Aadipperukku - 2019
Posted on: 22/Jul/2019 5:02:13 PM
The holy and sacred occasion of ‘Aadipperukku’ occurs on 3rd August this year 2019. The monsoon season commences in Tamil in the Tamil calendar month of Aadi when the water level in the river swells substantially.
The festival of ‘Aadipperukku’ is celebrated as a mark of the Tamil people registr=erring their gratitude to Mother Nature and the River Cauvery.
This is a rather unique festival in South India celebrated on the 18th day of the Tamil calendar month Aadi. Thus, it is also known as ‘Pathinettam Perukku’ in Tamil - ‘pathnettu’ is 18 and ‘perukku’ means swelling!
Usually, the festival of Aadipperukku falls on 2nd or 3rd August. Mainly considered as a water ritual, this festival is mainly observed by women in Tamil Nadu to thank and honour Mother Nature in celebration.
Goddess ‘Parvathi Devi’ or ‘Sakthi’ is worshipped on this auspicious day by offering different varieties of rice dishes.
The divine offering of flowers, akshatas, and the rice dishes is performed into a sacred river, like Cauvery.
Legend has it that the Goddess Parvathi Devi performed meditation to have the divine attention of Lord Siva, who then appeared as Shankara-Narayana Swami! It is also believed that the incarnation of the Goddess Bhooma Devi took place in this month.
Generally, water will be released from the reservoirs well before the commencement of Aadipperukku. Thus, all rivers and their branches will swell with water. People take holy bath in this water and perform poojas and rituals at the ‘Bathing Ghats’ of the river.
After performing the Pooja and the rituals, the whole family set down to have a hearty eating session of all the different varieties of mixed rice dishes! (‘kalandha sadham’) on the river bank!
