TranslateWhen: August/September
Vinayaka Chaturthi marks the birth of Lord Ganesha and is celebrated across Tamil Nadu with clay idols installed in homes, streets and temples. Families prepare kozhukattai as offering, and after one, three or more days of worship the idols are carried in procession and immersed in the sea, a river or a temple tank.
When
Fourth day of the waxing moon in Bhadrapada (August or September)
Where
Statewide; large processions in Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai
Duration
One to ten days depending on the household or pandal
Main highlight
Kozhukattai offerings and idol immersion processions
A clay Ganesha idol is installed on a decorated platform with arugampul grass, flowers and fruit. Special puja is performed with the recitation of Ganesha hymns. Kozhukattai, modakam and sundal are prepared as offerings and shared. Street pandals across cities install larger idols with community funding.
Immersion processions move through city streets with drumming, nadaswaram and dancing. In Chennai, immersions take place at Marina and Elliot's Beach under police supervision, and in Coimbatore and Madurai at designated tanks. Environmental campaigns in recent years have encouraged unbaked clay idols and natural colours.
Chennai's beach immersion evenings are the most spectacular public events, with large crowds and heavy traffic management. Temples such as Pillaiyarpatti in Sivagangai district and the Ganesha shrines of Chennai hold special worship and distribute prasadam. Sweet shops make kozhukattai in bulk during the days around the festival.
