Maasi Magam Festival Celebration 2012 in Tamil Nadu
Maasi Magam is considered as one of the important colourful and biggest festival being celebrated in Tamil Nadu and Kerala more in number by Tamil speaking peoples. This is an annual festival which falls on 11th month of Tamil Calendar and several temples has certain myth for celebrating this festival. The rituals and myths associated along with the date of celebration for the current year can be know from the below article.
Maasi Magam Festival Celebrations
Maasi falls on 11th month of Tamil Calendar.Masi Maham or Maasi Magam is considered to be an auspicious day in Tamil month. Maasi Magam is one of the important Tamilnadu festival celebrated across the state, Pondy and Kerala. Special utsavs will be carried out in various temples in Tamil Nadu. Maham is the name of the Nakshatra and Maham in Maasi month of Tamil Calendar usually comes on full moon day. As Maasi Maham is observed on full moon day it is called by the name Masi Pournami. This is one of the important annual festivals celebrated by Tamilians all over the world and more over Maham is one of twenty seven stars (Nakshatra) according to Hindu Astrological Systems.Rituals carried out during Maasi Maham Festival
On Maasi Maham day special poojas and rituals are being held in different temples and on the auspicious day the Temple idols of gods especially Lord Shiva, goddnesss Shakthi and Lord Vishnu are taken in procession to sea shores or ponds and ritually bathed. Hence this festival is termed as Holy Bath Cermony.
Thousand of devotees gather near the temple to celebrate this occasion in a grand manner to get a glimpse of holy rituals. Soon after the completion of respective rituals the idols are being brought back to the respective temples in a huge procession. After completion of various rituals the devotees at their house prepare Payasam and offer it to their god of moon Named as Chandra as they believe it will lead them with good health and long life to the children's.Myths releated to Maasi Maham festival
There are several myths associated and being followed towards Maasi Maham festival and each temple has its own myth towards its celebration. Among several myths the most important one is releated to Lord Shiva and several stories says that Lord Shiva appeared as a child befor king vallala of Thiruvannamalai and as the king had no child, lord shiva promised the king to perform his last rituals and it is being noted that the king had his death on Maasi Magam day. Later lord shiva blessed the king and said to his devotees that whoever baths in sea during Maasi maham will merge with him and get mukthi.Maasi Maham festival 2012 Celebration Dates and associated Temples
The date of Maasi Maham festival for the year 2012 falls on 7th March 2012. The reason behind observance of Maasi Maham varies from places to places even between temples in different regions. The day of celebration has a great significance in Pondicherry, Mahabalipuram, Thiruchendur, Kumbakonam and Srirangam in Tamil Nadu.
