The Arulmigu Gurunathaswamy Temple Festival is one of the most significant and unique annual celebrations in the Erode District of Tamil Nadu, held at the ancient temple located in Pudupalayam, Anthiyur.
The festival is an approximately 20-day event, primarily celebrated during the Tamil month of Aadi (mid-July to mid-August).
Here are the most notable features and rituals:
1. The Great Horse and Cattle Fair (Kuthirai Santhai)
The festival is most famous for hosting one of the largest and oldest horse and cattle fairs in India.
- Market Focus: The fair attracts thousands of people, including traders and enthusiasts, from across Tamil Nadu and other states like Karnataka and Rajasthan.
- Historical Significance: The tradition is believed to date back to the time of Tipu Sultan, who visited the market to procure the best horses for his cavalry.
- Breeds: It is a key venue for showcasing and selling high-quality indigenous breeds of cattle, such as Kangeyam and Bargur cows, as well as various breeds of horses like the Marwari and Kathiawari.
2. Temple Car Procession (Ther Thiruvizha)
The spiritual core of the festival involves a grand procession of the deities.
- Deities: The main deities—Sri Gurunathaswamy (a form combining Lord Shiva and Lord Murugan), Sri Kamakshi Amman (The Mother Goddess), and Sri Perumal (Lord Vishnu)—are taken out in grand, decorated temple chariots (Ther or Rattinam).
- Vanakovil Pilgrimage: The procession travels from the main temple in the village to a secondary temple located about 2 km away in the forest, known as the Vanakovil (Forest Temple), where special pujas are performed. This ritual reenacts a mythological battle involving Lord Gurunathaswamy’s disciple to secure the forest for Goddess Kamakshi Amman’s penance.
3. Key Rituals and Offerings
- Poochattu: The festival officially begins with the Poochattu (offering of flowers) on the first Wednesday of the Aadi month.
- Paal Pujai: The festivities often culminate with a Paal Pujai (Milk Offering).
- The Kulukkai: A unique and ancient feature of the temple is the Kulukkai, an underground chamber believed to store sacred puja materials. Only the priests who observe strict fasting are allowed to enter, as per the belief that the chamber is guarded by snakes.
The festival successfully blends a vibrant spiritual celebration with a massive, centuries-old trade fair, making it a unique cultural event.