ஆருத்ரா தரிசனம்

Arudra Darisanam (ஆருத்ரா தரிசனம்), also Thiruvathirai, is the day the Arudra (Thiruvathirai) nakshatra falls in Margazhi — Nataraja's darshan. Chidambaram is the named temple. Shaiva houses cook kali (a sweet jaggery-rice or wheat mash) and ezhukari kootu (a seven-vegetable stew) and offer them before anyone eats. In some years Arudra comes twice in the Gregorian year. In 2026 it fell on 3 January and comes again on 24 December. This calendar shows the next date, 24 December 2026. Both days are the same practice. This is not Deepavali and not Karthigai. It is a Shaiva food-and-darshan day inside Margazhi.

Observances

1. Kali and ezhukari kootu

   Sweet kali and a seven-vegetable kootu offered to Nataraja, then eaten as the day's meal.

   Count seven vegetables from what the grocer has. The number seven is the mark; the exact list is the house's.

2. Nataraja darshan

   A lamp before Nataraja — at home or at a temple that seats him. Chidambaram is the named shrine.

Getting ready

• Buy jaggery, rice or broken wheat, coconut, and seven vegetables

  food

  1d

• Cook kali and kootu; offer to Nataraja; eat

  ritual

  0d

In the US

Few US temples recreate the Chidambaram abhishekam; some Shiva temples do a special Nataraja alankaram. The kali and kootu at home are what most diaspora houses keep. Jaggery, broken wheat, and a bag of mixed vegetables from any store will do.