Theni, Veerapandi Festival & Kuchanoor

Theni District a Nature’s beauty with the Spicy Green Ornaments, Historical Temples and famous water falls. Theni is one of the south-western districts of TamilNadu state, theni district is a land of Grapes production.  Theni district is surrounded by Western Ghats.

The district is divided into two natural divisions: The hilly areas constituted by parts of the three taluks Periyakulam, Uthamapalayam and Andipatti with thick vegetation and perennial streams from the hills on the western side and Cumbum valley which lies in Uthamapalayam taluk.

Veerapandi Festival

Veerapandi is a small village situated on the banks of Mullai Rivar in Theni.  Sri Gowmari amman temple and Sri Kanneeswara Mudayar temple are famous in this village.  Veerapandi festival is being celebrated for 15 days during the Tamil month “Chitrai” (May month) every year in a grand manner. The temple is 200 years old.

Kuchanoor

Kuchanoor is a small village near theni district, Suyambu Sani bagavan temple is situated in this village. Another temple is at Kuchanoor, 20 km from Theni, near Madurai. The Lord is seen in swayambhu (self-appeared) form, the name of the town being derived from Kubjan, one of Shani’s names (Kubjanoor) and is commonly called kuchchanoor. Here there is a special guru bhagavan’s shrine which is facing the north, the specialty is that the Prasad is first offered to the crows and only after it will be the Prasad given to the devotees. If the crows reject the Prasad, then once again it is offered to lord shani and then it is offered to the crows, now they eat the prasad. Here the deity is in the form of a swuyambhu lingam smeared with saffron colored mix called the Sendooram {in tamil}. The deity has six eyes, and a very graceful appearance. Once you are in his presence you will be removed from all your troubles and problems.

Important Festivals in Theni

• The Ramzan peru naal Thozhuhai at Uthamapalayam in Theni is a very famous for the district.
• The celebration of Gowmariyamman temple festival at Veerapandi during the month of May,
• Veerappa Ayyanar festival at Theni,
• Kamatchi Amman festival at Devadhanapatti and
• Saneeswaran Temple festival at Kuchanoor are the most important festivals of the district.
• Theni district is known for its brilliant celebration of Pongal, which is considered to be one of the most important festivals of Tamil Nadu. Pallavarayanpatti is very famous for its Jallikattu during the Pongal festival.
• Another important festival is Chitra Pournami festival, which is celebrated at Sri Mangala Devi Kannagi temple, on the Western Ghats near Gudalur during the month of May.

Places of interest

1. Vaigai Dam. (20 km from Theni)
2. Suruli falls. (50 km from Theni)
3. Meghamalai Hill. (67 km from Theni)
4. Bodi Mettu Hill. (45 km from Theni)
5. Kumbakarai Falls. (24 km from Theni)
6. Sothuparai Dam. (24 km from Theni)
7. Shanmuganathi Dam. (50 km from Theni)

Specialty in Theni

Theni is a fast-growing town noted for its fruits and vegetables, especially Grapes.  Grapes are available in a throw away price in Theni.

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