Renewing the marital thread
Every year thousands of devotees from far and near gather on the Chithirai streets outside Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple to witness the 'Thirukalyanam', the Celestial Wedding of Goddess Meenakshi with Lord Sundareswarar.
As per tradition, the women devotees replace their 'Thali' with a new mangalsutra. The devotees also distribute the mangalsutra, vermilion powder and pictures of the presiding deities to fulfil their vow.
C. Ashok Bhattar, a priest at Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple, said that women devotees tie the new mangalsutra as they believe that the marital bond becomes stronger.
Sacred items are distributed by the devotees in a respectful manner on the auspicious day. They do so as it is believed that good deeds reciprocate. Devotees distribute the mangalsutra with the belief and hope that any person unmarried in their family will get married soon.
At the 'Thirukalyanam', the devotees pay 'moi' outside the temple and are given a receipt and a gift bag that contains the mangalsutra, vermilion powder and pictures of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar
Following the celestial wedding, the devotees head to the 'Thirukalyana Virundhu'. Close to a lakh devotees are treated to a grand feast. The essential materials like rice, ghee, oil and vegetables are contributed by devotees.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
13-05-2025
- Time of India
580 tonnes of waste collected during Chithirai festival events
Madurai: Madurai corporation has collected a total of 581 metric tonnes of waste generated during the major events of the ongoing Chithirai to corporation officials, the highest volume of waste — 280 metric tonnes — was cleared following the Vaigai river entry of Lord Kallazhagar on Monday. The event drew lakhs of devotees to the riverbanks, creating a massive influx of garbage including food waste, plastic bottles, slippers and other the corporation removed 175 metric tonnes of waste following the Thirukalyanam (celestial wedding) and temple car festival. Another 126 metric tonnes were cleared after the Edhir Sevai event, when Lord Kallazhagar ceremonially entered support the intensive clean-up efforts, corporation deployed more than 300 additional sanitary workers and 109 vehicle drivers to the festival zones. Temporary garbage bins were placed at key congregation points and waste was cleared in multiple shifts to ensure cleanliness and from sanitation, the civic body took several public health measures. A total of 34 medical camps were set up across the city to provide first aid and respond to health emergencies. Sixteen ambulances were strategically stationed near crowd hotspots, especially along Alagarkovil Road and near the Vaigai riverbanks. Drinking water tanks were also installed at 52 locations. Corporation officials said the operations would continue until the end of the festival to maintain cleanliness and public safety.
New Indian Express
10-05-2025
- New Indian Express
Rising cost roasts thopparai makers who help cool Alagar
VIRUDHUNAGAR: For over a century, Scheduled Caste residents of Kamarajar Colony in Kariapatti have set aside regular jobs for three months, ahead of the Chithirai festival in Madurai to craft Thopparais (water bags made of goat hides) that would be used by devotees to spray water as a votive offering when Lord Kallalagar enters the Vaigai river. However, rising water costs and shrinking profits are now pushing these artisans, who have followed the tradition for over five generations, into mounting financial crisis. The settlement is home to around 150 families and most of whom are daily wage labourers. Starting from Tamil month Thai/Maasi, every family invests all its time to craft Thopparais and sell them around the Meenakshi temple during the festival. Though the people cannot recall exactly when this tradition started, many say their ancestors used to pour water to cool Lord Kallalagar , and it eventually led to crafting water bags using goat hides. S Kannan (38) told TNIE, 'Earlier, we handled the entire process ourselves, from buying sheep hides from Dindigul to cleaning, soaking, liming, preserving, ironing, and stitching the hide. We have to spend Rs 250 to make one bag. Most of these processes require a huge volume of water, which we used to source from local water bodies like kanmois. But with the growing water scarcity in our region, we are buying water, which isn't sustainable anymore as one barrel costs Rs 150. We need at least 10 barrels to process the hide.' As a result, most families are now sending hide to leather firms in Dindigul for processing which costs around Rs 520.
New Indian Express
09-05-2025
- New Indian Express
Thousands witness Meenakshi Sundareswarar celestial wedding in Madurai
MADURAI: Several thousands of devotees watched the celestial wedding of goddess Meenakshi and lord Sundareswarar that was solemnised by priests in mithuna lagnam between 8.35 am - 8.59 am on Thursday. The ceremonies started at 4 am with Odhuvars singing hymns from the Thirumurai. The processional deities of lord Pavala Kanivai Perumal and lord Subramaniya Swamy from Thiruparangundram temple arrived at the thirukalyana mandapam around 6 am following which the deities of goddess Meenakshi and lord Sundareswarar were brought to the mandapam in a procession at 8.15 am. As the celestial wedding took place, married women changed their mangalsutra. After the wedding ceremony, the deities remained in the mandapam till Thursday evening for devotees to have darshan. Ministers P Moorthy and Palanivel Thiaga Rajan and other dignitaries from Madurai participated in the event.
