Tamil Nadu · Festivals
Festival calendar
Harvest days, temple car festivals, music seasons and hill-station fairs — with dates for the year ahead and experiences to plan around them.
December 2026
கார்த்திகை – மார்கழி
Upcoming festivals
October 2026
In 7 days11 Oct – 20 Oct 2026
Navaratri and Golu
நவராத்திரி கொலு
Nine nights of the goddess: homes and temples set up Golu doll steps, ending with Saraswati and Ayudha Pooja and Vijayadashami.
In 17 days21 Oct – 22 Oct 2026
Raja Raja Chola Sadhaya Vizha, Thanjavur
ராஜராஜ சோழன் சதய விழா
State festival at the Brihadeeswarar Temple marking the birth star of Raja Raja Chola I, who built it, on Sadhayam in Aippasi.
November 2026
In 35 days8 Nov 2026
Deepavali
தீபாவளி
Festival of lights, celebrated in Tamil Nadu before dawn on Naraka Chaturdashi with an oil bath, new clothes, sweets and crackers.
In 42 days15 Nov – 24 Nov 2026
Karthigai Deepam, Tiruvannamalai
கார்த்திகை தீபம்
Ten-day festival at the Arunachaleswarar Temple ending with the Maha Deepam lit on top of Arunachala hill at dusk.
December 2026
15 Dec 2026 – 1 Jan 2027
Margazhi Music and Dance Season, Chennai
மார்கழி இசை விழா
Chennai's December Season: hundreds of Carnatic music and classical dance performances at the Music Academy and sabhas across the city.
21 Dec 2026 – 20 Jan 2027
Mamallapuram Dance Festival
மாமல்லபுரம் நாட்டிய விழா
Month-long open-air festival of classical and folk dance against the Pallava monuments of Mamallapuram, from late December to January.
January 2027
14 Jan – 17 Jan 2027
Thai Pongal
தைப் பொங்கல்
Tamil Nadu's four-day harvest festival at the start of the month of Thai: Bhogi, Thai Pongal, Mattu Pongal and Kaanum Pongal.
15 Jan – 17 Jan 2027
Jallikattu (Madurai)
ஜல்லிக்கட்டு
Traditional bull-taming sport held during Pongal; Madurai district's events at Avaniyapuram, Palamedu and Alanganallur are the best known.
22 Jan 2027
Thaipusam at Palani
தைப்பூசம்
Festival of Lord Murugan on the Pusam star in Thai; lakhs of pilgrims walk to the Palani hill temple carrying kavadi and milk pots.
March 2027
6 Mar 2027
Maha Shivaratri
மகா சிவராத்திரி
The great night of Shiva in Maasi: Shiva temples across Tamil Nadu stay open all night for four rounds of worship.
6 Mar – 10 Mar 2027
Natyanjali Dance Festival, Chidambaram
நாட்டியாஞ்சலி
Five evenings of classical dance offered to Lord Nataraja at Chidambaram, beginning on Maha Shivaratri.
April 2027
May 2027
15 May – 25 May 2027
Ooty Flower Show and Nilgiris Summer Festival
ஊட்டி மலர்க் கண்காட்சி
The annual flower show at the Government Botanical Garden, Ooty, centrepiece of the Nilgiris summer festival each May.
21 May – 27 May 2027
Yercaud Summer Festival and Flower Show
ஏற்காடு கோடை விழா
A week-long summer festival in the Shevaroy Hills each May, with a flower show at Anna Park, boat races and cultural events.
August 2027
September 2027
4 Sep 2027
Vinayaka Chathurthi
விநாயகர் சதுர்த்தி
Birthday of Lord Vinayaka (Ganesha): clay idols and kozhukattai at home, street pandals, and immersion processions to the sea.
30 Sep – 9 Oct 2027
Navaratri and Golu
நவராத்திரி கொலு
Nine nights of the goddess: homes and temples set up Golu doll steps, ending with Saraswati and Ayudha Pooja and Vijayadashami.