Uriyadi Festival Calendar
The Uriyadi festival at Varagur is anchored to the Tamil lunar calendar, so its dates shift by a few weeks each year. This page gives the Gregorian dates for the principal days, computed from the standard Tamil panchangam.
How the dates are determined
The festival is anchored to two lunar events:
- Avani Avittam (also called Yajur Upakarma) — the full moon day of the Tamil month of Aadi or Avani, corresponding to Sravana Purnima.
- Krishna Astami (Janmashtami) — the eighth day of the dark fortnight (Krishna paksha) of the month of Bhadrapada.
At Varagur:
- The festival begins on Gayathri Japam Day — the day immediately after Avani Avittam.
- Uriyadi Utsavam falls on Krishna Astami.
- The next day is Rukmini Kalyanam.
- The day after is Bhakta Utsavam, which concludes the ten days of utsavam.
2025
Provisional — awaiting temple trust confirmation.
| Avani Avittam | Friday, 8 August 2025 |
|---|---|
| Gayathri Japam Day — festival begins | Saturday, 9 August 2025 |
| Uriyadi Utsavam (Krishna Astami) | Friday, 15 August 2025 |
| Rukmini Kalyanam | Saturday, 16 August 2025 |
| Bhakta Utsavam — festival concludes | Sunday, 17 August 2025 |
2026
Provisional — awaiting temple trust confirmation.
| Avani Avittam | Thursday, 27 August 2026 |
|---|---|
| Gayathri Japam Day — festival begins | Friday, 28 August 2026 |
| Uriyadi Utsavam (Krishna Astami) | Friday, 4 September 2026 |
| Rukmini Kalyanam | Saturday, 5 September 2026 |
| Bhakta Utsavam — festival concludes | Sunday, 6 September 2026 |
2027
Provisional — awaiting temple trust confirmation.
| Avani Avittam | Monday, 16 August 2027 |
|---|---|
| Gayathri Japam Day — festival begins | Tuesday, 17 August 2027 |
| Uriyadi Utsavam (Krishna Astami) | Wednesday, 25 August 2027 |
| Rukmini Kalyanam | Thursday, 26 August 2027 |
| Bhakta Utsavam — festival concludes | Friday, 27 August 2027 |
2028
Provisional — awaiting temple trust confirmation.
| Avani Avittam | Friday, 4 August 2028 |
|---|---|
| Gayathri Japam Day — festival begins | Saturday, 5 August 2028 |
| Uriyadi Utsavam (Krishna Astami) | Sunday, 13 August 2028 |
| Rukmini Kalyanam | Monday, 14 August 2028 |
| Bhakta Utsavam — festival concludes | Tuesday, 15 August 2028 |
What happens on each day
The ten days of the festival follow a regular pattern, with variation in the alankaram of Sri Venkatesa Perumal each day. Across the ten days you can expect:
- Gayathri Japam Day (Day 1) — opening rituals. Devotees observe Gayathri Japam after the previous day’s Upakarma.
- Days 2 through 7 — daily aradhana, Veda Parayanam of all four Vedas (Rig, Yajur, Sama, Atharva) by Sanskrit scholars, bhajans, and Divyanama Sankeerthanam by visiting Bhagavathars. Annadhanam for all devotees.
- Uriyadi Utsavam (Krishna Astami) — the marquee day. At midnight the Lord is taken in procession in the Vennai Thazhi alankaram from the sanctum down the village street to a mandapam by the Kudamurutti (Kalindi) river. Special thirumanjanam in the evening. The Uriyadi pot is broken near midnight in the procession in special silver-shield alankaram.
- Rukmini Kalyanam — the celestial marriage of Sri Rukmini with Sri Krishna is performed at Sri Venkatesa Perumal Kovil.
- Bhakta Utsavam — the festival concludes with the Bhakta Utsavam, in honour of the devotees.
Past Uriyadi festivals
- Uriyadi 2017 — Aug 8 to Aug 17, 2017. Uriyadi Utsavam Tue Aug 15.
- Uriyadi 2016 — Aug 19 to Aug 28, 2016. Uriyadi Utsavam Fri Aug 26.
- Uriyadi 2015 — Aug 30 to Sep 8, 2015. Uriyadi Utsavam Sun Sep 6.
- Uriyadi 2014 — Aug 11 to Aug 21, 2014. Uriyadi Utsavam Mon Aug 18.
- Uriyadi 2013 — Aug 21 to Aug 31, 2013. Uriyadi Utsavam Thu Aug 29.
- Uriyadi 2007 — photographs from the 2007 festival.
If you would like to receive the official invitation by post when it is published each year, or you would like to sponsor a day’s seva or annadhanam during the festival, please get in touch.
Frequently asked questions
What is Uriyadi?
Uriyadi is the Tamil name for the Janmashtami custom of breaking a clay pot (uri) hung high overhead to celebrate the child Krishna’s love of butter. At Varagur it is a ten-day festival at the Sri Venkatesa Perumal Kovil, anchored on the day after Avani Avittam (Yajur Upakarma).
When is Uriyadi at Varagur?
The festival begins on Gayathri Japam Day — the day after Avani Avittam — and continues for ten days. The Uriyadi Utsavam itself falls on the tenth day from the full moon of the month, around Krishna Astami. Specific Gregorian dates change each year with the Tamil calendar.
How is Uriyadi at Varagur different from Dahi Handi?
Both come from the same Krishna legend, but the customs are distinct. Dahi Handi is the Marathi observance, especially associated with Maharashtra. Uriyadi at Varagur is a temple festival woven into ten days of utsavams, with Veda Parayanam, bhajans, Rukmini Kalyanam, and Annadhanam organised by the temple trust.
Who organises Uriyadi at Varagur?
The hereditary trustees of the Sri Venkatesa Perumal Kovil, together with the families of the village and visiting devotees. Accommodation and meals during the festival are provided by the temple trust out of its revenues.