It falls on the day the moon transits the Visaka nakshatram in Vaikasi (May-June), the second month of the Tamil Calendar.
[2] According to the Kanda Puranam (the Tamil version of the Skanda Purana), three asuras (a race of celestial beings) Surapadman, Singamukhan and Tarakasuran performed austerities to propitiate the Hindu god Shiva.
[3] They subsequently started a reign of tyranny and oppressed the living beings including the devas and other people.
[4] Initially, the wind-god Vayu carried the sparks, but the fire-god Agni took possession of them afterwards because of the unbearable heat.
[6][7] Devotees of Murugan carry a kavadi, which itself is a physical burden as a fulfillment of vow made to the god.