Festivals
are part and parcel of Hinduism and have been followed by the people for more
than 1500 years. Every Indian festival is unique and has a built-in
significance and meaning. The Mahamaham festival is celebrated every 12 years
with great fanfare and is important to all devout Hindus, particularly elderly
people. It occurs in the Tamil month of Masi (February–March) in the star of
Magam. The theerthavari event is considered the most sacred to take a holy dip
in the Mahamaham tank. From Astronomy point of view, when the planet Jupiter
passes over Leo on the day of the festival, it is believed; it will bring all
water bodies together and enrich the tank with minerals.
The
nine-day Mahamaham festival, also known as the 'Kumbh Mela of the south',
concluded at Kumbakonam on 22nd February 2016, with conduct of the most
important event 'theerthavari', which is main feature of the festival. Ritual
bath was given to the deities in the waters of 'Theerthavari' which was
witnessed by lakhs of people. Deities from 12 Shiva temples were taken in a
procession to the banks of the tank and pujas were performed before the
Theerthavari was held.
To
mark this occasion a Special Cover was released on Mahamaham Mahathiyam on 22nd
February 2016 at Kumbakonam (Special Cover approval no. TN/10/2016). The
special cover is priced at Rs. 100.
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