CM Vijay gives 45 kg sandalwood to Nagore Dargah: What is Kanduri festival, how is it associated with Hindu Maratha king

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Thursday (October 22, 2026) reportedly handed over a Government Order (GO) to Nagore Dargah officials allowing free supply of 45 kg of Jajpokal II grade sandalwood to celebrate the Periya Andavar Kanduri festival on November 10.

According to The Hindu, the order was passed on to Nagore Dargah, managing trustee H Haja Najeemudeen Sahib and other trustees.

Minority Welfare Minister AM Shahjahan, Labor Welfare and Skill Development Minister J Mohamed Farvas, Forest Minister RV Ranjith Kumar and Tamil Nadu Waqf Board Chairman and Ramanathapuram MP K Nawas Kani were present.

About Nagore Dargah

Nagore Dargah (also known as Nagore Dargah Shareef) is a revered Sufi shrine located in Nagore, a coastal town in the Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu.

The city is built over the tomb of Saint Syed Shahul Hameed Raliyallahu Thaa’la Anhu, according to NagoreDargahShariff.com.

The most important event held at Nagore Dargah is the Kanduri festival, a fortnight-long commemoration of the saint’s death anniversary.

The shrine is open daily with a special time on Fridays. Major events such as the Kanduri festival and sacred rituals such as offerings and sacred baths at Shifa Gunta reflect the rich cultural and spiritual heritage of the site.

Reference to Hindus

The Dargah serves as a major pilgrimage center for both Muslims and Hindus. The Nagore Dargah is believed to have been built by ardent devotees of Hazrath Shahul Hameed Raliyallahu Thaa’la Anhu, with major contributions from Hindus.

Known for its five minarets and spiritual legacy, it attracts pilgrims from both Islamic and Hindu traditions. There are five minarets in the dargah, the tallest of which was built by the Maratha Hindu ruler Pratap Singh (1739–1763 AD).

It stands as a symbol of interfaith harmony with historical contributions from Hindu rulers and devotees, according to the website.

What is Nagore Dargah Kanduri Festival?

The 14-day Kanduri festival, also known as the Nagore Dargah festival, is celebrated from the first to the 14th day of the death anniversary of Saint Shahul Hameed during the Islamic month of Jamathul Aagir.

Saint Hazrath Syed Shahul Hameed was a revered descendant of the 13th generation Saint Sufi.

He achieved wider recognition for treating the physical illness of the 16th century Hindu king Achuthappa Nayak in Thanjavur.

This historical significance attracts special participation of Hindu devotees during the Kandhuri festival.

Common worship practices during the Kanduri festival include the presentation of offerings, often accompanied by the playing of musical instruments such as the nadaswaram, a tradition usually seen in Hindu worship.

Within the dargah complex lies the sacred pool of Shifa Gunta, where pilgrims take a sacred dip.

14 day ritual

The opening day of the festival is commemorated by hoisting the sacred flag, which is then carried in chariots to the Nagore Dargah.

From the second to the seventh day, holy saints read the Quran along with various prayers, ANI reported.

Nagore Dargah Festival(YEAR)

Devotees flock to the Dargah to witness the ‘Light’ of Allah that is displayed in the Dargah.

On the eighth day, one of the many attractions of the Kanduri festival is the fireworks display.

Fireworks have two purposes – firstly to enhance the festive atmosphere and secondly to show how truth defeats falsehood.

On the ninth day of Jamaidul Akhir, fakirs visit Hazarath Mohsin’s meditation place called “Peer Mandapam”. On this occasion, devotees begin a holy fast for the next three days.

On the 10th day, a procession is organized on a cart with sandalwood paste. Rawla Shariff and the tomb of the Great Saint will then be anointed with auspicious paste once they are brought to the compound, according to ANI.

The fast, which began on the ninth day of the festival, ends with devotees on the 11th, the report added.

The message of Al Quran is recited during 14 days and its blessings are given to the Great Soul.

The flags and lights are taken down after the Kandhuri Festival ends and only the spiritual light of the Nagore Dargah remains.