Maasi Magam Festival Celebration in Pondicherry 07.03.2023

Maasi Magam Pondicherry 2023

Pondicherry is a culture of immense diversity and it’s perfectly exhibited in the vibrant festivals of Pondicherry. One of the biggest and grandest religious festivals in Pondicherry, Masi Magam is the testament of the vibrant culture of Pondicherry. Also known as Maasi Makam, Masi Magam is a Tamil festival which is majorly celebrated by Tamilians in Pondicherry. Celebrated during the Tamil month of “Masi” , during the Magam Nakshatra, the festival’s date usually falls around February or March. Usually, Makam Nakshatra coincides with full moon day .

During the festive celebration, the deities are taken from the temples in and around Pondicherry to a water body for a ceremonial bath. The water body could be anything ranging from Lake, sea, pond to a river. Alongside deities, devotees also take a holy dip in the waterbody. It is believed that a holy dip after the ceremonial bath of deities can wash off the sins of humans.

A vibrant cultural extravaganza, Masi Magam in Pondicherry is a cultural experience rather than a religious festival. Thousands of people flocking the streets to take the deities for the ceremonial bath is one of the best examples of the vibrant culture of Pondicherry. One of the biggest gatherings in Pondicherry, Masi Magam in Pondicherry is a must-visit experience for every tourist visiting Pondicherry in February and March.

On this day, idols of Lord Shiva, Shakti, and Vishnu are given a bath in the Bay of Bengal or Theerthavari. A procession of a number of devotees is organized and people walk while carrying the temple idols to the seashores or even local ponds, and rivers. A South Indian acoustic instrument Nadhaswaram is also carried along in addition to the idols. Some temples also perform Ashwa pooja and Gaja pooja to bring happiness and riches to the devotees.
Pondicherry Thirukanji Maasi Magam Ferstival

Ganga Varaha Nadeeswarar Temple,Thirukanji

Devotees also offered prayers at Ganga Varaha Nadeeswarar temple in Thirukanchi, situated on the banks of Sankarabarani river. The ‘Masi Magam’ falls on the full moon day in the Tamil month of Masi (February-March).