Panguni Uthiram falls when the star Uthiram (Uttara Phalguni) coincides with the full moon of Panguni, the last month of the Tamil year. It is the wedding day of the gods: Shiva and Parvati, Murugan and Deivanai, Rama and Sita, Ranganatha and his consort are all said to have married on it. Temples celebrate the divine weddings, and it is among the largest days of the year at every Murugan shrine.
The story
After Murugan destroyed Surapadman, Indra gave him his daughter Deivanai in marriage at Tirupparankundram; that wedding is today's. On the same star Parvati, as Kamakshi, embraced a linga of sand at Kanchipuram and won Shiva.
At Srirangam it is the one day of the year when Ranganatha and Ranganayaki are seen seated together, and it was on this day that the teacher Ramanuja recited his three prose hymns of surrender before them.
வேலுண்டு வினையில்லை, மயிலுண்டு பயமில்லை
Where the Vel is, no harm from past deeds; where the peacock is, no fear
A saying of Murugan's devotees
How it is kept
- TirukalyanamThe wedding of the god and goddess is performed in every large temple.
- Kavadi and paal kudamAs at Thai Pusam, pilgrims walk to the Murugan hills with offerings.
- TherThe temple chariot is drawn round the four streets.
- TeppamThe deities are floated on the temple tank at night.
- Kalyana vratamA fast kept by those hoping for a good marriage.
Why this date
Panguni Uthiram is the day in the solar month of Panguni on which the star Uthiram is present at sunrise. It falls at or beside the full moon.
Panguni Uthiram in other years
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Wednesday | |
| 2027 | Monday | |
| 2028 | Saturday | |
| 2029 | Thursday | |
| 2030 | Wednesday | |
| 2031 | Sunday |
More Tamil festivals
23 JanuaryThai Pusamதைப்பூசம்
14 AprilPuthanduதமிழ்ப் புத்தாண்டு
15 AprilRama Navamiஸ்ரீ ராம நவமி
6 MarchMaha Shivaratriமகா சிவராத்திரி
13 FebruaryRatha Saptamiரத சப்தமி
8 MayAkshaya Tritiyaஅட்சய திருதியை
Where to see Panguni Uthiram
In Tamil Nadu
- PalaniTamil NaduPilgrims bring water from the Kaveri at Kodumudi on foot to bathe the god.
- Kapaleeshwarar Temple, MylaporeTamil NaduThe ten-day festival includes Arupathimoovar, when the sixty-three Shaiva saints are carried in procession.
- SrirangamTamil NaduThe Serthi Sevai: the only day the Lord and the Goddess sit together.
- TirupparankundramTamil NaduThe rock-cut temple near Madurai where Murugan married Deivanai.
Across India
- SabarimalaKeralaUthiram is the birth star of Ayyappa; the temple's ten-day festival ends with a bath in the Pampa.
- TirumalaAndhra PradeshThe full-moon procession on Garuda.
- MathuraUttar PradeshThe same full moon is Holi in the north.