Murugan vanquishes Surapadman on the sixth day of Kanda Sashti, re-enacted on Tiruchendur's shore

Soora Samharam, 'the destruction of Soora', is the climax of the six-day Kanda Sashti festival, on the Shashthi of the Tamil month of Aippasi (Kartika Shukla), and is celebrated in all Murugan temples, above all at Tiruchendur on the seashore of Tamil Nadu. The Skanda Purana and Kanda Puranam tell that the asura Surapadman and his brothers Singamukhan and Tharakasuran had gained boons from Shiva and were tormenting the devas. Shiva created Murugan (Skanda, Kartikeya) from the six sparks of his third eye to destroy them. Parvati gave him the Vel, her divine spear. After a long war, Surapadman took the form of a great mango tree in the sea; Murugan split it in two with the Vel, and in his compassion turned one half into his vehicle, the peacock, and the other into the rooster on his banner. At Tiruchendur in the evening, the utsava murti of Jayanthinathar confronts effigies of the asuras on the beach before lakhs of devotees chanting 'Vetrivel Muruganukku Arohara'. Devotees keep the Kanda Sashti fast for six days, breaking it after the Samharam; the next day is Thirukalyanam, Murugan's marriage to Deivanai.

Six-day fast from Pratipada to Shashthi: some take one meal, some only fruit, milk or water.