Mahamaham and Masi Magam at the Mahamaham Tank, Kumbakonam

What happens

1. Bathe in the Mahamaham tank in the town centre. The municipality describes 20 holy theerthams in it, 19 round the edge and one in the middle, each named after a river or god.
2. Around noon comes the theerthavari, when the festival deities of the temples are brought to the tank and devotees bathe along with them.
3. By custom, bathers then take a dip in the Porthamarai tank, which lies behind Sarangapani Temple, and go on to bathe in the Cauvery.
4. Many pilgrims also visit Adi Kumbeswarar Temple between the tank and the river, and Sarangapani is a short walk away.

Sources: web.archive.org, en.wikipedia.org, ta.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org · checked 30 Oct 2026

Where families go

• 

  Kumbakonam Sarangapani Temple

  Kumbakonam

  Sarangapani is one of the five Vishnu temples that take part in the Mahamaham, and its Porthamarai tank is part of the bathing custom.

  Timings and guide

Other places families use

• Adi Kumbeswarar Temple, Kumbakonam (Tamil Nadu): One of the twelve Shiva temples that take part in the Mahamaham; it counts Masi Magam as its biggest yearly festival.
• Kasi Viswanathar Temple, Kumbakonam (Tamil Nadu): Stands on the north bank of the tank and holds images of nine river goddesses, the rivers believed to bathe in the tank.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org, web.archive.org · checked 30 Oct 2026

When to go

Masi Magam falls every year in the Tamil month of Masi (February to March) on Magam star. The Mahamaham comes once in 12 years; the last was on 22 Feb 2016 and the next is due in 2028, date not yet announced.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org, drikpanchang.com, drikpanchang.com · checked 30 Oct 2026

Before you go

• SafetyMahamaham crowds are enormous; the 2016 festival drew an estimated four million devotees over ten days. Keep elders and children close and agree a meeting point away from the tank.
• SafetyOn 18 Feb 1992 a crush on the tank's steps during the Mahamaham killed about 50 pilgrims. Use the entry and exit points the police mark, and do not stop on the steps.
• Good to knowFor festival dates, bathing times and crowd notices, rely on the temples' HR&CE pages and the Thanjavur district administration.

• OfficialSarangapani Temple, official HR&CE page
• OfficialThanjavur district administration, official site

Rituals, fees and timings are set by each temple. Where the temple sells a seva or ticket, book it only on its official channel.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org, hrce.tn.gov.in · checked 30 Oct 2026