Jallikattu is a traditional event that is typically practiced in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu as a part of Pongal celebrations on Mattu Pongal day, which occurs annually in January. Bull such as the Pulikulam or Kangayam breeds, is released into a crowd of people and multiple human participants attempt to grab the large hump on the bull's back with both arms and hang on to it while the bull attempts to escape. Participants hold the hump for as long as possible, attempting to bring the bull to a stop. In some cases, participants must ride long enough to remove flags on the bull's horns.

Pongal also referred to as Thai Pongal is a multi-day Hindu harvest festival celebrated by Tamils in India. This festival is celebrated usually on January 14 or January 15 depending on the sun's orbit around earth that particular year. The festival is observed for three or four days in Tamil Nadu. ‘Bogi’ is celebrated on January 13th, ‘Pongal’ on Jan 14th, ‘Mattu Pongal’ on Jan 15th, and ‘Thiruvalluvar Day’ or “Kaanum Pongal” on Jan 16th.

Puthandu also known as Puthuvarudam and the Tamil New Year is the first day of the year on the Tamil calendar, traditionally celebrated as a festival. People celebrate that would bring a new beginning with new opportunities. Today's cuisine  includes raw mangoes and new flowers, as they represent growth and prosperity. A special dish called Manga pachadi is prepared with jaggery, neem flower, red chilli, raw mango and mustard. These six represent the six different tastes known to man. This dish represents the philosophy that life is full of different emotions and not just happiness.

Natyanjali Dance Festival is an annual dance festival commemorating Hindu deity Shiva.  It is currently organized by collaborative efforts of the Department of Tourism of Tamil Nadu and the Natyanjali Trust. Natyanjali means dancers dedicating their art of dance, where 'Natya' means dance and 'Anjali' means offering. The artists pay their respect to Lord Nataraja, the epitome of dance. Chidambaram, which is one of the most popular tourist destinations in South India, is the host of this festival which is celebrated in the month of February-March and begins on the day of Mahashivratri.

Thaipusam or Thaipoosam is a Tamil Hindu festival celebrated on the full moon of the Tamil month of Thai (January/February), usually coinciding with Pushya star, known as Pusam in Tamil.The festival commemorates the legend of the goddess Parvati offering her son, Murugan (Kartikeya) a vel (a divine spear) so he could vanquish the asura Surapadman and his brothers. It is also commonly believed that Thaipusam marks Murugan's birthday; though some other sources suggest that the date of Vaikasi Visakam, which falls on the Vaikasi month (May/June), is Murugan's birthday.

Tyagaraja Aradhana is an annual aradhana of Telugu saint composer Tyagaraja. The music festival is observed in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, primarily in Thiruvaiyaru in Thanjavur district of Tamilnadu, the place where Tyagaraja attained Samadhi. The aradana is observed on Pushya Bahula Panchami day when the saint attains samadhi, where the musicians render the saint's Pancharatna Kritis.

Karthigai Deepam is a festival of lights that is observed mainly by Hindu Tamils. Lamps lit with oil are a symbol of holiness in Indian culture. On this auspicious day the whole Tamilnadu will be lit up with lovely oil lamps and all the house will be decorated with mango leaves and flowers. The festival is held on the full moon day of the Kartika month, called the Kartika Pournami, falling on the Gregorian months of November or December. It is marked on the day the full moon is in conjunction with the constellation of Kartika.

Mahamaham is a Hindu festival celebrated every 12 years in the Mahamaham tank located in the city of Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu. The Mahamaham Square tank is spread over an area of ​​20 acres and is surrounded by mandapams of Lord Shiva. The ten-day celebrations of the Mahamaham festivals begin with the hoisting of the holy flag at Vaishnavite temples across the city. The entire town of Kumbakonam buzzes with celebrations during the festival. Devotees believe that taking a holy bath in this tank cleanses one's soul of past sins.