Nagore is all set for the 469th annual Kandhuri festival honouring Nagore Andavar Syed Shahul Hameed. The celebrations began with the flag hoisting event on 21st November, marking the start of the festivities. The main event, Periya Kandhuri, will be held on 1st December. One of the highlights, the santhanakoodu procession, will take place on the evening of 30th November and will begin from Nagapattinam. The Anointment of Sandal Paste (Chandanam) on the Sacred Tomb will be held in the early morning of 1st December.

To support the festival, the Tamil Nadu state government has taken efficient steps to ensure smooth travel for devotees. Tamilnadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) is operating 100 buses from various parts of Tamil Nadu to Nagore. Southern Railway has also announced special trains from Chennai, and an unreserved MEMU train will operate from Villupuram. Reservations for these trains are currently underway.

The managing trustee of the Nagore Dargah Shariff attended the flag hoisting event, where flags were raised on all five minars. The sight of the fluttering flags has added more colour to the festive atmosphere across the town.

The state government is expecting around 15 Lakh people to gather for this harmonious festival, which brings together people from all religions. Devotees from Tamil Nadu and from states including Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh are expected to visit Nagore for the celebrations. The festive spirit is already visible across the town as the Dargah and its minars shine with decorative lights.

To elevate the celebrations, the Nagapattinam District Administration has declared a local holiday on December 1. The festival will conclude with the flag-lowering ceremony on 4th December 2025.  

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