Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Edappadi K Palaniswami has declared the Thaipoosam Festival which falls on the Pusya star in the 10th month of the Tamil Calendar (Thai Maasam) as a Public Holiday from this year. In an CMO statement he said, following requests from the people during his tour of various districts to declare a holiday for the festival as has been done in countries like Sri Lanka and Mauritius, Tamil Nadu state government favourably considered it and declared a public holiday for Thaipoosam on January 28. 

தமிழ்க் கடவுள் முருகப் பெருமானை சிறப்பித்து கொண்டாடப்படும் "தைப்பூசத் திருவிழாவை பொது விடுமுறை நாளாக அறிவிக்கவும், இனிவரும் ஆண்டுகளில் தைப்பூசத் திருவிழா நாளை பொது விடுமுறைப் பட்டியலில் சேர்க்கவும்" உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளேன். pic.twitter.com/WGOaT1IT2T

— Edappadi K Palaniswami (@CMOTamilNadu) January 5, 2021

The statement added that orders had been issued to include Thaipoosam in the list of public holidays in the upcoming years. Chief Minister said the festival was not only celebrated in Tamil Nadu, but also in neighbouring state Kerala and in countries like Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, Mauritius and Indonesia with traditional gaiety and religious fervour. 

Hindu mythology says, Thaipoosam is a festival that symbolizes victory of good over evil. According to believers, the auspicious day commemorates the event when Goddess Parvathi gave Lord Murugan a Vel/spear to vanquish the evil demon Soorapadhman and his brothers. It is also commonly believed that Thaipoosam is the Lord Murugan's birthday. Thaipoosam is usually celebrated as a 10-day festival especially in temples where Murugan is the main deity. 

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