Masimagam, an important festival, is celebrated in
Karaikal of
Pondicherry. It falls on the full moon day of Tamil month Masi (between February and March).
During this festival, the deities from more than sixty temples in and around Pondicherry are brought in temple car to the seashore at Tirumalairayanpattinam, which is 6 km from Karaikal. An immersion ceremony is held on this occasion. After the ritual bath, the deities are taken back to their respective temples.
Prominent of the deities which take part in the festival is Sowriraja Perumal of Thirukannapuram village in Tamil Nadu. As per the local legend, Sowriraja Perumal is married to a woman from fishermen community. Hence, the full charge of this deity until the holy bath is undertaken by the fishermen in the area.
