With the deities of five Divyadesams, Acharyas and Azhwars enshrined, the temple is a beehive of festivities round the year. Some highlights:
The month of Chitirai , which heralds the advent of the Tamil New Year, is marked by ten-day Brahmotsavam for Sri Parthasarathy. Also the jayanti of Sri Ramanujar (Tiruvadirai) is celebrated for ten days.
Vaikasi Sravanam ushers in ten-day celebration for Varadarajar . This is the month of Vasantotsavam for Thayar and Ranganathar. Nammazhwar is remembered on Vaikasi Visakham. Shukhla Paksha Chaturdasi is Nrisimha Jayanti . More often than not this day coincides with Garuda Sevai of Sri Varadar and Nammazhwar Satrumurai.
Aani witnesses Sri Narasimhar Brahmotsavam and the sprightly Summer Festival for seven days. Shukla Paksha Dasami is Satrumurai.
Aadi is dedicated to Sri Andal , her birth star Pooram celebrated in a grand manner. All Fridays of this month have an aura. Other significant events are Gajendra Moksham, Jyeshtabishekam and Tiruppavadai.
Aavani is the month in which Sri Krishna was born. Sri Jayanti is celebrated with great fanfare. Pavitrotsavam is another important day in the calendar, Pavitram applied on Shukhla Paksha Dasami.
Purattasi is the month of Dasara. Sri Vedavalli Thayar takes centre stage during Navaratri . The festival culminates on the tenth day, Vijayadasami that sees the procession of Sri Partha in full splendour. Sri Narasimhar has his outing on all Saturdays.
Aippasi brings with it the celebration of Manavala Mamuni and Deepavali on Chaturdasi. On Shukhla Pradamai is Annakoot Utsavam.
Kartigai is a blend of festive spirit and religious flavour. Deepam is the main festival. That night happens Thaila Kappu for Tirumangai Azhwar. Kaisika Puranam is read out on Kaisika Ekadasi day, Dwadasi shifting to the joyous mood with Vanabhojanam . On Pournami after Deepa festival, Thailakappu is applied to Sri Parthasarathy bringing the curtain down on Moolavar for a brief period until Vaikunta Ekadasi.
Margazhi (Dhanur) is dear to Krishna and Andal. On Shukhla Paksha Pradamai begins Pagal Pathu . Sri Partha is restored to His customary splendour on Vaikunta Ekadasi . For 45 minutes the Utsavar stops at Sorga Vaasal and listens to continuous chanting of Tiruvoi Mozhi, an event exclusive here.
On Shukhla Paksha Ekadasi begins Raappathu , fourth day celebrated as Hanumath Jayanti . Saatrumurai is for Nammazhwar.
Andal Nirattu Vizha is celebrated for nine days up to Bhogi, when her Tirukkalyanam with Sri Parthasarathy takes place.
Thai brings in its wake the harvest spirit and new hopes. Sankaranti is marked by Laksharchanai. Rathasaptami and Thai Poosam (Pournami) are grand occasions. Utsavar, decorated in Kaliya Mardana Tirukkolam goes in a procession beyond Big Street, changes into Kadir Alankaram and returns to the temple.
Maasi is the month of Float festival at Kairavini Pushkarani and Parthasarathy Davanotsavam for five days. Sri Nrisimhar and Varadar also witness Davanotsavam. A unique ritual is the wedding of Sri Vedavalli Thayar and Sri Ranganatha according to Vaidika procedure just as Bhrigu Maharishi performed the ceremonies all those centuries ago.
On one of the leisurely days, Tiru Ooral utsavam is scheduled. The Utsavar goes to Eekkadu Thangal, where there is a Mantap for the deity. He stays there overnight, and returns to the shrine next evening stopping at the Saidapet temple for a few hours.
Panguni Uthiram , of course, is an important festival, also called Pallava utsavam. The mirror studded Garudan on which Sri Ranga is borne is again not found in any other temple. Other significant events are the nine-day Sri Ramanavami festival. On one day in the month, laksharchanai for Sri Narasimhar is done.
It is a speciality of this temple that the worship of Acharyas and Azhwars is given the same importance as the deities.
(Source: Sri Parthasarathy Bhattachariar)
