This festival is also called as ‘Aandal Jayanti. It ‘ is a prime festival for Tamilians. This festival is dedicated to Goddess Andal,  who is an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi. Aadi Pooram is celebrated during the month of ‘Aadi’ in Tamil calendar that falls in the months of July-August in the English calendar.

Andal  is one among  the 12 Azhwars who are the most famous devotees of Lord Vishnu and authors of Naalayira Divya Prabhandham – “4000 verses in praise of LORD VISHNU”. One auspicious  day Periyalwar (one of the azhwars) found AndalL in his nandavanam (garden) near a Tulsi  plant. The  star  that day was  Pooram in the month of Aadi  so this day is celebrated as Andal’s birthday.

Andal wanted to marry Lord Ranganatha and She has composed a number of paasurams (devotional songs/poetry) in praise of Lord Ranganatha. Her paasurams are THIRUPPAVAI ( 30 Paasurams) and NACHIAR THIRUMOZHI (143 Paasurams).

Thiru Aadi Pooram is celebrated grandly at Sri vallipathur, the birth place of Aandal, situated in Tamizh Nadu near Thenkasi.  On the 10th day the Thirukalyanam (marriage) of Andal  and Lord Ranganatha is  celebrated.
It is a belief that if any  unmarried girls pray to Goddess Andal on the 10th day (i.e. THIRUKKALYANAM DAY), they will get married soon.

So we all celebrate this Thiruaadi Pooram festival by preparing and offering  sweets and praying to Andal..

On the day of Aadi Pooram festival, the women of the household get up early in the morning and start making the preparations. They decorate their house beautifully with kolam (The design infront of the home). Goddess Andal is fond of lotus flower, red color and Sweet (Kalkandu) rice. The women of the household make an elaborate meal for offering to the Goddess.

Special rituals are also  performed on this day that accompanied by playing the traditional music. The celebrations continue till late at night and then after the ‘aarti’ the prasadam is distributed among the devotees.

On this auspicious day, the devotees also read the ‘Thiruppavai’ and ‘Lalitha Sahasranamam’.

Let Us all celebrate the Aadi Pooram by celibrating Sri Andal and get blessed.