Celestial wedding of goddess meenakshi and lord sundareswarar marks highlight of chithirai festival in madurai
Goddess Meenakshi
was draped in a maroon silk saree, and
Lord Sundareswarar
was adorned in a white silk veshti (dhoti), both richly decorated with gold jewellery and fresh flowers. Beside them, two priests enacted the celestial union, representing the divine couple as they exchanged garlands.Amid the chanting of hymns, the sacred wedding ceremony took place between 8.35 am and 8.59 am on Thursday, with the divine knot tied at 8.53 am.
Flowers were showered on the deities, followed by deeparadhanai. Thus unfolded the
celestial wedding of Goddess Meenakshi
and Lord Sundareswarar — the most awaited highlight of the 12-day annual Chithirai festival — at the Sri
Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple
in Madurai.On the 10th day of the Chithirai festival, devotees began gathering as early as 4 am at the temple to catch a glimpse of the grand Thirukalyanam ceremony. A stage, decorated with tonnes of fresh flowers, was set up at the junction of North Aadi Street and West Aadi Street within the temple premises.The deities — Lord Sundareswarar, Goddess Piriyavidai, and Goddess Meenakshi — were taken in a ceremonial procession around the Chithirai streets before being brought to the stage.
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Idols of Lord Subramaniaswamy from the Subramaniaswamy Temple at Thiruparankundram, Goddess Deivanai, and Lord Pavalakkanivai Perumal were also on stage.As per tradition, married women change their thali (sacred thread) during the event. "This is my second time here. I was lucky to get a ticket," says 34-year-old N Sri Devi. "They say Goddess Meenakshi must grant her blessing for one to witness this moment. We feel truly blessed."LED screens at 20 spots helped devotees watch from outside, as more than 3,000 police personnel managed the crowd. Barricades were set up to streamline devotees' entry and exit. After the wedding, thousands queued for the feast, offered moi (wedding gift), and received gift bags.Dignitaries included ministers Palanivel Thiaga Rajan and P Moorthy. In the evening, thousands lined the Masi streets to see Goddess Meenakshi being taken out for a procession on the 'poo pallakku' or floral palanquin.
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