Tamil Nadu Government Declares Thaipoosam Festival As Public Holiday

In a statement here he said, following requests from the people during his tour of various districts to declare a holiday for the festival as has been done in countries like Sri Lanka and Mauritius, the government favourably considered it and declared a holiday for Thaipoosam on January 28.

He also said orders had been issued to include Thaipoosam in the list of public holidays in the coming years.

Palaniswami said the festival was not only celebrated in Tamil Nadu, but also in neighbouring Kerala and in countries like Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, Mauritius and Indonesia with traditional gaiety and religious fervour.

As per Hindu mythology, Thaipoosam is a festival that symbolizes victory of good over evil. According to believers, the auspicious day commemorates the event when Goddess Parvathi gave Lord Murugan a Vel/spear to vanquish the evil demon Soorapadhman and his brothers. It is also commonly believed that Thaipoosam marks Murugan's birthday.

It is usually celebrated as a 10-day festival especially in temples where Murugan is the main deity.

Earlier, Thaipoosam was declared as a local holiday in pilgrimage towns of Palani and Thiruchendur.