Beginning of Moulid Shariff – Dhul Qadah 1

This event marks the beginning of the Urus festival in Erwadi. On the 1st Night of the Islamic Month of Dhu al-Qi’dah the Moulid Shariff majlis is started. Hundreds of Levvais (Huqdars) and devotees gather at the Hall of Main Shrine of Erwadi Durgah after Maghrib (Prayer). The majlis starts with Dua followed by Subhana Moulidh, Shaheed Badusha Manaaqib Moulidh and ends with Du’a. Half an hour break is given for Isha’a Prayer in between the Moulid Shariff which lasts till 11.00PM. On Thursdays, The Moulidh Shariff begins after Isha’a Prayers. This Moulidh Shariff is held continuosly for 23 days.

Installation of Lower trunk (Adi Maram) – Dhul Qada 9

This event marks the beginning of Flag hoisting ceremony of Ervadi dargah. This event is held every year on the 9th Evening of the islamic month of Dhul Qaidah. After the Fajr prayers, Thousands of people gather in the Durgah campus and Qura’an is recited. Entire Qura’an is recited for 4 or 5 times depending upon the gathered crowd. Followed by Moulid Shariff and Du’a with the Waseelah of Qutbul Aqtab Syedus Saadath Hazrat Qutb Syed Abootahir Madhani Shaheed Raziyallah Ta’ala anhu. The Erwadi dargah’s victory flag is being hoisted at an height of 250 feet consisting of a lower trunk, an upper trunk and the Boat shaped metal holding. A white woodden holder is placed at the upper edge of the Lower trunk and is tied with 6 ropes to hold upon and its base is placed in the midst of the Flag hoisting throne (Kodi medai). A few lakhs of people who gather to witness the ceremony pull the ropes and the Trunk rises slowly. Finally when it reaches the vertical position ropes are tied to make the trunk strong hold. This holding the Holy rope is called as Imaadhul Muraad, and people who holds this Holy rope with a wish seeking the help of Shaheedh Badushaha Nayagam, will see it answered in a very short period within the year.

Holy Flag Hoisting (Kodiyetru Vizha) – Dhul Qaidah 10

This an important ceremony in the Santhanakoodu festival of Ervadi durgah. Around 6 lakh people from all parts of Tamilnadu and Kerala and also various states like Karnataka, Andhrapradesh, Maharashtra, Delhi and all over India take part. On the 10th Evening of Zul Qaidah, The flag procession starts from the Erwadi village and reaches Durgah Shariff before maghrib. The Holy flag is brought in an Elephant which traditionally comes from the Palace of the Raja of Ramnad. The procession goes round the durga thrice. Qasidahs are recited and after a grand Dhuaa, the Flag is hoisted in the upper trunk with a full voice slogan of Yaa Shaheed!!! Muraad Haasil!!!. The regular moulidh shariff starts at 9.00PM on this day.

Santhanakoodu – Dhul Qada 23

This procession is conducted just to mark the beginning of the Main santhanakoodu festival. Procession starts from Ervadi Kudi iruppu, the residential area of Mujavirs (Huqdars called as Levvais) and reaches the Dargah shariff campus before maghrib prayers. The shadhili tariqa zikr halqa majlis (Hazra) is held in the Mosque at the durgah campus. A few millions of people start gathering at Erwadi and get scattered at kattupalli and other areas of Ervadi durga. District administration announces local Holiday on this day and the State government along with TNSTC runs thousands of special buses to Erwadi from various locations of Tamilnadu. Hundreds of stalls are being put by the Government and by the private vendors. Many food stalls and Child Entertainment games are being run in this season.

Sandal Smearing on the Holy Grave – Dhul Qadah 23

This is the peak celebration and the sole purpose of the one month long Santhanakoodu festival in Ervadi Durgah. This day marks the martyrdom of Hazrat Qutbul hamid Gausul Majid Badusha Sulthan Syed Ibrahim Shaheed Raziyallah Taala anhu. The 23rd day moulid shariff (Last Moulid for the year) starts exactly at 12.00AM on the 23rd night of Dhu al-Qi’dah and ends at 3:00AM with a grand Dhuaa begging Shaheed badusha’s mercy. Sandal paste are taken in 3 Pots from Ervadi and brought in the very grand procession. It reaches Durgah around 5:00AM and the sandal pot is taken to the maqbara, the grave (Mazaar) of Hazrat Shaheed Badusha. The procession goes round the Dargah thrice. A grand Dhuaa is recited inside the Maqaam of Hazrat shaheed badusha. The sandal is smeared in the rauza mubarak of Shaheed and different carpets with Valuable Silk, Diamond and other floral carpets are presented. The sandal paste is anointed on the Rauza of Hazrat Qutb Syed Abootahir Shaheed and the rouza of Seyyida Fathima Al Barqa radiyallah Ta’ala anha (Shahid badusha’a mother). Only selected Levvais (Mujavirs – Huqdars) and a few VIPs are permitted inside the Maqbara during the ceremony. More than 1000 policemen and Policewomen are deployed for security. The ceremony ends with the fajr prayer and the sandal is distributed to all who gather in the Dargah campus.

Dismounting of The Holy Flag (Kodi Irakkam) – Dhul Qadah 30

This is the final event which marks the end of a month long Santhanakoodu festival in Erwadidurgah. Every year on the 30th Morning of Islamic month of Dhu al-Qi’dah thousands of people gather at the hall of main Dargah after fajr prayer for the recitation of Holy Quran. Qur’an is completely recited more than 7 times and Tabarruk is distributed after the dhuaa with the waseela of Badhusha Nayagam (Holy King). The same day evening, after Asar Qasidas and Byts are recited followed by the grand final Dhuaa and the Holy Flag is dismounted with the Sky blowing slogan of YAA SHAHEED!!! MURAD HAASIL!!!. The holy flag is presented unto the Sacred Rouza of Hazrat Sulthan Syed Ibrahim Shaheed and a Dhuaa is recited. The lower trunk and other components of the Holy flag are displaced before maghrib. Around 15 lakh people from all over India and other countries like Srilanka, U.K., Saudi Arabia,U.A.E. and Kuwait take part. The crowd which gathers here for this ceremony is the highest than any other festival in Ramanathapuram District. After maghrib, the traditional Thabarruk of ‘NEI SORU’ (Ghee Rice) is distributed to all the 15 lakh pilgrims who witnessed the Santhanakoodu Urus festivals of Erwadi Dargah. The arrangements for the entire festival is made and sponsored by the Dargah Huqdhar Management Committee (D.H.M.C.). Thus the one month long Urus Festival of Ervadi Durgah Shariff comes to an end.