Sri Rama Rajyotsavam is the day of Sri Rama Pattabhishekam during when Lord Sri Ram was crowned. According to Ramayana, Lord Sri Ram was crowned on Chaitra Shukla Panchami, the fifth day in bright half of Chaitra month. In 2010, Sri Rama Rajyotsavam or Sri Rama Pattabhisheka dinotsavam date is March 20. It is observed as one of the rituals in Sri Rama Navami utsav.
Lord Sri Ram and Goddess Sita are worshipped during Sri Rama Pattabhisheka utsavam. Sri Rama Navami festival is celebrated just 4 days after this Utsav.
Karadaiyan Nombu, or Karadayan Vritham, also known as Karadayan Savitri Vritham is a vritham dedicated to Goddess Shakti or Kamakshi. It is observed mainly in Tamil Nadu on the last day in Masi month (February – March). Karadaiyan Nombu 2010 date is March 14. Married women observe the vritham for marital bliss and unmarried girls worship the Goddess to be blessed with best husband. The vrata is performed in honour of Sathi Savitri who fought with Yama and got her husband’s life back.
In 2010, the best time or auspicious time or shubha muhurtham for wearing sacred thread or Nombu Charadu during Karadayan Nombu is 8:15 to 9:15 in the night on March 14. Women also observe fast during the day. They break their fast between the above mentioned times on March 14, 2010.
Panguni Uthiram is one of the important Tamil festivals. It is celebrated during Panguni masam or Tamil month of Panguni (March – April) during Uthiram nakshatra day. Panguni Uthiram 2010 date is March 29. Usually this festival falls during the Full Moon day or Pournami. The major event during the festival in Tamil Nadu temples is Shiva Parvathi Kalyanam, the celestial wedding of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi.
Panguni Uthiram festival is mainly dedicated to Lord Shiva, Parvathi, and Lord Murugan. Special pujas are observed in all Murugan temples in Tamil Nadu. Float festivals are the most common rituals observed during Panguni Uthiram in most of the temples in the state.
Ayyappa Jayanthi is also celebrated in Ayyappa temples in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
Meena Sankranti or Meena Sankramanam is the day during which sun transits into Meena Rashi or Pisces zodiac. In 2010, Meena Sankranti date is March 14th. It begins on 14th March and continues even on 15th. Meena Sankranti marks the beginning of Meenam masam in Malayalam calendar. Meenam is the last month in Malayalam religious calendar Kollavarsham.
Mina Sankranti is observed as a festival in Orissa. Mesha Sankranti marks the beginning of Orissa New Year.
Chaitra Purnima or Maha Chaitri, the Full Moon day in Chaitra month, is a very auspicious day with its spiritual significance and importance for various pujas. Chaitra Poornima 2010 date is March 30. Hanuman Jayanti is the popular festival celebrated on Chaitra Pournami. This festival is mainly observed in Maharashtra, Goa, and some parts of Andhra Pradesh. Hanuman Vijayotsavam is also celebrated on Maha Chaitri.
Chitragupta Vratam or Chitragupt Puja is another important vow celebrated on Chait Purnima day. This puja is dedicated to Chaitragupta, accountant in Lord Yama’s asthana. Chitragupt Puja is also observed as Dawat Puja on Bhai Dhuj.
Pathala Vratam is another vrata observed on Chait Poornima day especially in Andhra Pradesh and some parts of Karnataka.
Chaitra Parva is a tribal festival celebrated mainly on Chait Purnima in Koraput region of Orissa and some parts of Bihar.
In Tamil Nadu on Chaitra Pournami 2010, Panguni Uthiram festival is celebrated. This is one of the major festivals of Tamil Nadu.
