Murugan Temple of North America
# Murugan Temple of North America

The Murugan Temple of North America is the first temple in the United States that is dedicated to the Hindu deity Murugan. The temple is located in Lanham, Maryland, about 5 miles (8.0 km) from Washington, D.C. Conceived in the 1980s and opened in 1999, the temple celebrates all Hindu and Tamil festivals, holidays and special occasions. In addition, the temple conducts bhajans, Tamil and religious classes. Devotees from Maryland, Washington, Virginia and throughout the country (even from neighboring Canada) visit this traditional Saivite Hindu temple. The main sannidhi at the temple is for Murugan with Valli and Devasena. There are four other sannidhis, for Vinayaka (Ganesha), Siva, Meenakshi, Durga and Palani Aandavar.

## Major festivals

The following major festivals are celebrated:

* Thaipusam
* Panguni Uthiram
* Vaikasi Visagam
* Aadi krithigai
* Nallur Kathirgamam Kanthan Festival (Lord Murugan ascends in the Ratham)
* Kanda Shasti Kavasam
* Thiruvathirai function for Lord Nataraja (Arudra Darisanam)
* Maha Shivaratri
* Navaratri (10 days)
* Vinayagar Chathurthi
* Karthikai Deepam
* Six Annual Abishegams for Lord Nataraja (Thiruvonam Nakshatram in the month of Chithirai, Uttiram Nakshatram in the month of Aani, Thiruvathirai Nakshatram in the month of Marghazi, Purva Paksha Chaturdasi evening in the months of Aavani, Purattasi and Maasi)

The grand procession of Lord Murugan with Valli Devasena takes place during major festivals. On 7 August 2009, the Vellottam was conducted for the new Ratham. On 8 August 2009, Lord Murugan ascended in the new Ratham for the Nallur Kathirgamam Kanthan festival. It was drawn by the devotees around the Murugan Temple during an auspicious period. Every year, the Nallur festival is celebrated in Murugan Temple during August and Murugan ascends in the Ratham. The second Kumbabhishegam for all deities in the Murugan Temple was performed on 13 May 2011. The Sri Siva Vishnu Temple is located less than 2 miles (3.2 km) from the Murugan Temple.

