The Srirangam festival calendar

Srirangam's year is full of festivals, when Namperumal, the festival image of the Lord, goes out in procession through the temple and its streets.

Festivals documented in our sources

Margazhi (mid-December to mid-January): Vaikunta Ekadasi

One of the principal festivals of the year, held over about twenty days in two parts, Pagal Pathu and Ra Pathu. Around daybreak on Ekadasi, Namperumal is brought through the Paramapada Vasal to the thousand-pillar mandapam. HR&CE records a Vedupari horse procession on the eighth day. Read our Vaikunta Ekadasi guide.

Thai (mid-January to mid-February): Bhoopathi festival

According to HR&CE, the temple car and mandapam for the Bhoopathi festival in Thai are kept in the sixth prakaram, Uthira Street.

Panguni (mid-March to mid-April): Panguni Uthiram

The occasion when Sri Ranganatha visits Sri Ranganayaki and the two are seen together, called Serthi. HR&CE also notes festival mandapams for the Panguni festival in Chithirai Street.

Chithirai (mid-April to mid-May): Chithirai festival

HR&CE describes the Chithirai Thiru Ther, the festival car, and the festival mandapams in the outermost enclosure, Chithirai Street, where the car festival takes place.

Aavani (mid-August to mid-September): Sri Jayanti

The festival of Krishna's birth. HR&CE notes that the Sri Jayanti Uriyadi festivals are held at the temple's Krishnar shrine.

Jyeshtabhishekam and the brahmotsavams

Published references list Jyeshtabhishekam, a ritual anointing ceremony, and brahmotsavams (grand festivals of several days) among the temple's festivals. HR&CE describes a glass chamber in the second prakaram where Namperumal stays when setting out for the brahmotsavam.

Other observances

Traditional account

Devotees also associate Srirangam with festivals such as these. HR&CE's descriptions mention mandapams named for some of them, including the Unjal (swing), Vasantha (spring) and Pavitra mandapams. We have not yet verified how, or when in the year, each is celebrated at Srirangam, so we list them without further detail:

• Oonjal Utsavam (the swing festival)
• Vasanthotsavam (the spring festival)
• Pavithrotsavam
• Navaratri at the shrine of Sri Ranganayaki Thayar
• Kaisika Ekadasi
• Theppotsavam (the float festival)
• Aadi Perukku on the Kaveri

If you can point us to an official or published source for any of these, please let us know.

Planning a festival visit

• Check the official festival timetable for the year, since darshan hours change on festival days.
• Expect large crowds on the main days of Vaikunta Ekadasi and the car festivals.
• Book accommodation early, and read our visitor guide for travel and the route through the temple.