Editing Tamil Nadu (section)

===Festivals===
[[File:Madurai-alanganallur-jallikattu.jpg|thumb|[[Jallikattu]], a traditional bull taming event held during [[Pongal (festival)|Pongal]] festivities]]

[[Pongal (festival)|Pongal]] is a major and multi-day [[harvest festival]] celebrated by [[Tamils]].<ref name="CushRobinson2008p610">{{cite book|author1=Denise Cush|author2=Catherine A. Robinson|author3=Michael York|title=Encyclopedia of Hinduism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i_T0HeWE-EAC|year=2008|publisher=Psychology Press|isbn=978-0-700-71267-0|pages=610–611|access-date=30 October 2019|archive-date=21 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230421115354/https://books.google.com/books?id=i_T0HeWE-EAC|url-status=live}}</ref> It is observed in the month of Thai according to the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil solar calendar]] and usually falls on 14 or 15 January.<ref name=Beteille73>{{cite journal|last=Beteille|first=Andre|title=89. A Note on the Pongal Festival in a Tanjore Village|journal=Man|publisher=Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland|volume=64|year=1964|issue=2 |issn=0025-1496|doi=10.2307/2797924|pages=73–75|jstor=2797924 }}</ref> It is dedicated to the [[Surya]], the Sun God and the festival is named after the ceremonial "Pongal", which means "to boil, overflow" and refers to the traditional dish prepared from the new harvest of rice boiled in milk with [[jaggery]] offered to Surya.<ref>{{cite book|author=R Abbas|editor=S Ganeshram and C Bhavani|title=History of People and Their Environs|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=crxUQR_qBXYC|year=2011|publisher=Bharathi Puthakalayam|isbn=978-9-380-32591-0|pages=751–752|access-date=30 October 2019|archive-date=21 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230421115350/https://books.google.com/books?id=crxUQR_qBXYC|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=J. Gordon Melton|title=Religious Celebrations: An Encyclopedia of Holidays, Festivals, Solemn Observances, and Spiritual Commemorations|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lD_2J7W_2hQC|year=2011|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-598-84206-7|pages=547–548}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author1=Roy W. Hamilton|author2=Aurora Ammayao|title=The art of rice: spirit and sustenance in Asia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yyQoAQAAMAAJ|year=2003|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=978-0-930-74198-3|pages=156–157|access-date=30 October 2019|archive-date=21 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230421115348/https://books.google.com/books?id=yyQoAQAAMAAJ|url-status=live}}</ref> Mattu Pongal is meant for celebration of [[cattle]] when the cattle are bathed, their horns polished and painted in bright colors, garlands of flowers placed around their necks and processions.<ref>{{cite journal|title= Food for the Gods in South India: An Exposition of Data|author= G. Eichinger Ferro-Luzzi|journal= Zeitschrift für Ethnologie|volume = Bd. 103, H. 1|year= 1978|issue= 1|pages= 86–108|publisher= Dietrich Reimer Verlag GmbH|jstor=25841633}}</ref> [[Jallikattu]] is a traditional event held during the period attracting huge crowds in which a bull is released into a crowd of people, and multiple human participants attempt to grab the large hump on the bull's back with both arms and hang on to it while the bull attempts to escape.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/Governor-clears-ordinance-on-%E2%80%98jallikattu%E2%80%99/article17074093.ece|title=Governor clears ordinance on 'jallikattu'|last=Ramakrishnan|first=T.|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=1 December 2023|date=26 February 2017|language=en|archive-date=20 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230520145353/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/Governor-clears-ordinance-on-%E2%80%98jallikattu%E2%80%99/article17074093.ece|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:2019 kolam decoration for Pongal festival, South India.jpg|thumb|left|[[Tamils]] decorate their homes with colorful geometric designs called [[kolam]] made from rice powder<ref name=mercer22>{{cite book|author=Abbie Mercer|title=Happy New Year|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z3AnvD5jeDMC|year=2007|publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group|isbn=978-1-404-23808-4|page=22}}</ref>]]

