Introduction:
Aadi is a special month in the Tamil calendar which corresponds to the month of July and August according to the Gregorian calendar. This is the fourth month, which follows Chitirai, Vaigasi and Aani months of Tamil Calendar. It has 32 days and is dedicated to spiritual and religious purposes. Aadi Month corresponds to Ashada month and Shravan month according to the Hindi calendar, which starts on July 17th and ends on August 17th. The Tamil speaking communities across India and rest of the world dedicate this month for Cultural, religious and agricultural purposes.
The Tamil New Year day falls on Chitirai 1 of Tamil calendar, which corresponds to April 14th or 15th According to the Gregorian calendar. It is interesting to note that the places like Cambodia, Thailand, Burma, Laos, Burma, and Bangladesh also follow April month as their traditional new year. This suggests that the influence of Tamil Kings, due to the victory over war, and establishing Tamil culture becomes prominent. Along with that, there are several settlers, and immigrants who moved to other countries, which was highly influential in the spread of Tamil culture across the countries. Thus the festivals of Aadi is not only celebrated in India but across the world where the Tamil People are settled in great numbers.
Festivals celebrated in the month of Aadi:
Aadi Pirappu:
This is the first day of the month Aadi, which falls this year on July 17th. This is very special among the newly wedded couples, as the day starts with a special feast and gifts for the couples. In some parts of south India, the newly wedded couples are gifted with new dress and gifts by the parents of the bride. This day is celebrated with piety and pomp where the day is filled with special Puja, Abishegam or the hydrating ceremony in the temple. Many houses organize a grand feast, where they make traditional dishes like Poli, a flattened Lentil sweet made of jaggery and coconut; Payasam, milk based sweet which can be made with the combination of lentils, dry fruits and sugar; and Vadai, Indian donut, which is crispy and made of lentils.
Aadi Amavasai:
This is observed on a no-moon day, which occurs on July 31, 2019, according to the Gregorian calendar. On this special day, it is dedicated to performing Shradh and Tarpan to dead ancestors. “Pitru Dosha”, is one of the main curse, which affects the lineage, if the ancestors are not appeased after they had deceased. The soul of the departed should be at peace, else it will affect the well beings of the family.
On the day of Aadi Amavasai, it is important to perform appeasing rituals, to ensure the souls of the departed are pacified. The departed souls are the amulet and the guiding factor for any family, and the stepstone of growth. Many people prefer doing the rituals on the bank of the river and consider this highly auspicious to appease the deceased ancestors. This day is also highly beneficial to get rid of the accumulated Karma and helps an individual to reach a newer level of spirituality.
Aadi Pooram:
This is celebrated on August 03, 2019, Saturday. Aadi is the month is the birth month of Goddess Andal, who is regarded as one of the Alwars and prominent devotee of Lord Vishnu. She was raised by an Alwar called Saint Periazhwar, who was childless. She was also called as Kothai and Andal Thayar. The word Thayar in Tamil refers to Mother. She is accepted as a mother by the Tamil speaking Vaishnavite community. The child was found on the Day of Aadi Pooram in the garden of the saint in the town of Srivilliputhur, Tamilnadu. Goddess Andal’s extreme faith and love toward Lord Vishnu has made her regarded as one the greatest devotees of Lord Vishnu, that the world has ever seen. She used to wear the garland, which was supposed to be offered to Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu also accepted the garland as the reward of Goddess Andal’s devotion. She then attained salvation and ascended to heaven along with Lord Vishnu Srirangam. There are several temples and shrines, which has special Puja, and ten-day festival to commemorate the birth anniversary of Goddess Andal. It is believed that young girls, who pray her with piety will get a life partner of their choice.
Temples and followers of Lord Shiva or Saivism, consider this day as the Valaikappu festival for Ambal, where the bangles are offered to the Goddess and distributed as a prasadam to the devotees. Since time immemorial, Valaikappu is a festival, where the pregnant women are adorned with bangles because the sound of the clinging glass bangles will give positive vibrations to the womb. It is believed that the mind of an unborn child will also be vulnerable to the environment which surrounds the pregnant women. Thus people ensure that pregnant ladies should always think and speak positively.
Varalakshmi Puja:
The festival of Varalakshmi Puja is dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi, which is celebrated on a Friday, full moon. This year it falls on 9th August, Friday. This is an important festival for people following Kannada, Marathi and Telugu Calendar. It is believed that worshipping Goddess Lakshmi on Varalakshmi Pooja day is equivalent of worshipping “Ashtalaksmi”, or eight incarnations of Goddess Lakshmi, who will bestow the benevolence of Wealth, Earth, Learning, Love, Fame, Peace, Pleasure, and Strength for all her devotees. Many ancient texts and scriptures have revered the significance of celebrating Varalakshmi Puja. It is also believed that Lord Shiva suggested his consort that, celebrating Varalakshmi Puja will bestow positivity, prosperity, and benevolence to the women.
