Aadi Perukku– Festival for Growth and Prosperity

Aadi Perukku festival is celebrated in Tamil Nadu in the month of Adi, which is mid-July to mid-August. It is considered the time to connect to the Goddess or mother nature and thank her for the resources. In the festival, people majorly celebrate the 18th day of this month as it is considered the most auspicious time when sacred energy manifests in the form of water.

 

Since water is the prime source of life and all agriculture is possible, this festivity is essential for the farmers. The day marks the beginning of the monsoon, where the water level in the rivers starts to rise.

 

It is also called the time of fertility, where the dried-up water bodies regain life and become a water reservoir due to the monsoon. Thus for farmers, this is a life-giving event without which life won’t be possible on earth since water is the major source of life for every living being. 

 

Additionally, the day is considered significant by the newly-wed couples too. On the day, they approach any ghat of the Kaveri river and worship her to seek blessings in their marital life. Such married couples never go out of prosperity, and they get sanctified by the Goddess.

 

This is the time where farmers begin their farming activities, such as seeding the plants and sowing. This is the first step toward growing crops to yield them later when they are fully mature. Astrologically, this is the day when Sun transits into the water sign Cancer, the most nurturing zodiac sign.

 

Aadi Perukku Festival

 

The day marks the beginning of the monsoon, which brings the raising of water levels in water bodies. Hence every water reservoir is worshipped on the day and considered significant to which people pay respect. The married women and girls participate in worshipping river Kaveri as it is the major source of water for farming in Tamil Nadu.

 

However, rituals are performed on the banks of several significant rivers such as Ganges, Godavari, Narmada, Krishna, Yamuna, other than Kaveri. Since this is a significant festivity of Tamil Nadu, the real fervor and enthusiasm can only be seen there.

 

Women prepare different dishes of rice and offer them to the Goddess along with fruits and flowers. They also worship the river with turmeric, betel leaves, and other pooja samagari or material. Different varieties of rice are made, and it is also the specialty of Aadi Perukku. People prepare dishes like curd rice, tamarind rice, coconut rice, lemon rice, jaggery rice, and more.

 

On the day, friends and families come together to celebrate the festival and to rejoice in the delicious dishes. They all gather at the bank of Kaveri and enjoy the festive mode, which seems to remain all around.

 

Mulaiparim is a ritual which people in the people of the village on this day. They sprout the nine types of grains in a clay pot or earthen pots. On the day of Aadi Perukku, people take these pots along to the river Kaveri and merge the contents of the pot into the river. It is considered a tribute that people pay to Goddess Kaveri to express their gratitude. They also offer prayers to the Goddess for providing them sufficient rain and fertility.

 

This is how the day of Aadi Perukku is considered very auspicious, not just for farmers but for everyone. For example, young couples approach the river and offer their prayers to the river. Worshipping river sanctifies the young couple with marital harmony and prosperity in their life. 

 

There is a mythological story as well, according to sacred scriptures. Once Goddess Parvati prayed to Shiva to sanctify her to become able to see Shiva and Vishnu together. On the day of Aadi Perukku, Lord Shiva granted her the wish and came in the avatar of Sankara Narayana. This story makes the day even more auspicious, and people seek the divine blessings of Lord Shiva and Vishnu along with the Goddess Kaveri.

 

Worshipping the Goddess and seeking their sanctification provides a human with wealth and prosperity, which let him live comfortably in this material world.