Once in a year during the month of October the temple organizes Navarathri festival with pomp and splendor. Navarathri and Vijayadasami are the festivals celebrated over a period of ten days. The first nine days constitute the Navarathri festival. Navarathri itself means nine nights (Nava means nine and rathri means night). The "Dassera" or "Vijayadasami" is the last and tenth day festival. The term "Dassera" is derived from the word for number ten i.e. Dasha (in Sanskrit).

In Sri Thendayuthapani Temple, the festival is celebrated with Lord Thendayuthapani (also called Murugan) as the main Hero. On the tenth day, Vijayadasami is celebrated by placing God (Urchavar - the idol which is carried around) in a Silver Horse and going on a city procession. Before beginning the procession the chief priest sends arrows to all six directions around a banana tree from his bow, which symbolizes the Lord killing the demon (Devil).

During the ten-day celebrations, the God is decorated beautifully and placed in the Alangara Mandapam (Function Hall) that is with in the temple premises. During the first nine days concerts are organized in which Indian music (Karnatic, Tamil, Hindustani, etc), dance and religious songs are played on the stage in front of the Alangara Mandapam. Everyday function is briefly described below.

Day 1 - Rajangam
Raja means king and angam means parts. So Rajangam means king and his government. This scene depicts the Lord Murugan who wore a saint look to be seen as a King holding scepter in his hand. He safeguards the humankind with the six parts of his government viz Army, Citizen, Finance, Ministry, Friendship and Defence.

Day 2 - VennaiThazhi
This scene portrays the Lord as a person who steals butter and cheese from the house of a shepherd. Cheese (white color) symbolizes our clean, pure heart, which the God likes from us.

Day 3 - Markandeyar
This scene depicts Lord Murugan as Lord Siva, who kicks Yama (God of Death) to safeguard Markandeyar. This represents a story in which fate can be won by mind and devotion. The story is: Yama came in front of Markandeyar, when the later was performing Siva pooja (prayer). Seeing Yama, Markandeyar hugs the Siva Statue Lord Siva appeared in front of him and saved him. (The name of the holy place where this incident is stated to have happened is Thirukkadaiyur in Tamilnadu, India). It is believed that people who go to Thirukkadaiyur and worship Lord Siva get his blessings for longevity.

Day 4 - Venuganam
Lord Murugan is seen as Kannan who plays the flute. The flute is a musical instrument made up of thin bamboo stick. All living creatures (Men, women, cows, goats, birds and trees) are fascinated by the music played by Lord Murugan.

Day 5 - Kannappa Nayanar
A true devotee of Lord Siva, Thinnappan, a hunter of the forest near Sri Kalahasti, prayed to him by preparing pork, tasted it and offered to God (Siva Lingam). On the sixth day he saw the God bleeding and he removed his eyeballs and pasted on the Siva Lingam (God Statue). Hence Thinnappan was given the name Kannappan (Kann in tamil means an eye) by Lord Siva. This illustrates the man’s devotion to God. Here Lord Murugan represents Lord Siva (Murugan’s Father)

Day 6 - Oonjal
Lord Murugan appears as Mother Goddess who swings in the heard of true devotees. This scene reflects Human beings who roam in between happiness and sorrow and obtain peace through prayer.

Day 7 - Pittuku Mann Sumandal
When the Vaigai river in Madurai was flooding the king ordered everyone to volunteer to bring sand (mann) to build a river bank to control the flood. Lord Siva became a coolie (manual worker) for an old woman called Vandhi who sells Pittu (sweet rice flour). Lord Siva got pittu as wage from the old woman for carrying out the orders from the king on behalf of the old woman. But, he slept after eating. The king saw him sleeping and gave him a canning punishment. Lord Siva gave a holistic appearance to the king. Here Lord Murugan represents Lord Siva.

Day 8 - Kalinga Narthanam
This scene illustrates Lord Kannan, who killed a devil kalinga, which was a five-headed snake on the Yamuna River and danced on it. Here Lord Murugan represents Lord Kannan.

Day 9 - Saraswathi Poojai
The scene depicts the Goddess of knowledge, Saraswathi who performs a prayer to Lord Siva.

Day 10 - Vijayadasami
Vijayadasami means a day of Victory. Lord Muruga is paraded in a silver horse, with bow and arrow. The Lord arrows a banana tree from his bow, which symbolizes killing the demon (Devil).

To view the Navarathri information in Tamil, please Click Here

For your viewing pleasure photographs of all the 10 days function is available in Multimedia Gallery under Navarathri Page. Click here to view them.