Aarudra Darshanam 2021

Aarudra Darshanam, also called Thiruvathirai, is the most widely celebrated of the six annual Abhishekam days observed for Lord Nataraja at the Chidambaram Temple, together known as Sri Nataraja Abhishekam. It falls in the sacred Tamil month of Margazhi (Dhanurmasa), on the day Ardra nakshatra rules sunrise — or, in a kshaya (short) occurrence, covers the sacred hours just before dawn instead — while the Sun transits Dhanu rashi.

The day commemorates Lord Shiva's manifestation as Nataraja, the cosmic dancer, and is celebrated at Chidambaram with a grand pre-dawn abhishekam and procession of the deity, drawing devotees from across South India. Thiruvathirai is also observed in homes with the preparation of Thiruvathirai Kali, a traditional sweet dish offered on this day.

Unlike a shorter duration check applied elsewhere, Aarudra Darshanam requires only that Ardra nakshatra be present at sunrise (or cover the pre-dawn hours) — no additional post-sunrise duration threshold applies.