Palani Festival's

On the 6th day, there is procession of Lord Muruga with Valli and Deivanai in the Silver Car. During this, Kavadi dance and rural musical-dance are performed. On the 7 th day there is "Thai Thaer" (wooden Car) and thousands of devotees participate in this. On the 7th day "Chinna Kumarar" goes round in His Golden Car.

People arrving Palani by walking all long the way. This is known as "Paadha Yathirai" - means "Holy walk". Chain of people reaching Palani from all the direction. Usually people around 250Km perform this Holy walk. People arrive Palani starting from 10 days before Thai Poosam festival. Buses were diverted from the roads reaching Palani inorder to facilitate the piligrims.

While walking people chat, listen to walkman ( listening Bajans ), groups singing Bajans, etc.,, Usually people carry their homemade food on their head. The piligrims wear green or saffron or yellow color clothes. Small shops sell drinking water and snacks became usual bussiness during Thai Poosam festival.

Piligrims taking rest on the sides of the road sheilding the sunlight using the Kavadi.

Piligrims approaching Edumban Malai.

Piligrims on Edumban Malai foothills.

Piligrims on arriving Edumban Malai served with food packets by Palani Devasthanam

After having food Piligrims take bath at the Edumban Lake

After taking bath at the Edumban Lake piligrims visit the temple at the foothills of Edumban Malai.

After the worship , the piligrims are ready to start to Palani Malai to see Dhandayuthapani ( Lord Murugan ).

Panguni Uttram

Devotees of Kongu Nadu, fetch Theertham (Holy Water) from a place called Kodumudi near Karur where the Cavery River flows broadest in its length. The Holy Cavery water is carried on a narrow shaped vessel called ( Kudam in tamil) on the heads of the devotee and they reach Palani by walk, this walk is called Paatha Yathra (Holy walk). The Theertham is offered to Lord Murugan for Abishegam.

This also is a very important festival here, and is celebrated for 10 days, devotees carry Kavadies with holy water (from sacred rivers), sugar, tender co-conut etc. During these 10 days, we can see various rural dances like "Oyilattam, Thappattam, Dhidumattam,Velanattam, Samiyattam"etc., along with rural songs. The rural music is an important part of Paunguni uthiram festival.

The main feature of Panguni Uthiram is the offering of "Theertham" (Posts of Holy water) from Kodumudi. Lord Palaniandavar is given abhishekam with this holy water. The devotees carrying Kavadi to Palani sing Kavadi - songs throughout their 'Padayathra' and these songs are ancient oral songs.

On the 1st day, there is flag hoisting at Thiruvavinankugi Temple and on all the 10 days Lord Muthukumara Swamy with Sri Valli and Sri Deivanai goes in procession around the Palani Hill. On the 7th day there is "Car Festival" and this is attended by thousands of devotees. During these days the Lord also is given special reception and pooja at many 'mandapams' in the Palani Adivaram area. It is a grand sight to see Lord Muruga with his concerts during these processions.

Chitra Pournami: April 2nd half -May 1st half

Chitra Pournami falls on the full moon day of Tamil month Chithirai. This is a 10 days festival carried out at the Arulmigu Lakshminarayana Perumal Temple.

Agni Natchathiram:

This festival is celebrated during the last and first 7 days of Chithirai, and Vaikasi respectively. During this period, the devotees exhibit their devotion to Lord Murugan by walking around the hill at dawn. Nowadays a new tradition has also cropped up in which people take the Girivalam by wearing a garland of Kadamba flowers. Mythologically it is considered blessed to make prayers to the temple and the hill from a revered distance. Considering the hill with all its Rishis and siddhas as the manifestation of God, people walk around the mountain in bare foot with all humbleness and respect. This ancient practice of walking around the hill in devotion has been going on for centuries and is known as Girivalam.

There is also a belief that the herbs around the hill act as a cure for many diseases.

Vaikasi Visakam -from may 2nd half to June 1st half

The Vaikasi festival is celebrated during the Tamil month of Vaikasi. Visakam is believed to be the birth star of Lord Murugan.

The highlight of this 10 days festival is the darshan of Lord Murugan at the Ratham on the 10th day. The Vaikasi festival is celebrated with a lot of fervor all over the world including Malaysia, Singapore, and Srilanka etc. In Tamilnadu it is celebrated in all Arupadai Veedus especially in Thiruchendur.

Aani Annabhishekam: from June 2nd half to July 1st half

Aani in Palani is the time for Annabhishekam. It means anointing and decorating the idol with cooked and aromatic rice. The abhishekam is done in the hill temple, Periya Udayar temple, Perianayaki temple and Thiru Aavinankudi temple. On the day of Aani uthiram an abhishekam is performed to Lord Nataraja and then taken on a procession along with nalvar- of the Tamil saints Thirugnanasambandar, Thirunavukkarasar, Sundarar and Manickavasagar.

Aadi: from July 2nd half to August 1st half
Aadi is full of festivals in Palani.

Aadi Perukku:
Aadi Peruku is the day when Kailasanathar and Amman are worshiped by performing the Kannimar Pooja.

Aadi Kirthigai:
Aadi Kirthigai is celebrated magnificently in Palani. Thousands of devotees worship Lord Murugan by bearing Poo Kavadi.

Aadi Amavasai
Aadi Amavasai is the day on which devotees offer tonsure and take a bath in shanmuganadhi. By losing their hair the devotees symbolize that they are ready to give up their physical beauty-the ego and surrender themselves to god.

Aadi Laksharchana
On these days the Perianayaki Amman Kovil wears a festive look and the devotees gather to witness the abhishekam and decoration of Amman in 'Thanga Kavasam' -golden apparel.

Kandha Sashti or Soora Samhaaram: 2nd half of October-1st half of November

The SOORA SAMHAARAM is celebrated during the Tamil month of Aypasi. This festival symbolizes the victory of Lord Murugan over the asuras Soorapadhman, Gajamugan, Singhamugan and Tharangan.