Agni Natchathiram May 2025: Celebrated for a complete 25 days in Tamil Nadu, Agni Nakshatram is a major festival devoted to the adoration of Lord Murugan. This colourful festival, which commemorates the Sun’s heavenly passage over the Krittika star, also called Agni Natchathiram, occurs in the hot month of May. The principal locations for the celebrations are well-known temples devoted to Lord Murugan, such as those at Tiruttani, Palani, and Tiruchendur.

To worship the god, unique ceremonies and festivities are planned during this period. Devotees still assemble to rejoice and ask Lord Murugan for favours even though the Agni Natchathiram festival falls during the hottest part of the summer in southern India, which is often seen as unfavourable.

See below for all the important information on the event’s start and finish dates, importance, and customs:

The beginning and ending dates of Agni Natchathiram in May 2025 Date of Start: Sunday, May 4, 2025

May 2025: Agni Natchathiram End Date: Wednesday, May 28, 2025

May 2025: Agni Natchathiram: Importance
For true followers of Lord Murugan, the God of War and the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, the Agni Nakshatram event has great significance. During this period, Lord Murugan, also known as Skanda, Kartikeya, or Subrahmaniam, is worshipped and fervently prayed for happiness and good fortune. In the hopes that his heavenly authority would provide them protection and good fortune, the devout pray to him for favours.

However, due of the intense heat, Agni Natchathiram is regarded as an undesirable period in certain places. During this period, people don’t start important events, travel, or do financial transactions. This is based on old traditions, which held that big operations should not be undertaken during periods of extreme heat. Devotees nevertheless enthusiastically and fervently adore Lord Murugan in spite of these misconceptions.

Rituals at Agni Natchathiram in May 2025
During Agni Natchathiram, a large number of Hindu devotees visit the Palani temple in Tamil Nadu to worship to Lord Murugan. Devotees make prayers and pleas for the Lord’s blessings at that period by performing the “Pradakshina” of the holy hill Giri Valam from sunrise to sunset. The hill is said to be teeming with medicinal plants that, by their lovely scent, promote excellent health and mental tranquilly.

During the Pradakshina, female pilgrims wear Kadamba flowers, which are said to be Lord Murugan’s favourite. The devotees pray to Lord Murugan before making their way around the hill in order to ask for his blessings of wealth and luck. Abhishekam of Lord Murugan’s idol is done daily with water during Agni Nakshatram. ‘Theertha’ is the later storage name for this hallowed water.

Devotees get this holy water on the last day, which they consider to be very lucky. Some followers even bring this sacred water to their homes, while others pour it into wells and temples in the hopes of gaining spiritual enlightenment and heavenly favours. Additionally, the Theertha is considered a sacred sacrifice that brings followers closer to the heavenly favour of Lord Murugan.