Introduction
The hangover left by the French settlers, the Tamil connection and the influence of Rishi Aurobindo, works together on the cultural map of Pondicherry to see the flowering of a plethora of fairs and festivals of all shapes, size, color and faith, in the horizon of Pondicherry. The Villianur Temple car Festival is a very colorful festival and a major festival for both the devout and those in search of the true color of Indian traditional fests.
Time
On the full moon day in middle of May the Villianur Festival is celebrated. An exact date for the festival cannot be cited since it depends on the lunar cycle.
Activities
During the Villianur Temple Car Festival the decorated car of the Thirukamemswarara Kukilambal Temple is taken out in a procession to be pulled by hundreds of devotees. Devotees die for a touch of the holy carriage.
The Chariot has always had a special place in Indian mythology and history. The gods, the demons, the heroes and the kings all had a chariot and some of them with extra fittings to make the rival have a nice time out of the encounter. So the temple car festival is in a way celebrating the power, the martial prowess and also of course the generosity and kindness of the deity for his devotees.
In fact, the Villianur Temple Car festival is quite close to the legendary Ratha yatra of the Jagannath Temple of Puri when the temple deity is taken out in a majestic colorful procession.
Other Festivals in Pondicherry
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