Shaiva Siddhanta — observances and vrat guides
Shaiva Siddhanta observances place Shiva temple worship within the religious life of Tamil communities. Pradosham, Shivaratri and festivals associated with Murugan have different times, rituals and devotional meanings. Evening worship on Trayodashi is not the same event as a night vigil at Shivaratri. Temple processions, abhishekam and recitation supply a setting that a generic fasting checklist cannot convey. Regional food practices also differ from those used in many northern households. These linked pages make the recurring and annual observances separately accessible while retaining their recorded deity, festival description and practical guidance.
The catalog currently includes 20 distinct entries in this collection. Examples are Maha Shivaratri (Shaiva Siddhanta); Pradosha (Shaiva Siddhanta); Aarudra Darshan (Margazhi Tiruvathirai); Karthigai Deepam (Thiruvannamalai Maha Deepam); Skanda Shashti (Soorasamharam). Their recorded devotional focus includes Lord Shiva (Sadashiva, Nataraja, Dakshinamurti); Lord Shiva (Pradoshanatha) and Devi Parvati; Lord Nataraja (Shiva as the cosmic dancer); Lord Shiva as the column of fire (Arunachala Jyoti); Lord Murugan (Subramanya, Skanda, Karttikeya). Follow the individual links below for the full description, calendar dates, mantra and allowed or avoided foods; each link leads to a dedicated observance page rather than a search result.
Calendar dates are references, not a substitute for the observance rules of your chosen city and community. Lunar days can cross civil-date boundaries, and regional practice can change which day is kept. Meal suggestions are optional ideas for an allowed meal, not instructions to eat during a complete fast. Children, pregnant people and anyone with a medical condition should seek appropriate advice before fasting. Compare the linked guides with your family or temple's practice and choose a discipline suited to your health.
All 20 observances in this collection
- Maha Shivaratri (Shaiva Siddhanta) — March 6, 2027
Maha Shivaratri in the Shaiva Siddhanta tradition — the great night of Shiva, observed with all-night vigil, four-prahar abhishekam, and continuous Sri Rudram and Tirumantiram recitation. At Chidambaram (the dance hall of Nataraja), Thiruvannamalai (Arunachala), Madurai Meenakshi-Sundareshwarar, and every Shaiva temple in Tamil Nadu, the maha-abhishekam continues from sunset through Brahma-muhurta.
- Pradosha (Shaiva Siddhanta) — May 14, 2026
Pradosha — the bi-monthly worship of Shiva at sunset on every Trayodashi. The dates listed are the major Pradoshas through 2026-2027. Particularly observed at Thiruvannamalai (where Shiva manifested as the column of fire of Arunachala on a Pradosha), Tiruvenkadu (Shvetharanyeswarar — the Shani-Pradosha temple), and every Tamil Shiva temple. The bull Nandi is worshipped first.
- Aarudra Darshan (Margazhi Tiruvathirai) — December 24, 2026
Aarudra Darshan (Aarudra Darisanam) — the day Lord Nataraja revealed himself at Chidambaram performing the Ananda Tandava (cosmic dance of bliss). Falls on Ardra nakshatra in the Tamil month of Margazhi (Dec-Jan). Chidambaram performs the Maha-abhishekam to the golden Nataraja vigraham in the Kanaka Sabha — one of only six days in the year this is done.
- Karthigai Deepam (Thiruvannamalai Maha Deepam) — November 24, 2026
Karthigai Deepam (also called the Tamil Festival of Lights — Tamil Diwali for Shaivas) — celebrates the day Shiva manifested as the column of fire of Arunachala. Falls on Karthigai Pournami (Krittika nakshatra in Karthigai month, Nov-Dec). At Thiruvannamalai, the Maha Deepam atop Arunachala hill is lit at sunset and burns for ten days. Lakhs perform Girivalam through the night.
- Skanda Shashti (Soorasamharam) — November 10, 2026
Skanda Shashti / Kanda Sashti — the six-day vrat culminating in the Soorasamharam (the slaying of the asura Soorapadman by Murugan). Aippasi Shukla Pratipada to Shashti (Oct-Nov). Tiruchendur (one of the Aru Padai Veedu — Murugan's six abodes) hosts the most spectacular Soorasamharam reenactment, attended by over a million devotees. The Kanda Shashti Kavasam is recited continuously across Tamil Nadu.
- Thai Poosam (Thaipusam) — January 22, 2027
Thai Poosam (Thaipusam) — the great kavadi-attam festival of Murugan. Falls on Pushya (Poosam) nakshatra in the Tamil month of Thai (Jan-Feb). Palani's Dhandayuthapani temple atop the hill is the most attended in Tamil Nadu — millions climb the 690 steps barefoot. Outside India, Thaipusam is the largest Hindu festival in Malaysia (Batu Caves), Singapore (Sri Thendayuthapani Temple), and Mauritius.
