction. Prahalad continuously chanted the name of Lord Narayana and came out unharmed, while Holika burnt to death. Thus, Holika Dahan derives its name from [...]
Panchak
[page_title]English meaning of the festivalPanchak is a phase of five days or a group of five. It occurs when moon is present in the last two Zodiacs (Aquarius & Pisces). Panchak occurs every month.How the date is decided annuallyThe date and times of Panchak are calculated when the moon transits [...]
Eclipse
[page_title] English meaning of the festival Grahan means eclipse. Chandra Grahan or lunar eclipse occurs when the moon passes directly behind earth and into its shadow. Surya Grahan or solar eclipse happens when the moon passes before the sun and results in earth being covered in the 'shadow of the moon'. How the date [...]
Purnima
[page_title] English meaning of the festival Purnima literally means ‘full moon”. It occurs during Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of the moon). On Purnima the moon is fully illuminated. How the date is decided annually Purnima comes on the 15th thithi of the bright half (Shukla Paksha or waxing phase) of [...]