விநாயகர் சதுர்த்தி

Vinayagar Chaturthi (விநாயகர் சதுர்த்தி) is Pillaiyar's day in Tamil houses — Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi, falling in Aavani or the first days of Purattasi. A small clay or bronze Pillaiyar is seated, offered kozhukattai and sundal, and kept. This is not the Maharashtrian or Gujarati visarjan festival. Most Tamil Nadu homes do not immerse the murti; the clay one is set aside or returned to earth quietly, the bronze one stays on the shelf. Iyer, Iyengar, Chettiar, and almost every Tamil Hindu house keeps some form of this day. Public holiday in Tamil Nadu. The Gujarati Ganesh Chaturthi page is a counterpart, not this page. In 2026 the date is Monday, 14 September.

Observances

1. Seating Pillaiyar

   A clay or bronze Pillaiyar is set facing east, with blades of arugampul (durva) and a red or yellow flower.

   Let a child set the grass and the flower. Tell them Pillaiyar is asked first, before any other work that week.

2. Kozhukattai and sundal

   Steamed kozhukattai — sweet poornam and often a savoury — with a sundal, offered first, then eaten.

   Roll kozhukattai together, or steam frozen ones and offer them before anyone eats.

Getting ready

• Confirm clay or bronze Pillaiyar, arugampul, and kozhukattai (fresh or frozen)

  home

  2d

• Seat Pillaiyar; offer kozhukattai and sundal; keep or quietly return the clay

  ritual

  0d

In the US

US Tamil temples hold a one-day Pillaiyar puja, not an eleven-day visarjan. Indian grocers sell clay faces and frozen kozhukattai. A bronze Ganesha already on the shelf is enough. If the office cannot give the Monday off, do the puja at dawn or after dinner on the 14th — do not move it to the weekend without naming that you moved it.