FESTIVALS

Tamil New Year, known as Puthandu, marks the first day of the Tamil month Chithirai (usually April 14). It symbolizes new beginnings, hope, and prosperity for Tamilians around the world — and is celebrated with great enthusiasm in Coimbatore. The day begins early with devotees visiting temples such as Perur Pateeswarar Temple and Marudamalai Murugan Temple, seeking blessings for a successful year ahead. Homes are decorated with colorful kolams, mango-leaf thoranams, and flower garlands, creating a warm festive mood. Families prepare a traditional “Puthandu Virundhu” (feast) that includes dishes like mango pachadi, which blends sweet, sour, and bitter tastes — a symbolic reminder that life is a mix of emotions to be embraced. Elders give blessings and money gifts (known as “kaineettam”) to the younger generation.

Karthigai Deepam is one of Tamil Nadu’s oldest and most sacred festivals, celebrated with deep spiritual significance across Coimbatore. Usually observed in November or December, it falls during the Tamil month of Karthigai. The festival symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and the divine power of Lord Shiva. In Coimbatore, homes and temples glow with the soft light of thousands of oil lamps (agal vilakku). Families clean and decorate their homes, draw beautiful kolams at the entrance, and light rows of lamps in the evening. The gentle glow creates a serene and festive atmosphere across the city. Temples like Perur Pateeswarar Temple and Marudamalai Murugan Temple hold special poojas and deepam lighting ceremonies, attracting devotees from nearby areas. Many people also light a deepam on the rooftop, symbolizing faith and unity.

Aadi Perukku, also known as Padinettam Perukku, is a traditional Tamil festival celebrated on the 18th day of the Tamil month Aadi (usually in August). It honors the life-giving power of water, especially rivers, which are vital to Tamil Nadu’s agriculture and livelihood. In Coimbatore, Aadi Perukku is joyfully observed along the banks of rivers and canals like the Noyyal River, where families gather to offer flowers, fruits, and special dishes to the flowing water. Women wear bright new sarees, tie jasmine flowers in their hair, and prepare variety rice dishes such as lemon rice, tamarind rice, coconut rice, and curd rice to share with family and friends. The festival signifies renewal, prosperity, and gratitude — marking the onset of the monsoon and the replenishment of rivers. It’s also considered an auspicious day for new beginnings, especially for young girls starting their married lives or for performing housewarming ceremonies.

Coimbatore Vizha is the city’s very own cultural festival — a vibrant celebration that showcases the spirit, diversity, and innovation of Coimbatore. Usually held in January, this week-long event transforms the entire city into a hub of creativity, culture, and community bonding. The festival features a wide range of activities — from art exhibitions, heritage walks, street performances, and music concerts to food festivals, marathons, and social awareness events. Schools, colleges, corporate groups, and local organizations actively participate, bringing together people from all walks of life. Coimbatore Vizha beautifully blends tradition with modernity, honoring the city’s rich heritage while promoting new ideas and sustainability. Popular landmarks like VOC Park, Brookefields Mall, Race Course Road, and Codissia Grounds often serve as event venues, decorated with lights, installations, and cultural displays.

The third day of the Pongal festival, Mattu Pongal, is dedicated to celebrating cattle — the farmers’ loyal companions in agriculture. In and around Coimbatore, this day is marked by decorating cows and bulls with vibrant garlands, colorful paints, and ornaments. Farmers offer prayers, apply turmeric and kumkum on the cattle, and feed them sweet Pongal, banana, and sugarcane as a gesture of gratitude. In Coimbatore’s rural areas, you’ll find lively processions and community gatherings, where people celebrate the bond between humans and animals. The spirit of Mattu Pongal symbolizes respect for nature, hard work, and rural unity.

Pongal is one of the most significant and widely celebrated festivals in Coimbatore, marking the start of the Tamil month ‘Thai’ and honoring the Sun God for a successful harvest. The four-day festival, typically held in mid-January, brings families and communities together in a spirit of gratitude and renewal. Festivities begin with Bhogi, when people clean their homes and discard old belongings to make room for new, positive beginnings. The main day, Thai Pongal, sees the preparation of a special sweet dish called ‘Pongal’ using freshly harvested rice, milk, and jaggery, which is offered to the Sun God as thanks for abundance. On the third day, Mattu Pongal, cattle are decorated, worshipped, and celebrated for their role in agriculture. The festival concludes with Kaanum Pongal, a day for social gatherings and family outings. Throughout Coimbatore, homes and temples are adorned with colorful kolams (traditional floor designs made with rice flour), and the city comes alive with cultural performances, folk dances, and community feasts, reflecting both agricultural roots and rich Tamil traditions.