Earlier, newly wed couples were separated during the Aadi month by some communities. The brides parents used to invite the bride back home. This was because the women who conceived during the Aadi month used to give birth during April May, the hottest months. In earlier days, when there were no hospitals the infant mortality rate used to be high during the hot months. A major event in the modern times is the Aadi sales especially of textiles and jewelry Aadi Masam, or Adi, is the fourth month in Tamil Calendar and is termed inauspicious by many as the Dakshinayana Punyakalam begins in the month. In 2010, the Aadi Masam begins on July 17 and ends on August 16. But several Tamil Hindu rituals and festivals are held in the month of Aadi and therefore it is also auspicious to some people.
Here are the important festivals and auspicious days in Aadi Masam in 2010
Dakshinayana Punyakalam, the night of the Devas, begins on the first day of the month Aadi. It is marked on July 17, 2010. Some communities perform Tarpanam on the day. The sun changes its direction during this period and next six months is the night time of the gods. Due to this reason, no auspicious events are held in the month. Aadi Chevvai the Tuesdays in Aadi Masam is highly auspicious. Aadi Velli Fridays in the Aadi Masam is also considered auspicious. Aadi Amavasi (August 9, 2010) No moon day in Aadi month dedicated to offering Shradh and Tarpan to dead ancestors. It must be note that in many regions Amavasai begins on August 9 and ends on August 10, 2010. Aadi Pooram (August 12) The day is dedicated to Andal. Varalakshmi Puja (August 20) Worship of Goddess Lakshmi. Aadi Perukku (August 3) The festival is dedicated to Kaveri River and falls on the eighteenth day in Aadi Masam. Aadi Karthigai (August 4, 2010) festival dedicated to Lord Muruga.
Varalakshmi Nonbu is August 20. Married women worship Goddess Lakshmi on this day. In Tamil Nadu the festival takes place in the Aadi month of Tamil calendar and in Karnataka in the Shravan month of Kannada Calendar. It is believed that worshipping Goddess Lakshmi on this day gives the benefits of worshipping Ashta Lakshmi the eight goddesses of Earth, Learning, Wealth, Love, Fame, Strength, Peace and Pleasure. Legend has it that Lord Shiva explained about the importance of Varalakshmi Nombu to Goddess Parvati, when the Goddess wanted to know about the most beneficial nombu or Vratam that married women should observe. On the day, homes are cleaned and will be decorated with mango leaves and rangoli. Footprints of the goddess will be painted from the threshold to the place of worship, symbolically welcoming the goddess of wealth Mahalakshmi. Shlokas dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi are recited, the idol of the goddess is decorated, a Kalash half-filled with rice and neck of the pot is decorated with fresh mango and betel leaves, a coconut smeared with haldi and kumkum and cloth are placed in the puja area and Goddess Lakshmi is invoked therein. Women fast till the puja is over. Special dishes like vada, mango rice, dal vadas and sweets like payasam are prepared on the day. Women gather in houses in the neighborhood and take part in community 'arathi' in the evening. They exchange gifts like bangles, kumkum, betel leaves, fruits and flowers. Vara Mahalakshmi is also auspicious day for beginning business and for house-warming functions. It is also one of the most popular festivals of Vaisya community.
Aadi 18 Perukku
Aadi 18 Perukku, as the name indicates, is a festival observed on the 18th day in Tamil month Aadi. It is also known as Pathinettam perukku and peruku means rising. In 2010, the date of Aadi 18 Perukku is August 3. The rising here indicates the overflowing of rivers like Kaveri due to the monsoon rains. The festival is essentially Nature Worship by farmers and
other people who depend on the rivers and monsoon rains for their livelihood. The festival is celebrated mainly by people residing along the banks of the Kaveri River in Tamil Nadu. Special prayers and pujas are done in temples and people pray for a good harvest, constant supply of water and hassle free monsoon. On the day, all family members make a trip to the riverbank and prepare a special lamp using rice flour and jaggery, which is placed on mango leaves and lit. Flowers, turmeric and a yellow thread are also placed on the mango leaves. Women float the lamps along with the mango leaves and other accompaniments in the river. Special delicacies are prepared on the day and family members are joined by relatives and friends. People also prepare several varieties of rice including the popular chithranam. Family members go on a picnic to riverbanks along with the food prepared. The riverbank or seashore picnic is a major event in some districts in Tamil Nadu on the day. In some regions in Tamil Nadu, son-in-law is invited to home and is given gifts on the day. Usually during Aadi month, the newly wed brides spend the month at her parents home and on Aadi 18 Perukku, a gold coin is added to the thali or mangalsutra in some southern districts of the state.
The Krithigai star or Nakshatram is considered highly auspicious to worship Muruga. And Aadi Krithigai is more important because Aadi is the first month in the Dakshinayana punyakalam when the sun god changes his direction from north to south. Devotees carry flower Kavadi on the Aadi Krithigai day. It is celebrated in a grand way with various rituals in Murugan temples across the world.