Aadi Perukku:
Aadi Perukku or Padinettam Perukku is celebrated on August 3rd , 2019. It is celebrated for the arrival of Monsoon. People worship water bodies and pray for abundant rains. It is highly celebrated by farmers, where the activities of sowing, rooting, planting of seeds and vegetation takes place during this season.
Aadi Perukku is very special in the regions of Kaveri delta, where there are major rivers which witness the full flow of the river in the month. Many people celebrate the flow of water from brim to brim, during this month. Many Lakes and other water bodies also receive importance, where people gather here and pray. The word “Perukku” signifies to multiply. Hence Aadi Peruku is also considered as an important festival, where the life gets fulfilled and receives blessings from the divine grace.
Many people cook variety-rice like Tamarind rice, Lemon Rice, Curd Rice, which has different color, and flavor; sweets made of lentils, like Payasam which is a liquid and “Boli”, which is a flattened lentil preparation, offer it to the river Goddess. They also have the feast on the banks of the river. Many people would pray on the banks of the river. Newly-wedded couples celebrate this festival with great reverence, the bride would get her sacred thread, “Thalli” changed. The bride’s family will gift the Groom with a new dress and other gifts. Thus this festival enhances the importance of water bodies, as it is the cradle of civilization, and sensitize people to understand the importance of it.
Aadi Karthigai:
The festival of Aadi Karthigai falls on July 26, 2019, Friday. The star Karthigai is third among the 27 stars. On this day of “Aadi Karthigai”, Lord Muruga slew the demon Surapadma. This day is regarded as the victory of good over evil. The word Murugu in Tamil defines beauty, as Lord Muruga is highly charming and enchanting. He is considered as the Chief of Devas, and revered as “Devargal Senapathy”. It would be a grand festival in all the Lord Muruga’s temple, especially in “Aru Padai Veedu”, denoting six adobes of Lord Muruga, is situated in Tiruttani, Thiruchendur, Swamimalai, Palani, Pazhamudircholai, and Thirupparankundram in the state of TamilNadu, India.
All the temples will see an elevated festivity, where the devotees will submit their prayers in the form of Kavadi, which is the wooden decoration, carried across the shoulders; “Paal Kudam” or the milk pot are highly followed. Many people do “Pada yatra”, which denotes to walking on foot to the temple. “Thee Midi”, is walking on the burnt coal, which marks the faith of the devotees towards Lord Muruga. “Theer” or cart pulling is done by devotees by piercing the hook of the cart on their bodies. “ Vel Kuthuthal”, is the piercing of Vel, the weapon used by Lord Muruga, where the devotees pierce their bodies with the sharp Vel on their tongue and cheek. Thus these traditions have been in practice since time immemorial and become an integral part of Lord Muruga’s worship.
Puthukku Paal:
The meaning of “Puthu” is Ant Hill, and Paal denotes milk. It is a special festival where the devotees will offer milk, and eggs for the anthill, where the snake lives. Worship of Serpents is in practice since time immemorial in Hindu Pantheon. During the months of Aadi and Thai, many people will worship the ant hill, and invoke the blessings of the serpents for longevity, opulence, and prosperity of their family. They also bring the sacred mud from the anthill, considering it as the good luck charm which protects their family.
Other Sacred/Important days of Aadi Month:
The month of Aadi is not only an important month for the Tamil community, but also for the people of India, and Indian settlers across the Globe. Various other festivals and sacred days of the month Aadi are Dakshinayana Sankranti, which is celebrated on the 16th July, Kamada Ekadashi celebrated on 28th July, Hariyali Teej on August 3rd, Nag Panjami on August 5th, Shravan Putrada Ekadasi on August 11th, and Raksha Bandhan on August 15th. Along with these festivals, all Fridays of the month of Aadi is sacred for worshipping female deities of Hindu Pantheon. Many people join in the group prayer conducted by the temples, or in the families where they make a special offering to the Goddess called Prasadams. They decorate the idol of the goddess or decorate the image of the Goddess in a special way, where they put the image of the Goddess on a raised pedestal and decorate it with special garlands. Aromatic incense sticks and perfumes are used to enhance the divinity in the Puja room.
Conclusion:
Hard work, belief, and prayers are the powerful tools of humanity, which ensures success in this “Kali Yuga”. It is the promise of the lord that he would appear whenever humanity needs support. Thus it is highly important for the people to ensure positivity through prayers on this Aadi month, which should be totally dedicated to spirituality.
