Flowers, Beetel Leaves, Beetel Nut, Fruits, and, Coconut are  
sacred offerings for all the following festivals.  Preparations 
unique to each festival are found by clicking on the link. 
 
Pongal - Boghi, Kannu Pongal, Mattu Pongal 
Shree Rama Navami 
Tamil New Year's Day 
Aavani Avatam 
Krishna Jayanthi (Gokulashtami) 
Vinayaka Chathurthi 
Saraswathi Pooja 
Vijayadasami 
Ayudhya Pooja 
Deepavali 
Noombhu 
Karthikai 
 
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Pongal 
 
Pongal is the harvest festival, and is celebrated in the month of January, to 
mark the beginning of the harvest season. This festival stretches for four days. 
 
Boghi 
This is the first day of Pongal, and is devoted to Bhogi or Indran, the rain god. 
This day is linked with the famous mythological tale about Krishna lifting  
Gobardhan parbat on his little finger.  
Vadai, Payasam, Moorkuzambhu, and Bholi sweet. 
 
Pongal or Surya Pongal 
The second day, Surya-Pongal, is dedicated to the Sun (Surya). On this day,  
chakara pongal (rice cooked in milk and jaggery) is cooked and offered to the  
Sun god.  
Chakara Pongal 
 
Mattu Pongal 
The third day, is the day dedicated to the worship of cattle. On Mattu Pongal  
Cows are worshipped by decorating them and also by feeding them sweets.  
Tamarid rice, Coconut rice, curd rice, and aviyal. 
 
Kanya Pongal 
The last day is known as Kanya Pongal. Coloured balls of the pongal and rice 
are made and are offered to birds.  
 
 
 
 
Shree Rama Navami 
Sree Rama Navami celebrates the birth of Lord Rama.  
Panagam, Neer Moor, Vadai Parupu, Vadai, and Payasam. 
 
 
 
Tamil New Year's Day 
Vadai, Payasam, Parupu, and Mango Pachadi. 
 
 
 
Aavani Avatam 
Vadai, Payasam, Appam, and Idli. 
 
 
 
Krishna Jayanthi 
Krishna Jayanthi also known as Janamasthami festival celebrates the birth of  
Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna is considered to be the eighth incarnation of  
Lord Vishnu, the preserver of the universe. It falls between the month of  
July and August. 
Aval, Butter with Sugar, Yogurt (curd), Appam, Vadai, Payasam,  
and Bakshanam (Salt Cheedai, Vella Cheedai, Thatti, Muruku etc.,) 
 
 
 
Vinayaka Chathurthi 
Vinayaka Chaturthi celebrates the birth of Lord Ganesha. It falls between the  
month of August and September. 
Kozzakatai, Payasam, Vadai, and Chundal 
 
 
 
Navratri 
Navratri is celebrated for nine days and are dedicated to the three 
main goddesses of Hinduism - Parvati, Lakshmi and Sarasvati.  The first 
three days are dedicated to Parvathi, the goddess of action and energy.   
The next three days are dedicated to Lakshmi, the goddesses of peace, plenty  
and bliss, and the last three days are dedicated to Saraswati is the  
goddess of knowledge. 
 
Saraswathi Pooja 
Channa (Garbanzo Beans) chundal, Vadai, and Payasam. 
 
Vijayadasami 
Any Chundal, Vadai & Payasam. 
 
Ayudhya Pooja 
 
 
 
 
Deepavali 
Deepavali or Diwali, is a festival of lights symbolizing the victory of 
righteousness and the lifting of spiritual darkness. This festival 
commemorates Lord Rama's return to his kingdom Ayodhya after completing  
his 14-year exile entailing endless hardships, like separation from Sita and  
finally the slaying of Raavana. This festive occasion also marks the beginning  
of the Hindu new year. The goddess Lakshmi (consort of Vishnu), who  
is the symbol of wealth and prosperity, is also worshipped on this day.   
New clothes, sweets and twinkling oil lamps or diyas are most prominent  
in this festival. 
Any Sweets, Vadai, Payasam, and Lehiyum. 
 
 
 
Noombhu 
Noombhu Kozakatai, butter, Idli & vadai. 
 
 
 
Karthikai 
Vadai, Payasam, Appam, Pori Oorundai, and Cashew & Peanut  
Oorundai. 
 
 
 
 
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