[[Puthandu]] is known as Tamil New Year which marks the first day of year on the [[Tamil calendar]]. The festival date is set with the solar cycle of the solar [[Hindu calendar]], as the first day of the Tamil month ''Chithirai'' and falls on or about 14 April every year on the [[Gregorian calendar]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Roshen Dalal|title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DH0vmD8ghdMC|year=2010|publisher=Penguin Books|isbn=978-0-143-41421-6|page=406}}</ref> [[Karthika Deepam|Karthikai Deepam]] is a festival of lights that is observed on the [[Amavasya|full moon day]] of the [[Kārtika (month)|Kartika]] month, called the [[Kartik Purnima|Kartika Pournami]], falling on the [[Gregorian calendar|Gregorian]] months of November or December.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Spagnoli|first1=Cathy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6_Aci8KA7JEC&dq=karthigai+deepam+november+december&pg=PA133|title=Jasmine and Coconuts: South Indian Tales|last2=Samanna|first2=Paramasivam|date=1999|publisher=Libraries Unlimited|isbn=978-1-563-08576-5|pages=133|access-date=24 December 2023|archive-date=30 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230930150136/https://books.google.com/books?id=6_Aci8KA7JEC&dq=karthigai+deepam+november+december&pg=PA133|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Gajrani|first=S.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zh6z0nuIjAgC&dq=karthigai+deepam&pg=PA207|title=History, Religion and Culture of India|date=2004|publisher=Gyan Publishing House|isbn=978-8-182-05061-7|pages=207|access-date=24 December 2023|archive-date=30 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230930145221/https://books.google.com/books?id=zh6z0nuIjAgC&dq=karthigai+deepam&pg=PA207|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Thaipusam]] is a Tamil festival celebrated on the first full moon day of the Tamil month of Thai coinciding with [[Pushya|Pusam]] star and dedicated to lord [[Murugan]]. [[Kavadi Aattam]] is a ceremonial act of sacrifice and offering practiced by devotees which is a central part of Thaipusam and emphasizes debt bondage.<ref>{{cite book|author=Kent, Alexandra|title=Divinity and Diversity: A Hindu Revitalization Movement in Malaysia|publisher=[[University of Hawaii Press]]|year=2005|isbn=978-8-791-11489-2}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Portals: Opening Doorways to Other Realities Through the Senses|first=Lynne|last=Hume|year=2020|isbn=978-1-0001-8987-2|publisher=Taylor & Francis}}</ref> [[Aadi Perukku]] is a Tamil cultural festival celebrated on the 18th day of the Tamil month of [[Tamil calendar|Adi]] which pays tribute to [[water]]'s life-sustaining properties. The worship of [[Mariamman|Amman]] and [[Ayyanar]] deities are organized during the month in temples across Tamil Nadu with much fanfare.<ref name="AA">{{cite news|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2022/jul/26/an-ode-to-aadi-and-ayyanar-2480584.html|title=An ode to Aadi and Ayyanar|newspaper=[[Indian Express]]|date=26 July 2022|access-date=1 December 2023|archive-date=22 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231222132958/https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2022/jul/26/an-ode-to-aadi-and-ayyanar-2480584.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Panguni Uthiram]] is marked on the [[purnima]] (full moon) of the month of [[Phalguna|Panguni]] and celebrates the wedding of various Hindu gods.<ref>{{cite book|first=Vijaya |last=Ramaswamy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ALUvDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA131|title=Historical Dictionary of the Tamils|date=2017-08-25|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|isbn=978-1-538-10686-0|pages=131}}</ref>

[[Tyagaraja Aradhana]] is an annual music festival devoted to composer [[Tyagaraja]]. In [[Tiruvaiyaru]] in [[Thanjavur district]], thousands of music artists congregate every year.<ref>{{cite book|title=Tourism in Tamil Nadu: Growth and Development|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jTmbDwAAQBAJ&dq=piranmalai&pg=PA106|page=14|last=Pillai|first=S. Subramania|publisher=MJP Publisher|year=2019|isbn=978-8-180-94432-1}}</ref> [[Chennaiyil Thiruvaiyaru]] is a music festival which has been conducted from 18 to 25 December every year in Chennai.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2018/dec/05/music-season-begins-with-chennaiyil-thiruvaiyaru-fest-1907231.html|title=Chennai music season begins with 'Chennaiyil Thiruvaiyaru' festival|date=5 December 2018|newspaper=[[Indian Express]]|access-date=1 December 2023|archive-date=22 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231222132957/https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2018/dec/05/music-season-begins-with-chennaiyil-thiruvaiyaru-fest-1907231.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Chennai Sangamam]] is a large annual open [[Tamil people|Tamil]] cultural festival held in Chennai with the intention of rejuvenating the old village festivals, art and artists.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/chennai-sangamam-to-return-after-a-decade/articleshow/96609404.cms|title=Chennai Sangamam to return after a decade|date=30 December 2022|access-date=1 December 2023|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|archive-date=22 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231222132958/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/chennai-sangamam-to-return-after-a-decade/articleshow/96609404.cms|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Madras Music Season]], initiated by [[Madras Music Academy]] in 1927, is celebrated every year during the month of December and features performances of traditional [[Carnatic music]] by artists from the city.<ref>{{cite book|last=Knight|first=Douglas M. Jr.|title=Balasaraswati: Her Art and Life|year=2010|publisher=Wesleyan University Press|isbn=978-0-819-56906-6|page=78|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q3EsA2NooW4C}}</ref>