Thirunageswaram Raghu Temple is a famous temple located 7 km east of Kumbakonam, in Tanjore District of Tamil Nadu. The temple is spread over an area of 630 feet South-North and 800ft East-West. The temple celebrates many festivals every year that attracts devotees from several places. Some of the festivals celebrated here are:
Bramahotsavam
This festival is celebrated in the Tamil month of Karthikai i.e. during November or December. It is a ten day festival that ends in the last Sunday of the Tamil month Karthigai. During the festival the deities are taken out for procession every day. On the 5th day evening archana or prayers are performed and at night the Lord along with his consort is taken for a procession in a beautifully decorated four wheeled chariot. On the 7th day the Thirukalyana Uthsavam i.e. divine communication is organised. The precession of both the Lord and Goddess in taken out in a single wooden padichattam which is a movable platform carried by men on all four sides at night. On the 9th day there is the procession in the temple charriat (Thiruther). During the evening time Lord Sri Natarajar is taken out for procession. On the concluding day i.e. on Sunday, all the deities of the temple are carried out for procession round the main streets. The holy water is offered to the devotees at the bank of Surya Theertham. On the 11th day of Vidayatri i.e. a farewell function, the God and Goddess are beautifully decorated in a flower pallakku or palanguin and taken round in procession. Veda Parayanam, Thevaram, Nadaswara recitals are conducted every day.
Kandashasti
This festival is celebrated during the months of October or November. The people of this place belong to Sengunthar sect. The festival of Kandashasti is celebrated for six days. The procession of the deity takes place every day. On the sixth day of the festival Lord Muruga receiving `Velayudham` from Goddess is performed in a grand scale. At night Lord Muruga is taken out for procession. The people of the Senguntha sect dress themselves in different attires and carry various weapons and assemble in South Street of this village. A symbolic fight takes place in South Street between the demon Surapadma and Lord Muruga. The Navaveerabagu group sing traditional songs. After fighting in various forms, Like Gaja faced, Lion faced, etc. Surapadma loses the battle, and Lord Muruga wins. The performance takes place in a make shift wooden platform.
Shivaratri
The festival takes place in the month of March. On this day Raaghu had prayed to the Lord and got relieved of a curse. Hence every year on this day the Shivaratri is celebrated for three days. The abishekam of the Lord is done using 1008 conch shells or shankha. Every day there a grand abisekam and aaradana for Raaghu Bagavan is also organised. In the fourth period of Shivaratiri night, it is believed that Lord Raaghu comes in procession and has darsan of the Lord and gets relieved of the curse.
Navaratri
Navaratri is a grand festival celebrated by the temple for nine nights and ten days for Goddess Girikujambal. Every day Abirami Andaathi Parayanam is done with Sahasranama archana. On the day of Saraswati pooja lectures are arranged on abirami Andaathi. On Viyayadasami day the Lord and Goddess are taken out for procession on Horse Vahanam. The procession is accompanied by Nadaswara music performances. There is a function of throwing arrow. After this festival people begin making preparations for Diwali.
Sekkizhar Vaikasi Pooja
This festival is celebrated in the month of June. The temple is celebrating this festival for the last 37 years from the year 1969. The festival is celebrated in a grand way and has participants like, temple managing crew, Madathipathis of Thirupanandal, Thiruvavaduthurai, Kundrakkudi, Thiruvannamalai Aadeenam, Mandalls and temple working staff. They regularly perform prayers. Musical performances like rendering celebrated every year for increasing the awareness of Saivism among the people.
Raaghu Switching over to Next Rasi
During this festival special abishekam with homam is performed. On all the three days Raaghu Bagavan is taken out for procession in Sesha Vahaham.
Devotees from distant places flock the temple during the festival time. They too take part in the festivities and offer worship to the Lord.
