Thiruvoodal Festival is celebrated in favor of Lord Arunachaleswarar, on the day after '
Makar Sankranti' in the Tamil month of Thai (January), at Thiruvannamalai Temple in
Thiruvannamalai. Thiruvoodal is the holy quarrel between
Lord Shiva and
Goddess Parvati. Saint Sundarar makes efforts to reconcile their quarrel.
Often, this annual one-day festival falls on January 15th. After the 'Maha Deeparadhana' in the morning, the deity is brought to the 'Kedaya'. The idol is then carried, by forty people on their shoulders, to the mandapam outside the temple and a big umbrella is placed over the idol. The deity will be taken around the temple three times and in the evening 'Thiruvoodal' festival will be performed.
