Float Festival or "Theppotsavam" is celebrated
in Madurai in Tamil Nadu on the night of the full moon (Poornima)
in the Magha month (January-February) of Hindu calendar. On this
day, the ornamented icons of the two deities, the God Sundaresa
(incarnation of Shiva) and the Goddess Meenakshi
(incarnation of Parvati) riding on a golden bull are taken out
in a splendid procession from the Meenakshi Temple, Madurai to
the Teppakolam Lake. The icons are taken around a shrine built
in the middle of the small island in the centre of the lake, seated on a
decorated float called 'Teppa'.Legend: It is believed that on this day, God Alagar (incarnation of Vishnu) gave his sister Meenakshi, in marriage to Sundaresa amidst great rejoicing. Devotees in red and yellow colored garments dance among the crowd and spray coloured water on the idols.
