--> Skip to main content


Aani Thirumanjanam Festival at Chidambaram In 2025 – Aani Uthiram Darisanam and Chariot Festival

The Aani Thirumanjanam festival, celebrated in the Tamil month of Aani (June–July), is one of the most significant and grandly observed festivals at the Chidambaram Nataraja Temple in Tamil Nadu, India. Aani Thirumanjanam Festival at Chidambaram in 2025 is from June 23 to July 2. The Chariot festival is on July 1 and Aani Uthiram Darisanam is on July 2

This ten-day-long celebration is dedicated to Lord Nataraja, the cosmic dancer, and is marked by elaborate rituals, processions, and an awe-inspiring chariot festival. Thousands of devotees from different parts of the country flock to Chidambaram to witness this divine spectacle and seek the blessings of the Lord.

Significance of Aani Thirumanjanam

Aani Thirumanjanam holds immense religious and spiritual importance, as it is believed that Lord Nataraja grants darshan to his devotees in an elaborate Maha Abhishekam on this day. The festival represents the divine dance of Shiva, the cycle of creation and destruction, and the eternal rhythm of the universe. It also underscores the themes of devotion, surrender, and divine grace.

The festival is one of the two major 10-day festivals in the Chidambaram temple, the other being Arudra Darshan (celebrated in Margazhi). Aani Thirumanjanam is particularly special because it marks the celestial event when Lord Nataraja’s Utsava Murti is taken around the temple town, offering devotees the opportunity to witness and worship the deity in a grand procession.

Festival Schedule and Rituals

The festival commences with Dwajarohanam, the ceremonial hoisting of the temple flag, symbolizing the beginning of the sacred event. Over the first eight days, the Utsava Murti of Lord Nataraja and Goddess Parvati (Sivagamasundari) are taken in procession on various Vahanas (divine mounts), each with its own symbolic significance. The grand festival reaches its peak on the ninth day with the Maha Rathotsavam (Chariot Festival), followed by the culminating Maha Abhishekam and Aani Uthiram Darisanam on the tenth day.

Important Vahanas Used in the Festival

Each night, during the first eight days of the festival, Lord Nataraja and Goddess Sivagamasundari are seated on different Vahanas, which are elaborately decorated and carried in procession. The Vahanas used are as follows:

  1. Velli Chandra Prabhai Vahanam (Silver Moon Vahana): Symbolizes serenity and the divine moonlight that soothes the mind and body.

  2. Thanga Surya Prabhai Vahanam (Golden Sun Vahana): Represents power, vitality, and divine radiance.

  3. Bhootha Vahanam (Silver) – Signifies Lord Shiva as the Lord of all elements and spirits.

  4. Velli Rishabha Vahanam (Silver Bull Vahana): The sacred bull, Nandi, represents strength, devotion, and dharma.

  5. Gaja (Yaanai) Vahanam (Silver Elephant Vahana): Symbolizes wisdom, royalty, and divine majesty.

  6. Thanga Kailasa Vahanam (Golden Kailash Vahana): Represents Mount Kailash, the divine abode of Lord Shiva.

  7. Bhikshadanar in Golden Chariot: Depicts Lord Shiva in the form of a divine mendicant, highlighting renunciation and detachment.

Each of these processions is accompanied by Vedic chanting, bhajans, and the rhythmic beats of temple instruments, creating an atmosphere of intense devotion and grandeur.

Maha Rathotsavam – The Grand Chariot Festival

On the ninth day of the festival, the most anticipated event, the Maha Rathotsavam (Therottam or Chariot Festival), takes place. The temple town of Chidambaram witnesses thousands of devotees pulling five grand chariots carrying the processional deities.

The five chariots represent:

  1. Lord Nataraja and Goddess Sivagamasundari

  2. Lord Vinayaka (Ganesha)

  3. Lord Subramanya (Murugan)

  4. Chandigeswarar

  5. Additional processional deity

These chariots are intricately decorated with flowers, lights, and traditional motifs. Devotees enthusiastically pull the massive chariots through the four main streets surrounding the temple, signifying collective devotion and service to the divine.

Following the chariot procession, the deities are brought to the thousand-pillar mandapam inside the temple, where special pujas and rituals are performed, culminating in the final and most sacred event of the festival.

Aani Thirumanjanam and Aani Uthiram Darisanam

The tenth and final day of the festival is the most auspicious. The highlight of the day is the Maha Abhishekam (great ritualistic bathing) performed for Lord Nataraja. This takes place at around 3 AM, and it is believed that witnessing this Abhishekam bestows immense spiritual merit and divine grace upon the devotees.

Following the Maha Abhishekam, the Aani Uthiram Darisanam occurs at around 2 PM. This darshan is considered extremely sacred, and it is believed that on this day, the cosmic dance of Lord Nataraja is revealed to his ardent devotees. The entire temple resonates with devotion, chants of “Om Namah Shivaya,” and the presence of thousands of devotees immersed in divine bliss.

Symbolism and Spiritual Significance

  • Lord Nataraja’s Dance: Represents the eternal cycle of creation, preservation, and destruction. It is a cosmic dance that signifies rhythm, order, and divinity.

  • Vahanas and Processions: Each Vahana represents a different aspect of divinity, reinforcing the idea that Lord Shiva manifests in multiple forms to bless and guide his devotees.

  • Chariot Festival: Symbolizes the movement of the divine presence through the world and the participation of devotees in pulling the chariots signifies their journey toward divine consciousness.

  • Maha Abhishekam: Purification, renewal, and the ultimate surrender to Lord Nataraja’s grace.

Lesser-Known Facts about Aani Thirumanjanam

  • The festival is meticulously planned by the Dikshitars, a hereditary priestly community who have been the custodians of the Chidambaram temple for generations.

  • The rituals performed during Aani Thirumanjanam have been followed for centuries, with intricate details preserved through oral traditions and temple manuscripts.

  • The chariots used in the festival undergo periodic maintenance and restoration to preserve their grandeur.

  • The temple architecture, particularly the 1000-pillared hall, plays a crucial role in the festival, as it serves as a space for special rituals and darshan.

  • The spiritual energy generated during the festival is believed to have healing and transformative powers for devotees.

The Aani Thirumanjanam festival at Chidambaram is not just an event; it is a divine experience that connects devotees with the cosmic presence of Lord Nataraja. It is a celebration of spirituality, devotion, tradition, and divine grace. The festival encapsulates the essence of Shaivism and provides an opportunity for devotees to witness and participate in the divine dance of the Lord. The grandeur, rituals, and spiritual significance make this one of the most cherished festivals in Tamil Nadu, drawing devotees and seekers from far and wide to experience its divine splendor.