| Aadi Perukku | |
|---|---|
 Aadi Perukku celebrations inKaveri river | |
| Also called | Aadi pathinettu Pathinettam Perukku Aadi Nombi[1] |
| Observed by | Tamils |
| Type | Hindu |
| Significance | Welcoming increasing river levels duringmonsoon |
| Observances | Amman worship, offering to rivers, rituals |
| Date | 18th day ofAadi |
| Frequency | annual |
| Part ofa series on |
| Tamils |
|---|
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Aadi Perukku, (pronunciationⓘ) is aHindu festival celebrated by theTamils on the 18th day of theTamil month ofAadi. The festival usually involves prayers on river banks to mark the increasing water levels during themonsoon and as a tribute to the life-sustaining properties of water. Hindu deity ofAmman is worshiped with various rituals.
The Aadi Perukku is aHindu festival is celebrated on the 18th day ofAadi, the fifth month of theTamil calendar.[2][3] It is also called as Pathinettam Perukku, and is the only Tamil festival celebrated strictly based on the date rather than thestar or weekday.[2] It is also called as Aadi Nombi in theKongu Nadu region, with 'Nombi' meaning festival.[4] References to the festival are found inSilappathikaram, and otherSangam literature.[2] The festival marks the arrival of the rains, and increasing water levels in the rivers and water bodies during themonsoon season. The rising water levels and flooding symbolises prosperity and agricultural abundance, with farmers beginning to sow seeds on the day.[2][3]
On this day, people take holy baths in rivers and water bodies, especially theKaveri river, and worshipAmman.[2][3] As perHindu mythology, worshipping theSaptha Kanniyar on the day helps fulfills one’s wishes.[2] Young unmarried women seek blessings from the goddess for finding a suitable life partner.[3] Married women often change theirthaali (sacred thread) on this day, believing that Amman blesses women with marital happiness and longevity of their husbands.[2][3] Married women do a symbolicbaby shower ceremony for the goddess, and pray for her blessings to grant them with children.[3] People exchange sweets and offerrice,turmeric, and flowers as offerings to the rivers and water bodies, and lightoil lamps, to thank and honor the river as a life-giving deity.[5] Temporaryswings called 'thooris' are tied using ropes orsaris on trees, and ceilings of the house.[4]
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