Aravan Festival in Coimbatore

Aravan Festival
Aravan Festival
Official name	Aravan Thirukalyana Thiruvizha
Also called	Koothandavar Thiruvizha
Observed by	particularly Tamil people in India,
Significance	Thirukalyanam festival. Celebrating the marriage festival of Aravan and Pongiyammal 15 days long
Frequency	Annual
Related to	Aravan and Pongiyammal

Aravan Festival[1] also known as "Koothandavar Thiruvizha" is festival celebrated in seven places in Coimbatore city such as Vellalore, Thudiyalur, Kurichi, Singanallur, Annur, Vadavalli and Kattampatti since ancient times. It is celebrated for the Aravan, a major character in Hindu epic Mahabarata.[2]

Legend

According to Hindu mythology, the third Pandava prince Arjuna married Naga princess named Ulupi. They gave birth to a prince named Aravan. The prince was raised by his mythological grandfather Indra by hiding the secrets about his father Arjuna. During the time of Mahabharata War, his grandfather Indra revealed the identity about his father to Aravan. Then he decided to participate in the Mahabharata War, in the Pandava side and win the battle. When he visited the battlefield at Kurukshetra, he was welcomed by Duryodhana in the disguise that he is his father Arjuna. In the meanwhile, Krishna gets to understand the spectacular and amazing ability of Aravan to win the war in a single second. Krishna gets promise from Aravan to sacrifice his life in the sake of winning the war considering the massive ability of Aravan and the need of conveying a message to the world by conducting the entire war without any interference. Before the sacrifice ceremony, the Pandava prince Aravan was married to Pongaliammal from Ayothiapattinam. Finally the sacrifice of Aravan was done in the presence and leadership of his mythological grandfather Indra in Kurukshetra.[3]

Annur Aravan Festival

The festival is celebrated in the month of Thai in Annur.[4]

Kattampatti Aravan Festival

The festival is celebrated in the month of Thai in Kattampatti.[5]

Thudiyalur Aravan Festival

The festival is celebrated in the month of Purattasi in Thudiyalur.[6]

Kurichi Aravan Festival

The festival is celebrated in the month of Aiipasi in Kurichi with the share of over fourteen communities.[7]

Singanallur Aravan Festival

The festival is celebrated in the month of Karthigai in Singanallur, Neelikonampalayam and Kallimadai with the share of over eight communities. It is the largest of the seven Aravan festivals in the city. It is held in Aravan and Pongaliamman temples.[8][9][10]

Vellalore Aravan Festival

The festival is celebrated in the month of Margazhi in Vellalore along the banks of Noyyal River and in Darmaraja and Pongaliamman temples.[11]

Vadavalli Aravan Festival

The festival is celebrated in the month of Panguni in Vadavalli.[12]

References

1. "A Koothandavar fest without TGs in Coimbatore". The New Indian Express. 17 November 2013. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
2. "Aravan festival in the city of Coimbatore". The Hindu Tamil. 9 November 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
3. "History of Aravan". The Hindu Tamil. 9 November 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
4. "Aravan Festival in Annur". Dinamalar. 17 November 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
5. "Aravan Festival in Kattampatti". Dinamalar. 26 February 2013. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
6. {{cite web 3WJR+QVW, TNP Nagar, Thudiyalur, Tamil Nadu 641034 |url= https://temple.dinamalar.com/New.php?id=2313 |title= Aravan Festival in Thudiyalur}}
7. "Aravan festival in Kurichi". Dinamaalar. 28 December 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
8. "Aravan Festival in Singanallur". Dinamaalar. 28 December 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
9. "Aravan Festival in Singanallur". Daily Thanthi. 25 April 2018. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
10. "Aravan Festival in Tamilnadu". Maalaimalar. 10 May 2017. Archived from the original on 23 April 2022. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
11. "Aravan festival in Thudiyalur". Dinamaalar. 28 December 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
12. "Aravan Festival in Vadavalli". Dinamalar. 17 November 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2022.