Durga Saptashati Adhyay 1.24
Chennai Temples for Navaratri Festival… Temples to visit in Chennai city during Navaratri festival 2025..
In temples of Tamil Nadu, Navaratri is celebrated for Durga’s dwelling in each temple. The temples are decorated, ceremonial lamps are lit, and Vedic chantings are performed.
Navaratri has been a historic tradition within Tamil Nadu, with Lakshmi, Saraswati, and Durga goddesses as the focus. Like the rest of India, the festival has been an occasion for performance arts, particularly Hindu temple dances such as Bharatanatyam and Mohiniyattam. Major palaces, community centres, and historic temples have embedded dance halls. For example, the Padmanabhapuram Palace built about 1600 CE has had a large dance hall with intricately carved pillars, a structure entirely made of stone. This dance hall has traditionally been known as Navaratri Mantapa. The festivities begin with Vedic chants inaugurating the dances and other ceremonies. Other Tamil Hindu temples, such as those associated with Sri Vaishnavism, also celebrate the Navaratri festivities.
In the below temples of Chennai, Navaratri festival is celebrated with much joy, perseverance, devotion, dedication and satisfaction.
Kapaleeswarar Temple, Mylapore
Sri Kapaleeswarar Temple, Mylapore has put out its Navaratri programme to be held in October. Daily, the deity of ambal will have a distinct alankaram to reflect the celebration of the day.
Parthasarathy Temple, Triplicane
Navaratri is celebrated over nine nights, dedicated to the Mother Goddess. The temple hosts various cultural events, including music and dance performances, drawing a diverse crowd of devotees and art enthusiasts.
Sri Marundeeswarar Temple, Thiruvanmiyur
Marundeeswarar Temple is a temple dedicated to Hindu deity Shiva, located in Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai adjacent to the beach of Bay of Bengal. It is one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams where two of the most revered Nayanars (Saivite Saints), Appar and Tirugnana Sambandar, have glorified the temple with their verses during the 7th century CE. Navaratri is wonderfully celebrated in this temple.
Arupadai Veedu Murugan Temple, Besant Nagar
Arupadai Veedu Murugan temple started its construction in 1995 and was completed by 2002. The Aru Padai veedu Murugan Temple is located in Kalakshetra Colony in Besant Nagar, Chennai and is dedicated to Lord Muruga. The temple consists of all six lord muruga.
Here Lord Muruga temples are placed as:
The Swamimalai temple is at the northeast view, the Tiruchendur at east view, the Pazhamudirsolai and the Tirupparankundram at south view, the Palani at west view and the Tiruttani in the northwest view. The Mahavallabha Ganapati temple is in the centre. We can visit this temple during Navaratri festival days by enjoying the chill weather prevailing in the Besant Nagar Beach. We could also have an opportunity to taste the tasty Sundal varieties offered by the temple authorities.
Chennakesava Perumal Temple, George Town
Chennakesava Perumal Temple is a Hindu temple situated in the George Town neighbourhood of Chennai city, Tamil Nadu, India. It is dedicated to Chenna Kesava Perumal. There is the nearby Chenna Malleeswarar Temple. They are twin temples. While I was in Chennai I have visited this temple for several times, and this temple takes up a majestic look during the time of Navaratri festival days.
Sri Ayyappan Guruvayurappan Temple, Nungambakkam
Mahalingapuram Ayyappan Temple or Mahalingapuram Ayyappan – Guruvayurappan Temples is an Ayyappan Temple located at Mahalingapuram in the neighbourhood of Nungambakkam. The Ayyappan devotees who wish to visit Sabarimala Temple in Kerala follow heritage fasting procedures for 41 days from the first day of Tamil month Karthigai. In this manner, the devotees from Mahalingapuram and its surrounding areas start the procedures after worshipping Ayyappan in this Mahalingapuram Ayyappan temple. We could also witness various cultural programmes at this temple especially during Navaratri festival days.
Vadapalani Murugan Temple, Vadapalani
Vadapalani Andavar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Muruga. It is located in Vadapalani, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It was renovated in the 1920s and a Rajagopuram was built during that time. The temple has grown in popularity, due to the patronage given by Murugan devotees. Lord Murugan can be seen decorated in various Alankarams during important festivals like Navaratri.
Vedapureeswarar Temple, Thiruverkadu
Vedapureeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva, located in Thiruverkadu, . Shiva is worshipped as Vedapureeswarar, and is represented by the lingam. His consort Parvati is depicted as Balambigai. The presiding deity is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the Nayanars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam. Various Vedic Pundits would present during Navaratri days and they would chant the divine Mantras.
Ekambareswarar Temple, Kanchipuram
Ekambareswarar Temple (Ekambaranathar Temple) is a temple dedicated to superior god Shiva, located in Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu. It is one of the temples associated with the five elements, the Pancha Bhoota Stalas, and specifically the element of earth, or Prithvi. Shiva is worshiped as Ekambareswarar or Ekambaranathar or Rajlingeswaram, and is represented by the lingam as Prithvi lingam. His consort Parvati is depicted as Elavarkuzhali. Here Navaratri festival would be celebrated wonderfully.
Karaneeswarar Temple, Saidapet
Karaneeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple located in the neighborhood of Saidapet in Chennai. It is dedicated to Shiva. This is an ancient Temple and the Goddess is known as “Swarnambika” (The Golden Mother). Apart from this, there are separate shrines for Lord Ganapathi, Lord Karthikeya and other Parivara Devtas. This temple is located next to the Saidapet Railway station. Navaratri festival is celebrated in this temple in a grand manner.
“OM”
COMPILED BY
R. HARISHANKAR