Venue
Nallur, Jaffna, Northern Province, Sri Lanka
{{item.title}}
Nallur Festival, Jaffna guide
Chariot day at Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil.
In short
The Nallur festival in Jaffna runs 25 days, estimated at about 7 August to 1 September 2027 with the chariot day around 30 August, pending temple confirmation. It suits travellers keen on Tamil Hindu temple culture in northern Sri Lanka. Daily processions circle the temple, and Ther draws the largest crowd from dawn, so arrive early.
For 25 days each August or September, the Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil in Jaffna, the most important Hindu temple in northern Sri Lanka, holds its annual festival for Lord Murugan. Processions circle the temple daily. The 2027 dates are an estimate for now: about 7 August to 1 September, with the chariot festival around 30 August.
Tens of thousands of Tamil Hindus come, from across the island and from the diaspora. The biggest crowd turns out for Ther, the chariot day, when devotees haul a huge chariot through the temple streets from dawn.
–/5
No reviews yet
Been to this event? Your review helps other travellers.
Key Facts & Stats:
Ends: Wednesday, 1 September 2027
Where: Jaffna, Sri Lanka
Venue: Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil
Held: Every year
Type of event: Cultural Events, Religious Festivals
Currency: Sri Lankan rupee (LKR, Rs)
Time zone: Sri Lanka Standard Time, UTC+5:30
Language: Sinhala, Tamil
Map
Getting around
Hotels near the venue fill up around the event dates.
How the dates follow the flag hoisting and Tamil calendar
Everything is counted from the flag hoisting (kodiyetram), and the dates follow the Tamil calendar, so they move each year. In 2022 the festival began on 2 August and the chariot day came on 25 August. The 2026 festival ran later; the Northern Province gave a holiday for its chariot day on 9 September.
The pattern points to a start around 7 August in 2027. The temple announces the real dates a few weeks before the flag goes up.
Flag hoisting, chariot day and other key days
- Kodiyetram (day 1)
- the holy flag is raised. By a centuries-old custom, the flag cloth arrives in a small chariot from one family's home.
- Manjam (day 10)
- the Manjam chariot procession.
- Suriyotsavam, day 19
- the sun festival, with a dawn procession.
- Ther (day 24)
- the great chariot day. Murugan and his consorts Valli and Devasena sit on a silver throne made in 1900, high on the chariot.
- Theertham, on day 25
- the deities are bathed in the temple pond. The flag comes down that evening.
- Thirukalyanam
- on day 26, a re-enactment of Murugan's sacred wedding.
On ordinary days the deity goes round the inner courtyard at midday and the outer streets in the evening, carried on a different vahanam (vehicle) each time.
Temple dress code for men and women
- Men take their shirts off before entering the temple. Many wear a veshti, a white wrap.
- Women wear saris or other modest clothing that covers shoulders and legs.
- Shoes stay outside.
- During processions, move with the crowd and keep clear of the chariot route. Ask before photographing anyone at prayer.
Reaching Jaffna by train or plane, and where to stay
Jaffna is 396 km north of Colombo. The Yal Devi is one of several daily trains between Colombo and Jaffna railway station, and Jaffna International Airport has flights to Chennai and Tiruchirappalli in India. From Jaffna town, Nallur is a short tuk-tuk ride.
Rooms go quickly around the chariot day, so book early. For the rest of the island, see our guide to places to visit in Sri Lanka. Earlier in the summer, Tamil Hindus make the long Pada Yatra walk to Kataragama, and Kandy stages the Kandy Esala Perahera.
What happens on the day
- Day 1
Kodiyetram
The flag hoisting opens the festival.
- Daily
Vahanam processions
Lord Murugan is taken round on a different vehicle each day: the inner courtyard at midday, the surrounding streets after dark.
- Day 10
Manjam
A key procession day.
- Day 19
Dawn sun festival
An early-morning ceremony.
- Day 24
Ther
Devotees haul the huge chariot carrying Murugan, Valli and Devasena on a silver throne dating from 1900. The most crowded day; arrive early.
Etiquette and dress
Dress
Men take off their shirts before entering, and many wear a white veshti; women wear saris or other modest clothing covering shoulders and legs.
Shoes
Leave them outside the temple.
Photography
Ask permission before photographing anyone at prayer.
Processions
Follow the flow of people and keep clear of the chariot route.
Booking once the temple publishes its schedule
The temple normally publishes its schedule a few weeks before the flag hoisting, and that is the moment to book. Travellers touring further around the island can find more ideas in our Sri Lanka travel guide.
Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil and the festival for Lord Murugan
Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil is the leading Hindu temple of Sri Lanka's north, and its festival honours Lord Murugan, drawing tens of thousands of Tamil Hindus from the island and the diaspora. On ordinary festival days the deity is taken round on a different vahanam, or vehicle, each day: the inner courtyard at midday and the surrounding streets after dark.
Key days include the Manjam procession on day 10, the dawn sun festival on day 19, and Ther on day 24, when devotees haul a huge chariot carrying Murugan, Valli and Devasena on a silver throne dating from 1900.
Getting there
To Sri Lanka
Most international travellers arrive at Colombo's Bandaranaike International Airport; see Dhaka to Colombo and Bangkok to Colombo flights, and our Sri Lanka visa page.
Colombo to Jaffna
Jaffna is 396 km north. The Yal Devi is one of several daily trains to Jaffna railway station.
From India
Jaffna International Airport has flights to Chennai and Tiruchirappalli.
