Thiruvathira

The day Parvati's austerities succeeded and Shiva accepted her, their first meeting. In the Tamil form, Arudra Darshan marks Shiva's cosmic dance, the ananda tandava, and is the great day at Chidambaram.

Kerala women fast, bathe before dawn, and perform Thiruvathirakali, a circular dance around a lamp with songs for Shiva and Parvati. An ettangadi of eight tubers is prepared. Unmarried women keep it for a good husband, married women for their husbands' long life. In Tamil Nadu, the Nataraja at Chidambaram is bathed and processed.

Thiruvathira puzhukku, a dish of eight root vegetables, and koova payasam. No rice for the fast in some households.

Kerala's version is a women's dance festival; Tamil Nadu's Arudra Darshan is a temple event centred on Nataraja, particularly Chidambaram. Same nakshatra, quite different observance.