Parthasarathy Temple, Triplicane – Festivals
Tiruvallikeni is noted for its colourful festivals
throughout the year. The recitation of the 4,000 hymns of the Azhwars is a
great tradition preserved in this temple for generations. During festival days,
the place is given a new look and accompanied by various traditional rites. Triplicane
is known for celebrations held throughout the year. There are festivals held
specifically for each of the deities round the year. The temple is administered
by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil
Nadu. The temple follows the traditions of the Thenkalai sect of
Vaishnavite tradition and follows Vaikanasa
Aagama.
Utsavams take place around the year in Parthasarathy
temple. Urchavams (or Utsavams), as these are termed, take place for a god at a
particular period of time in the year. It is a religious practice to carry
the different gods of the temple through the Mada veethis of Triplicane during
some of these festivals. The Gods will move in different religiously built
temple vehicles (vahanams, as these are termed in Tamil), like Elephant,
Garuda, horse, Yali (a mythical animal), temple Rath (Ther in Tamil,
chariot or Ratham, alternative terms), etc.
Theppam
(Float) Festival:
Theppam Festival is also known Theppotsavam (Theppam +
Utsavam), this pictorial and colourful festival takes place on 7 days in the
Tamil month of Masi, 3 days for Lord Parthasarathy, one each for Sri
Narasimhar, Sri Ranganathar, Sri Ramar and Sri Gajendra Varadhar. The seven-day
event attracts many devotees and onlookers from different parts of Chennai and
Tamil Nadu. A floating structure made up of drums, timber would be constructed
and would be beautifully decorated with lights, flowers, religious paintings,
silken buntings, etc. which serves as a visual delight. For better ambience,
lights were also installed in the garden around the tank and additionally,
focus lights were placed on the corners of the Neerazhi Mandapam (the mandapam (structure) in the center of the temple
tank).
Perumal (God) would come to the temple tank in Purapadu
(departure) and be placed majestically inside the float. On all the days, the
float completed five rounds around the Neerazhi Mandapam. After this, the
deities were taken in a procession around the four Mada Streets. Devotees in
hundreds would converge and sit on the steps of the temple tank to have darshan
of the Lord on Theppam. The specialty of the third day function is the
‘Thirumanjanam', performed to the deity inside the float. Other than the
bhattachariars (temple priests), no one is allowed inside the float. A Rescue
team of about 10 swimmers is usually provided by the Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue
Services.
This Theppam festival exhibits one of the aspects of the
richest cultural heritage aspects of Triplicane which one can see nowhere else
in Chennai, other than Mylapore.
Thiru
Adi Puram Festival:
A separate shrine is built for Sri Andal - the
incarnation of Bhu Devi and the festivals are being celebrated
monthly and annually. In the month of Adi (June-July) Thiru Adi Puram festival
for ten days is celebrated ending with the procession of Andal with Sri
Parthasarathy Swamy on Pura Thirunakshatram day (Thiru Aadippooram), the birth
star of Sri Andal.
Neerattu
Utsavam:
Neerattu Utsavam for nine days is also done in the month
of Margazhi (December-January) ending with Bhogi Thirukalyanam with Sri
Parthasarathy Swamy.
Deepa
Alankara Festival:
During Karthika Masa (October- November), Deepa Alankara
festival is celebrated, when lights of various sizes and shapes are lit
throughout the month. On the day of Karthika Poornima, full moon day, lakhs of
devotees throng to the temple and light lamps.
Dhavana
Uthsavam:
Dhavana Uthsavam is celebrated for 3 days in the month
of Masi commencing from Swathi Thirunakshatram.
Theerthavari
Festival:
In the month of Masi (March- April) a festival for Lord
Parthasarathy known as Theerthavari festival is held at sea shore.
Pallava
Uthsavam:
Pallava Uthsavam is celebrated for five days in the
month of Panguni and Sthala Puranam is read on all days of the festival and the
festival ends with Thirukalyanam with Vedavalli Thayar on the Panguni Uthiram
day.
Thirukalyanam:
The wedding of Lord Ranganatha with Vedavalli is
celebrated annually during Masi Shukla Dwadashi (12th day in the month of
January- February)
Navarathri
Festival:
Navarathri festival ending with Mahanavami is celebrated
in the month of Purattasi (September-October).
