Vannakkam
My family and relatives have always been big on Kanda Shasti. My uncles and grandmother (especially) fast during this festival.
This year I just listen to the Kanda Shasti Kavacham every morning and sing along for the duration of the festival. The Kavacham brings back a lot of fond memories from childhood. Here it is by the Soolamangalam Sisters:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RIPz_mP_VI
Their voices just vibrate with energy and every word is pronounced properly to give a great effect. I especially love the last few minutes beginning from the line, "meviya vadivurum velava potri". It plays over and over in my mind.
It was composed by Sri Devaraya Swamigal. Since the Soolamangalam Sisters' rendition of it, a few other singers have sung it in the same tune. All are awesome, though I keep going back to the Soolamangalam Sisters version.
I realise EM has given a link to their song too, but it was only half. My apologies if you think I shouldn't have given the link again.
On the 6th day of this festival, the 'Sooran Por' will be enacted in Murugan temples all over the world. This is a grand, energetic enactment where huge statues of Lord Muruga slaying the demons Soorapadman, Simhamukhan, Tarakasuran and another one are paraded around on hand-lifted chariots in a sort of battlefield. Lord Muruga uses the 'vel' or lance given to him by his mother, Parvathi, to slay these demons. At one point, mangoes will be thrown from the statues for devotees to catch.
Here is a very, very short video from the Sri Kandaswamy Temple in Brickfields, Malaysia from 2007:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ge8rKXiMA9M
Aum Saravanabhavaya Namah
Aum Namah Shivaya
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