Arudra Darisanam

             Arudhra Special – December –January (Margazhi Month)

Thiruvathira or Thiruvathirai or Arudhra Darisanam  is a Hindu festival celebrated in the South India states of Kerela and Tamilnadu. Thiruvathirai(Arudhra) in Tamil means "sacred big wave", using which this universe was created by Lord Shiva about 132 trillion years ago. 

It takes place on the full moon in the tamil month of Margazhi (December–January) and this is also the longest night in a year . The cosmic dance of Lord Shiva represents five activities – Creation, Protection, Destruction, Embodiment and Release. In essence, it represents the continuous cycle of creation and destruction. This cosmic dance takes place in every particle and is the source of all energy. Arudra Darshan celebrates this ecstatic dance of Lord Shiva.^[17]

It is essentially a  Shaivite festival and celebrates the cosmic dance of Lord Shiva, which is represented by the Nataraja form Arudhra (Thiruvathirai in Tamil) signifies the golden red flame and Shiva performs the dance in the form this red-flamed light. Lord Shiva is supposed to be incarnated in the form of Lord Nataraja during the Arudra Darshan day

Most of the temples around the world with Lord Nataraja and Shiva^[ as deity perform the Arudhra Darshan. Neivedhyam (food for God) made for Lord Nataraja on that day is Thiruvathirai Kali.

There is special food called Thiruvadhirai kali made of Rice, Jaggery, Moong dhall, Coconut, Cardamom and Ghee with Thiruvathirai ezhu curry kootu which is made out of seven vegetables that is cooked and served on this day. They choose from Pooshanikai – pumpkin, Paranghikai – ash gourd, Vazhakkai - plantain, Pacha mochai field beans, Sarkaraivalli kizhangu – Sweet potatoe, Cheppan kizhangu - cloacassia, Urulai kizhangu - Potaoe, Katharikai- Brinjal  etc.