To the temple
Nallur is a short tuk-tuk ride from Jaffna town.
Where to stay during the festival
Rooms in Jaffna fill quickly around the chariot day. Reserve as soon as the temple publishes its schedule.
Weather and what to pack
August falls in the Jaffna peninsula's dry season, which runs from February to August before the wet season sets in from September. Expect hot, sunny days.
Carry water and a hat for long hours outdoors on procession days.
Worth packing
- A white veshti (men) or modest clothes covering shoulders and legs
- Slip-on footwear
- Water and a hat
Car hire in Jaffna
Airport transfer to Nallur Festival, Jaffna
Met at arrivals and driven door to door to Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil.
Restaurants and food in Sri Lanka
Places to eat in Sri Lanka before or after the celebrations.
Cafe Chill
Main Street (Ella Passara Road), Ella, Badulla District, Sri Lanka
Cuisine:Sri LankanInternational
- Dine-in
- Bar
The Gallery Café
2 Alfred House Gardens, Colombo 00300, Sri Lanka
Cuisine:InternationalSri Lankan
- Dine-in
Upali's by Nawaloka
65 C W W Kannangara Mawatha, Colombo 00700, Sri Lanka
Cuisine:Sri Lankan
- Dine-in
Ministry of Crab
Old Dutch Hospital Complex, 4 Hospital Street, Colombo 00100, Sri Lanka
Cuisine:SeafoodSri Lankan
- Dine-in
Contribute:
Recently viewed events
Others of this kind you opened on this device, so you can get back to them quickly.
Travelers are asking
No questions yet about Nallur Festival, Jaffna. Ask the community or our travel team, and the answer will show here once it is published.
Be the first to ask
Our team answers questions here
Explore Sri Lanka
Other festivals around the same time
Festivals held in the same weeks, if you want to plan more than one.
02
Jul, 2027
Jul, 2027
Cultural Events, Religious Festivals, Parade
Kataragama, Sri Lanka
06
Aug, 2027
Aug, 2027
Cultural Events, Religious Festivals, Parade
Kandy, Sri Lanka
10 photos
30
Aug, 2027
Aug, 2027
National Day, Parade
Putrajaya, Malaysia
Explore Sri Lanka
More events and festivals in Sri Lanka
Festivals and events across Sri Lanka, with dates, venues and ticket details where available.
18
Jan, 2027
Jan, 2027
Cultural Events, Religious Festivals, Parade
Colombo, Sri Lanka
12
Apr, 2027
Apr, 2027
Cultural Events, Folk Festival
Sri Lanka
18
May, 2027
May, 2027
Cultural Events, Religious Festivals
Colombo, Sri Lanka
17
Jun, 2027
Jun, 2027
Cultural Events, Religious Festivals
Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka
Save time: create a trip and get offers from locals
Tell us where and when you want to go, and local travel experts send you offers for your trip.
1 Create a trip
2 Get offers from locals
3 Pick the one you like
Create a trip
Need help?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Prices & payment
No. Entry to the temple and festival is free for all visitors who follow the dress code. Donations are welcome at the temple office, and you can buy an archanai (offering) ticket and a tray of fruit and flowers from stalls nearby if you want a puja done. Keep small notes for these, as change can be hard to find on busy days.
General
Photography inside the temple is not allowed. You can photograph processions in the streets, but ask before photographing devotees, especially those fulfilling vows.
The temple is known across the Tamil world for starting every puja and procession at exactly the published time, a discipline locals are proud of. Check the day's schedule at the entrance and arrive at least 20 minutes early, because nothing waits for latecomers.
An earlier Nallur temple was destroyed by the Portuguese in 1624, on a site now occupied by St James' Church. The present temple was built in the 18th century under Dutch rule by Ragunatha Maapaana Mudaliyar; sources differ on the year, giving 1734 or 1749. It has been expanded many times since and is the spiritual centre for Jaffna's Hindus.
Some devotees carry kavadi (decorated arches), pierce their skin with hooks or skewers, or roll around the temple on the ground (angapradakshinam). These acts fulfil vows made to Murugan. Watch quietly and do not interfere.
Free water stalls called thaneer pandal are set up near the temple by volunteers. They hand out water, buttermilk and sometimes sweetened drinks to anyone passing. Bring your own bottle as well for the long procession days.
Visit Jaffna Fort, the Nainativu island temples, Keerimalai springs and Point Pedro. The rebuilt Jaffna Public Library and the town market are also worth a stop. Nainativu needs a ferry from Kurikadduwan jetty, so allow a full day.
Yes. Visitors of any faith are welcome inside as long as they follow the temple dress code and behave respectfully during pujas. Stand to the side of worshippers, never in front of them, and follow the flow of the crowd around the inner courtyard.
Stay & facilities
Many Jaffna Hindus eat vegetarian throughout the festival, and restaurants near the temple serve mainly vegetarian food. Try Jaffna-style dosa, vadai and payasam. Meat is easier to find in town away from the temple.
Families & accessibility
Yes, with care. Processions and music attract children, but crowds are large on the main days. Keep them close, agree a meeting point by a landmark gopuram, and bring water and snacks. Evening street processions are cooler and easier with children than the midday ones.
The courtyards and surrounding streets are flat, but they are packed and the sand gets very hot underfoot at midday, since everyone goes barefoot. Early-morning pujas on ordinary festival days are more manageable than Ther or Manjam for visitors with limited mobility.