‘Truly a wonderful experience’: Australian Consulate-General for South India attends Panguni festival in Tamil Nadu

Delighted to witness the joyful Panguni festival in #Mylapore this morning. The majestic hand pulled ‘Ther' chariot, colourful clothes and kolams, and all smelling beautiful with rich camphor and jasmine in the air. Truly a wonderful experience of #SouthIndia in #Chennai. pic.twitter.com/VMKSL48H2w

— Aus Consulate Chennai (@AusCGChennai) April 3, 2023

“Delighted to witness the joyful Panguni festival in #Mylapore this morning. The majestic hand pulled ‘Ther’ chariot, colourful clothes and kolams, and all smelling beautiful with rich camphor and jasmine in the air. Truly a wonderful experience of #SouthIndia in #Chennai,” read the tweet.

Twitter users were delighted to see the Australian Consulate-General enjoying the South Indian festival. A user commented, “Glad to see you enjoying the TN festival fervor.. May God bless you with a joyful life!”. Another user wrote, “That’s wonderful to see.” A third user wrote, “That’s the beauty of South India, rich in cultural traditions and being inclusive.”

pic.twitter.com/WyR1Nmz2tv

— Aus Consulate Chennai (@AusCGChennai) April 3, 2023

The Australian Consulate General’s office works for Australia’s interests in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and the Union Territories of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry.

The Kapaleeshwarar temple, a prominent Shiva temple in Chennai, is known for organising the Panguni festival between mid-March to mid-April. The nine-day festival begins with flag hoisting and on the seventh day, the Arubathimoovar festival is celebrated. During the celebration, a large procession of idols of 63 Nayanmars, saints who attained liberation from lord Shiva, follow the Kapaleeswarar, an avatar of lord Shiva and Karpagambal, an avatar of goddess Shakthi. The procession concludes with the marriage of the gods, as per the Tamil Nadu tourism website.