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A Union Territory on the shores of the Bay of Bengal, the territory of Pondicherry is a tiny former colony of the French, which in its colonial years was referred to as "The French Riviera of the East". Essentially rooted in Indian tenets, there is a good number of Festivals and Events in Pondicherry. The Masimagam festival in Pondicherry is not the least of them. One of the most popular festivals in the entire southern region of India, the Masimagam festival in Pondicherry is an occasion that is celebrated with immense fanfare and revelry. A Hindu festival this, the Masimagam Festival in Pondicherry is also termed as the 'Masi Magam'. Celebrated on a full moon day, the Masimagam Festival in Pondicherry occurs in the Tamil month of 'Masi', which falls sometime in the English months of February and March. On the Masimagam Festival in Pondicherry the Full Moon coincides with a certain astral pattern; this brings about the spiritual essence of the festivity. A one day festival, the Masimagam Festival in Pondicherry involves several rituals; on of the most important being the bathing of temple deities in the sea water. In fact, this pious cleansing of the idols is what takes up the better part of the day. The Masimagam Festival in Pondicherry begins with the procession taking the deities to the beaches, and ends with these same processions conducting the deities to their place in the respective temples late in the night. The Masimagam Festival in Pondicherry is also one festival which draws scores of people, either as pilgrims or as tourists, to witness the devotion of the people towards their patron deities. The Masimagam Festival in Pondicherry is also an occasion when the deity Sowriraja Perumal of Thirukannapuram is said to make the trip to the village and mingle with fishermen. Legend and myth hold that he was married to one of their lot and so he makes this yearly journey.
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