Post by cnupne on Aug 1, 2012 7:34:06 GMT 5.5
Aadiperukku 2012
The aadi month falls during the monsoon season and is essentially a thanksgiving to monsoon which fills the rivers – the lifeline of farmers.
The festival is celebrated in full fervor by people residing along the Cauvery River bank. ‘Perukku’ means rising – indicating the rising water in rivers. The festival is essentially a form of Nature worship.
Special food is prepared on this day and family and friends get together and pray for uninterrupted supply of water and a good harvest.
Aadi Perukku Festival
Aadiperukku or Aadi Perukku is a famous South Indian Festival, celebrated especially in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. Also known as Pathinettam Perukku, Aadi Perukku festival is celebrated on the 18th day of the Tamil month of Aadi (mid July - mid August). ‘Pathinettu Aaru Perukuthal’ in Tamil is later termed as Pathinettam Perukku. In 2012, the date of Aadi Perukku Festival is on 2nd August 2012.
Aadiperukku festival marks the onset of monsoon in India which is expected to occur on the 18th day of the solar month, Aadi, every year. Adiperukku is celebrated near river basins, water tanks, lakes and wells, when the water level rises. Hence it is called as Pathinettam perukku. Pathinettu means eighteen and Perukku indicates rising. The rivers, Ganges and Yamuna, Cauvery and Gothavari are respected as holy rivers and these rivers are considered as a kind of female deities. This water-ritual is observed mainly by women in Tamil Nadu.
How Aadiperukku ritual is observed?
As a general custom on Aadi Perukku day, people gather at the riversides and perform Poojas and offer prayers to river goddess. The highlight of the festival is the offering of Chitrannam or the rice cooked in different flavors, colors and ingredients. The variety rice includes coconut rice, sweet jaggery rice, Lime rice, Pulikachal, Ellu (sesame) rice and Thayir satham (curd rice).
The puja is performed to the River Goddess with Vettilai and paaku (betel leaves and nuts), Pazham (banana), coconut and concluded with a deeparadhana. It is believed that if young girls who offer Kaadholai (ear-rings made of palm leaf), Karugamani (black beads) and Kaapparisi (a sweet made of hand crushed rice and jaggery) are blessed with good husbands. Added attractions of Aadiperukku festival are the dance performances for the Aadiperukku folk songs and Kummi by young women.
Aadiperukku Festival at Cauvery delta
The annual Aadi Perukku festival is celebrated vividly along the Cauvery basin in Thanjavur and Tiruchirapalli districts. Aadi month is considered to be the month for planting seeds and vegetation, as the raised water level paves way for the rice cultivation in the areas. Adi Peruku is also called as ‘Flood of the Eighteenth’. On this day, people offer chitrannam and perform abhishekham (ablutions) to the river goddess, Cauvery. You can see people lit special lamps along the river side.
Another custom is that, during the month of Adi, the newly-wedded bride is brought to her parents’ home and made to stay during the month. On Adi Perukku, the bride is joined with her husband and sent back to her in-laws. The son-in-law is given new clothes, ornaments and sweets.
Aadi Masam, or Adi, is the fourth month in Tamil Calendar and is termed inauspicious by many as the Dakshinayana Punyakalam begins in the month. In 2012, the Aadi Masam begins on July 16 and ends on August 16. But several Tamil Hindu rituals and festivals are held in the month of Aadi and therefore it is also auspicious to some people.
Here are the important festivals and auspicious days in Aadi Masam in 2012 ( some beleted )
Dakshinayana Punyakalam, the night of the Devas, begins on the first day of the month Aadi. It is marked on July 17, 2012. Some communities perform Tarpanam on the day. The sun changes its direction during this period and next six months is the night time of the gods. Due to this reason, no auspicious events are held in the month.
Aadi Chevvai – the Tuesdays in Aadi Masam is highly auspicious.
Aadi Velli – Fridays in the Aadi Masam is also considered auspicious.
Aadi Amavasi (July 18, 2012) – No moon day in Aadi month dedicated to offering Shradh and Tarpan to dead ancestors.
Aadi Pooram (July 23) – The day is dedicated to Andal.
Varalakshmi Puja (July 27, 2012) – Worship of Goddess Lakshmi.
Aadi Perukku (August 3) – The festival is dedicated to Kaveri River and falls on the eighteenth day in Aadi Masam.
Aadi Karthigai (August 10, 2012) – festival dedicated to Lord Muruga.
Trichy aadi perukku festival new couples prayer in Cauvery - DINAMALAR
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUw4gADW_qc
I have personaly seen ganga aarati at rishikesh,haridwar and Varanasi. For viewing pleasure
ganga arati at dasaswamedh ghat,varanasihttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQSA2jltbXA