Ramanathaswamy Temple, Rameswaram –
Festivals
The Important festivals of this temple are
Mahasivarathri, Adi Ramalinga Prathistai, Adi Thirukalyanam and floating
festival on Thai Poosam night in Lakshmana Theertham tank on the western side
of the temple. During Ardhodayam and Mahodayam coming of once in several
years Pancha Moorthys (Vinayaka, God, Goddess, Muruga and Chandikeswara will be
taken to Dhanushkodi for Theerthavari. Apart from these annual festivals Thai
first and Chitrai (Tamil New Year) first day are mostly celebrated in this
temple.
Procession of Parvadhavardhini:
Goddess Parvadhavardhini is taken around the third
corridor in a golden palanquin every Friday evening.
Timings: Friday evenings - 7 to 7.30 PM
Mahasivarathri:
The main event on the festival calendar is the ten-day
Shivarathri celebrations in Maasi (February-March). The Rishaba Vahana Dharshan
is when the processional image is taken around on a bull palanquin. The
Mahasivarathri Abishekam (ablutions) and the procession of the Silver Chariot are
the highlights.
Vasantotsavam:
The spring festival takes place in Vaigasi (May - June),
on the 6th day after the New Moon and goes on for 10 days until the Full
Moon day.
Ramalinga Prathishtai:
Celebration of the installation of the Ramalinga takes
place on the day that the star Jeshta rules the skies in the waxing moon
fortnight during May - June.
Thirukkalyanam:
The wedding ceremony of Sri Ramanathaswamy and
Parvadhavardhini Ambal is celebrated in a grand manner in Adi (July – August) with
processions on the Rishaba Vahanam (bull shaped palanquin) and Silver Chariot.
The Sayana Sevai on the Golden Pallakku is beautiful to watch. The actual
wedding day is on the 8th day of Aashada in the waning moon fortnight.
Navarathri & Other Festivals:
The tenth day after the grand nine day celebrations is
Vijayadasami Day and is really important in this temple. It attracts huge
crowds. Kantha Sashti, six days after Diwali in Aippasi (October - November)
and Aarudhra Darshanam in Margazhi (December - January) are important
festivals.
The temple remains open but the main sanctum is closed
during Ravana Vadham Thiruvizha (the killing of Ravana) in Vaikasi when the
Utsavar (processional) deity is taken in a procession to the Kothandaramar
Temple.
List of Major Festivals:
|
S.No
|
Festival
|
Beginning
|
Ending
|
Durations
|
|
1
|
Mahasivarathri
i. Rishaba Vahana Dharshan
ii. Mahasivarathri
Abishekam
iii. Silver Chariot
|
Mahasashti
krishnapatcham Maasi (February, March)
|
Mahakrishna Amavasai
|
10 days
|
|
2
|
Vasantotsavam
|
Vaikasa
Sukkila Sashti Vaikasi (May - June)
|
Visaka Pournami
|
10 days
|
|
3
|
Ramalinga Prathishtai
|
Jeshta
Sukkila Suddha Sashti Aani (May - June)
|
Aashada Pournami
|
3 days
|
|
4
|
Thirukkalyanam
i. Rishaba Vahanam
ii. Silver Chariot
iii. Tapasu Day
iv. Sayana Sevai on Golden
Pallakku
v. Thirukkalyana Day
|
Aashada
Pagula Krishnashtami (July - August )
|
Siravana - suddham
|
17 days
|
|
5
|
Navarathri Festival Dasara
(Vijayadasami Day)
|
Bathrabatha
Suddha Sukkila Pradhami Purattaasi (September - October)
|
Dasami
|
10 days
|
|
6
|
Kantha Sashti
|
Aasveeja
Suddha Sukkila Aippasi (October - November)
|
Aasveeja
Suddha Sashti
|
6 days
|
|
7
|
Aarudhra Dharshan
|
Maarkka
Seerisha Sudda Sashti Sadhaya Natchatram Maargazhi (December - January)
|
Maarkka Seerisha Sudda Pournami
|
10 days
|
List of Other Festivals:
|
Name
|
English Month
|
Tamil Month
|
|
Sankaranthi
|
January
|
Thai – 1st Day
|
|
Tamil New year
|
April
|
Chithirai 1st
Day
|
|
Thirukartikai
|
Between November –
December
|
Karthikai
|
|
Theppam
|
January
|
Thai
|
|
Vaikunda Ekadhasi
|
December
|
Margali
|
|
Aadi Amavasai
|
July – August
|
Aadi
|
|
Thai Amavasai
|
Between January –
February
|
Thai
|
|
Purattasi Amavasai
|
September – October
|
Purattasi
|
|
Panguni Uthiram
|
March- April
|
Panguni
|
List of Monthly Events:
·
Pradoshams
(Monthly Twice)
·
Monthly Kruthikai
·
Amavasai
(No moon Day)
·
Pournami
(Full moon Day)
·
Sangadahara
Chathurthi
·
Monthly
Sashti
·
Monthly
Siva Rathri