Begins on the first lunar day after the new moon of Aippasi (October–November), often the day after Deepavali.
·
Runs six days, to the Sashti tithi.
·
Day six is Surasamharam, the enactment of the defeat of Surapadman.
·
At many temples, day seven is Thirukalyanam, the marriage.
·
The Kanda Sashti Kavasam is widely recited through the six days.
Of all the vows in Murugan devotion, this is the most widely kept. For six days in the month of Aippasi, beginning the day after the new moon, many devotees fast, visit the temple and recite the Kanda Sashti Kavasam, which takes its name from this festival.
The fast takes many forms. Some take no food during the day; some take only milk or fruit; some take one meal. There is no single rule, and families and temples keep their own customs.
The six days lead to Surasamharam. At Tiruchendur, on the evening of the sixth day, the defeat of Surapadman is enacted on the shore before one of the largest crowds of the Tamil year, and many break their fast afterwards.
Many temples then celebrate Thirukalyanam, the divine marriage, on the seventh day. The order is the order of the story: the war, and then the wedding.
The app's calendar carries each year's dates, so you can see when the six days begin.
Before you take this on
·
Fasting is a personal vow and never a requirement. Children, older people, anyone pregnant, and anyone with diabetes or another medical condition should choose a gentle form, or none, and speak to a doctor first. Many devotees keep the vow through prayer and restraint rather than going without food.
WHAT THIS RESTS ON
Living practice
The six-day observance is living practice, timed by the lunar calendar. The battle it leads to is the Kanda Puranam's, and Surasamharam at Tiruchendur is that temple's tradition.
What people actually do, at temples and at home. Customs vary between families, regions and temples, and no single form is the correct one.