- Aadi Krittikai — August 9, 2026
Aadi Krittikai — the Krittika nakshatra of Aadi month, sacred to Lord Murugan as the day the six Krittika stars nursed his six infant forms. Tiruttani Subramanya temple (one of the Aru Padai Veedu near Chennai) hosts the largest Aadi Krittikai festival, with thousands climbing the 365 steps. Krittikai is observed monthly throughout the year, but Aadi Krittikai is the first and most powerful.
- Ugadi (Telugu New Year) — March 19, 2026
Ugadi — the Telugu and Kannada lunar new year, observed on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada with the symbolic six-taste Ugadi Pachadi, mango-leaf toranam, panchanga sravanam, and a festive vegetarian feast.
- Varalakshmi Vratam — August 21, 2026
Varalakshmi Vratam — observed by married women on the Friday before Shravana Purnima with kalasham puja, the nine-knot sacred toram, and recitation of the Lakshmi Ashtottara, invoking the boon-granting form of Mahalakshmi for the prosperity and well-being of the family.
- Dasara (Vijayadashami) — October 20, 2026
Dasara (Vijayadashami) — Telugu observance of the nine-night Sharadiya Navaratri culminating on the tenth day with Ayudha Pooja, Saraswati Pooja, the bommala koluvu doll display, and the jammi-leaf exchange, marking Durga's victory over Mahishasura and Rama's victory over Ravana.
- Sankranti (Makara Sankranti — Pedda Panduga) — January 14, 2027
Sankranti (Pedda Panduga) — the four-day Telugu harvest festival of Bhogi, Makara Sankranti, Kanuma, and Mukkanuma, marking the Sun's transit into Capricorn with new-harvest pongali, the gobbemma rangoli, gangireddu processions, and the largest family reunion of the Telugu year.
- Kartika Masam (Kartika Pournami) — November 24, 2026
Kartika Masam — the entire month of Kartika observed in Telugu households with daily akasa-deepam (sky-lamp), evening Karthika Puranam paath, ekabhuktam vrat, and culminating on Kartika Pournami with 365 deepams, Shiva abhishekam, and Tulasi puja.
- Pournami (Full Moon Vratam) — May 31, 2026
Pournami (Full Moon Vratam) — observed every full-moon day in Telugu households with a sunrise-to-moon-rise fast (ekabhuktam), the family-deity puja, arghya to the moon, and recitation of a Pournami stotra such as the Lalita Sahasranama, Vishnu Sahasranama, or the Satyanarayana Vratam Katha.
- Bogi (Pongal Eve) — January 13, 2026
Bogi — the Tamil Shaiva harvest-thanksgiving observed on the eve of Thai Pongal. Old items are burned at dawn in the Bogi-mantalu and the home is cleaned and decorated with fresh kolam in preparation for the four-day Pongal cluster.
- Thai Pongal (Pongal Festival) — January 14, 2026
Thai Pongal — the Tamil Shaiva harvest festival and Makara Sankranti, observed as a thanksgiving to Surya. The first day of the Tamil month Thai, marking the start of Uttarayana. The pongal pot is boiled at sunrise and the overflowing milk is greeted with the cry 'Pongalo Pongal!'.
- Mattu Pongal (Cattle-Honour Day) — January 15, 2026
Mattu Pongal — the second day of the Pongal cluster, dedicated to cattle and to Nandi (Shiva's bull). Cattle are bathed, decorated with turmeric, garlands and bells, fed sakkarai pongal and fresh grass, and worshipped with arati. Jallikattu (bull-embracing) is held in many Tamil villages on this day.
- Karadaiyan Nombu (Shaiva Siddhanta) — March 14, 2026
Karadaiyan Nombu in the Shaiva Siddhanta tradition — observed at the exact moment of the Tamil month transition from Maasi to Panguni, with karadai naivedyam, the Maha Mrityunjaya recitation, and the Savitri katha. Held to grant the long life of the husband and the Mrityunjaya grace of Shiva.
- Aadi Perukku (Pathinettam Perukku) — August 3, 2026
Aadi Perukku — the Tamil Shaiva river-festival on the 18th day of Aadi (Pathinettam Perukku), observed when the Kaveri and the southern rivers are at their fullest from the monsoon. Families gather at the riverbank with mixed-rice picnic naivedyam, offer the river flowers, turmeric, and bangles, and pray for family well-being.
- Avani Avittam (Upakarma) — August 27, 2026
Avani Avittam (Upakarma) in the Shaiva Siddhanta tradition — the annual renewal of the Yajnopavitam (sacred thread) and the formal restart of Veda-adhyayana. Observed on Sravana Purnima with tarpanam to the Saptarishis, Mahasankalpam, sacred-thread renewal, and the Sri Rudram-Chamakam abhishekam at the local Shiva temple.
- Ayudha Pooja (Saraswati & Tools) — October 19, 2026
Ayudha Pooja — the 9th day of Navaratri (Maha Navami), observed in Tamil Shaiva homes as the worship of all tools, books, instruments and vehicles alongside Saraswati Puja. Every implement of the household and workplace is cleaned, decorated, and worshipped; the next day (Vijayadashami) marks the auspicious Vijaya-arambham — the formal restart of all work.