Ārdra Darśanam Mahotsavam at Cidambaram
<p>The annual Ārdra Darśanam Festival (Mahotsava in Sanskrit, Tiruvāturai in Tamil) is held at Cidambaram in honor of the Ārdra star. It falls during the longest night of the year, in the Tamil month of Mārkaḷi (December/ January). The constellation of Orion and surrounding stars is bathed in the soft glow of the full moon when it is high in the sky at Chidambaram. A thousand years ago, devoid of the present smog and light flares, the stars must have been even brighter in the tropical night sky. The festival, which is one of the two foremost events of the year (the other, called Āṇi, taking place in June/July), is believed to commemorate Śiva’s birthday in his form of Naṭarāja, the “King of Dancers.”</p>
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