Panguni Uthiram is an important day for practising Tamil Hindus. On this day, in the month of PANGUNI, the full moon coincides with Uttara phalguni nakshatram (ie uthiram).

This festival is associated with various deities in the Hindu pantheon.

Ettukudi Murugan temple

This is the day Goddess Parvathi (Gowri) married the Lord of Kanchipuram.

Lord Murugan married Valli amman in Vallimalai (near Walajapet in Vellore district ). After the marriage, the couple settled in Thiruthani.

Vallakottai Murugan temple

Villiputhur Aandaal (Soodi kodutha sudar kodi/Kothai) joined Srirangam Ranganatha perumal. According to Valmiki ramayanam, Sita's marriage with Rama took place on this day. This is the day when Mahalakshmi appeared from the ocean of milk.

It is also the janma dhinam of Lord Ayyappan.

It is believed that on Panguni Uthiram day, all the sacred waters meet at Thumburu theertham in Tirupathi Tirumalai.

Murugan devotees throng to Murugan temples carrying pooja materials in KAVADIs. They also practise other kind of religious vows like shaving the head and having needles (ALAKUs) inserted in their bodies.

Ilayanar Velur Murugan temple

Only on this day, at Srirangam, Lord Ranganatha and Ranganayaki share the same stage in Panguni Uttara mandapam.

Srirangam Rangavimanam

Special poojas and rituals are performed in Sabarimala Ayyappan temple in Kerala, as elsewhere.

My early memories still linger….this is some sixty years ago…. Every year Pithukuli Murugadas visited Lalgudi and held Bhajanai throughout the night, in a devotee's house.