Mom & Dad's Shashti Poorthi

Thirukadaiyur

By Chenthil Mohan

February 9^th, 2015

In Hindu religious customs, Shastiapthapoorthi / Shasti Poorthi (60th birthday) is celebrated on completion of 60 years of age of the male. The choice of the place to carry out this tradition could be a pilgrim town, a temple, a river bank or even one's residence. As part of the celebrations the couple's children perform their parents' second wedding. This is reason for a grand family reunion to incorporate an important event in the couple's married life.

My parents decided to hold their Shasti Poorthi in Thirukkadaiyur (Thirukadavur) a temple town on the east coast of Tamil Nadu, about 300 km south of Chennai and 15 km north of Karaikal. Shastiapthapoorthi (60th birthday), Bhimaradha shanthi (70th birthday), 80th birthday (sadabishegam) and other Ayul Shanthi fire worships are very famous here.