Narasimha
Jayanthi:
Sri Narasimha Jayanthi, the birth day of Shri Narasimha,
is celebrated on the Suddha Cathurdasi day in the month of Vaikasi.
Hanumanth
Jayanthi:
Hanumanth Jayanthi with procession is done on the day of
Suddhya Thrayodasi in the month of Margazhi.
Rama
Navami:
Sri Rama Navami festival is celebrated in the month of
Panguni and on the third day morning, Garuda Vahana procession is conducted.
Vaikunta
Ekadashi:
Vaikunta Ekadashi, during December- January is one of
the important festivals celebrated with great fervor. It is generally believed
that people who go through the Vaikunta Dwara on Vaikunta Ekadashi day will
reach Vaikunta, the abode of Lord Vishnu after their death.
Other
Festivals:
Festivals are done to Sri Thayar on every Friday and the
procession is carried out within the precincts of the temple Thirumanjanam or
holy bath is done on every Friday. Procession on every Swathi Thirunakshatram
day being the day when he appeared to Athri Rishi, is conducted in the four
small Mada veethis.
The following are the various festivals or Urchavams or
Utsavams or Utsav in Parthasarathy temple in different parts of the Tamil Calendar year.
Traditional Tamil calendar month (Gregorian calendar
months)
|
Festivals
|
Chithirai (April–May)
|
Shri Brahma Utsavam (Brahmotsavam) - Lord Shri Brahma
himself will perform this most important festival.
Seer Shri Udayavar Utsavam
Vidaiyaatri (Concluding and Leave-Taking Ceremony).
|
Vaikasi (May–June)
|
Vasanthotsavam- Spring Festival
Shri Gajendra Varadaraja Swamy Utsavam
Shri Ranganatha-Shri Vedavalli Thayar Utsavam
Sri Nammalwar Uthsavam (Vaikasi - Visagam)
|
Aani (June–July)
|
Shri Narasimha Swami Brahmotsavam
Kodai Utsavam (Summer Festival)
|
Aadi (July–August)
|
Shri Gajendra Moksham (Salvage for Gajendra-King of
Elephants)
Shri Parthasarathy Jestabishekam
Thiru Pavadai Utsavam
Thiru Aadi Pooram - Birthday of Andal on her Birth
Zodiacal Star
|
Aavani (August–September)
|
Pavitrotsavam (Thiru Pavithra Utsav) - Sanctification
ceremony
Shri Jayanthi or Krishna Jayanthi (Birthday of Lord
Krishna)
|
Puratasi (September–October)
|
Navarathri -Festival of nine lights
Shri Vedavalli Thaayar Laksharchana
|
Aipasi (October–November)
|
Shri Manavaala Mamunigal Utsavam
Deepavali or Diwali - Festival of Lights
Anna kooda Utsavam- offering variety of rice
|
Karthigai (November–December)
|
Thiru Karthigai Deepam - Various and Varied Lights
Thaila Kappu - anointing of several medicinal oils or
his/her corporal
|
Margazhi (December–January)
|
Margazhi Pagal Pathu (Days-Ten)
Shri Vaikunta Ekadasi (Entering Heaven) Raa Pathu
(Night-Ten)
|
Thai (January–February)
|
Laksharchana of Shri Parthasarathy Swamy
Ratha Sapthami (Ratha-Car, Sapthami-Seventh Lunar
Occasion) Visiting Festival to Ekkatuthangal
|
Masi (February–March)
|
Masi Magam (Magam-star day)
Theppam or Theppotsavam (Float Festival in Temple
Tank)
Dhavana Utsavam (Spring Festival)
|
Panguni (March–April)
|
Panguni Uthiram (Uthiram - a star day)
Shri Rama Navami (Birthday of Lord Ram)
|
Nivedhana:
Some Nivedhanas are famous in Perumal temples – Tirupati
Laddu, saltless rice in Uppiliappan Koil and Dosa in Madurai Kallazhagar
temple. Sweet Pudding – Sarkarai Pongal is famous in Parthasarathy
temple. For every 2-kg rice, they add 400 gm cashew nuts and 700 gm ghee
in the preparation. Devotees can pay and get it prepared for them for the
Nivedhana of Lord.
