The Mangani festival celebration is celebrated in the Tamil month of Aani (June–July) lasting for about a month. Each day the Panchamurthi or the Five divine Gods idol are taken through each street of Karaikal, Tamil Nadu.
On the main day of the festival the huge idol of Lord Bikshatanar is taken through the streets. This is being celebrated in order to recognise the divine mother Ma Punithavati who was later came to be known as Ma Karaikkal Ammai, who has got a divine mango due to the grace of Lord Shiva.
Managani festival is a festival celebrated in Karaikal city every year in the Tamil month of Aani. It is celebrated in the memory Lord Bikshantar who will be provided food by Karaikal Ammaiyar, that is Amuthu Padayal in Tamil. In 2024, Mangani Festival was celebrated on June 21.
The celebration is celebrated in the Tamil month of Aani (June–July)lasting a month. Each day the Panchamurthi or the Five divine Gods idol are taken through each streets of Karaikal. On the main day of the festival the huge idol of Lord Bikshatanar is taken through the streets. On the same day, people of Karaikal throw Mangani or Mangoes from their roof towards the crowd.
Goodness of eating the Mango caught in the festival are:
The blessings of Lord Shiva is obtained.
Those who did not get child for long years give birth child.
In the 30 days each day is celebrated with orchestras, debates, bharathanatyam dance etc.
Karaikal Ammaiyar(6th Century AD) was one of the nayanmars amongst the 63 Nayanmars. Her birth name was Punithavathiyar. She was born at Karaikal. She was a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva.
She belonged to Chettiar Community, and she was married to a wealthy merchant from Nagapattinam.
One day her husband sent two mangoes to her, through a person, and asked her to keep it safely. After some time, a Shiva devotee asked for alms to her. She gave one of the mangoes to him, which was given by her husband. In the afternoon, his husband came to the house, and asked her to offer the two mangoes for his lunch. She prayed to Lord Shiva and by his grace, she got a mango, and she served the two mangoes to her husband. Due to its great taste, he has enquired her about the mango, and she told the truth. Without believing his wife’s words, he has asked her to produce one more mango. And due to the grace of Lord Shiva, she got one more mango and produced it to him.
Even today, every year during the tamil month of Aani on Pournami day in Karaikalammaiyar Temple, mangani thiruvizha festival will take place. Lot of Devotees will gather and celebrate the festival in a grand manner. Curd rice and mangoes are given to them as prasadam during the festival period. The festival will be celebrated in a joyful mood by the devotees for several days.
“OM SREE KARAIKAL AMMAIYE NAMAHA”
“OM NAMAH SHIVAYA”
WRITTEN BY
R. HARISHANKAR