Festivals In Tamil Nadu

The Hindus in Ceylon who are mostly Tamils celebrate their national festivals in the same manner as the people in Tamil Nadu.

Thaipongal (January 13 or 14) - The Tamil New Year :

The annual festival the "Thaipongal", is also the time for the householder to cast away his pots and pans and to get new ones. After the wet months of October, November and December, the householder renovates his house. It is similar to the spring cleaning in some temperate countries. The farmer, after seeing the first ears of corn in his fields, celebrates a thanks-giving ceremony in honour of the sun-god. He as the priest and his wife as the priestess, prepare their offerings of milk-rice amidst the din of lighted crackers. They offer their salutations to the sun-god for giving them the rains and for ripening their corn. A spirit of genial comradeship prevails amongst the whole community. The following day is the Paddipongal in honour of the cattle which has helped the farmer and his family throughout the year. On this occasion the cows and bulls get a holiday.

Maha Sivarathiri (February/March):

The Maha Sivarathiri is the most auspicious of the "Punnyakalams". It mostly falls in the ninth of Masi (February--March). The day is dedicated to fasting and prayer throughout the night in honour of Lord Siva. Special "poojas" and services are conducted in temples right through the night. Sacred scriptures are read and interpreted. Devotional songs are sung to music. The devotees end their vigil by bathing in a sacred river or spring.
In ancient Ceylon the temple was the pivot of the social life of the people. Religion, education and art had their main inspiration from these centres. Hindu temples in Ceylon as in South India are the expression in stone and brick of the profound thoughts embodied in the Saiva Siddhanta philosophy. The ceremonies and festivals at these centres of worship demonstrate the unfolding of this philosophy.... All rites and all modes of worship serve one purpose that is to help the individual to lead a "Divine Life" and attain salvation (moksha).

Adi AmAvasai (July/August New Moon) :

The New Moon in the month of 'Adi' is also the last day of the festival at Mavittapuram Kandaswamy Temple. In the early hours before sunrise an insignia of the presiding deity is taken in procession with the beating of drums and the playing of music to the shores of Keerimalai for the water-cutting ceremony.