Latest news with #ChithiraiFestival
Time of India
12-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Kallazhagar enters Vaigai, lakhs gather for Chithirai festival spectacle
Madurai : As the first light of dawn coloured the sky over the Vaigai on Monday, chants of "Govinda, Govinda" echoed across Madurai as Lord Kallazhagar stepped into the riverbed—a defining moment of the annual Chithirai Festival that draws lakhs of in green silk symbolising prosperity, and mounted on a golden horse, the deity's ceremonial entry around 6 am marked the spiritual high point of the festival, which re-enacts the legend of Lord Vishnu arriving late for his sister Meenakshi's wedding and blessing devotees in festivities began on April 29, with Kallazhagar's journey from Alagar Kovil. On Saturday, the deity set out on a golden palanquin, stopping at over 450 decorated mandagapadis across the city. On Sunday night, he reached the Prasanna Venkatachalapathy Temple in Thallakulam, where rituals including Thirumanjanam and the garland offering from Goddess Andal were performed before the deity mounted the Ayirampon Sapparam and then the golden horse for his river tradition dictates, Lord Veera Raghava Perumal from the Venkatachalapathy Temple greeted Kallazhagar on a silver horse at the Vaigai's northern bank, symbolising divine riverbed, adorned with lotus leaves, marigolds, and fabric canopies, became a sacred stage for devotion. Devotees—many camping overnight—lined the banks with sakkarai deepams (jaggery lamps), while women performed deeparadhana. Children in traditional dress splashed water joyfully, continuing a generational ritual. Kallazhagar performed three symbolic circumambulations in the riverbed, giving devotees close darshan before the procession moved toward Ramarayar security and civic arrangements were in place. Madurai city police set up barricades for crowd control, while fire services, ambulances, and medical teams were deployed along the banks. Over 430 sanitation workers were on duty to manage the festival waste, which is expected to spike by 40–50 metric tonnes daily. Drinking water tanks and over 20 public toilets were made year, special viewing spaces were arranged on Albert Victor Bridge for persons with disabilities. "We could stand on our two-wheelers and get a better view," said N Manikandan from K K devotees also performed nerthikadan (ritual head shaving) along the river, offering personal vows to the deity. Later, Kallazhagar moved to Ramarayar Mandagapadi, where the Theerthavari (sacred water offering) was performed. The Vaigai zone and adjoining streets remained lit through the night, matching the spiritual fervour with festive deity will continue to visit other mandagapadis before returning to Alagar Kovil on Thursday, following rituals at Thennur Mandapam and Dashavathara 121112407 413 |
New Indian Express
08-05-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Grand celestial wedding of goddess Meenakshi and lord Sundareswarar held in Madurai
MADURAI: Amid thousands of devotees, the celestial wedding of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar was held at the Thirukalyanam Mandapam at the Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple in Madurai on Thursday. Following the traditional rituals by the bhattars, the celestial wedding took place between 8:35 am and 8:59 am in Mithuna Lagna, with priests chanting the Vedas. The Thirukalyanam ritual was held on a special stage set at the junction of North-West Aadi Street within the temple premises. Earlier, the ceremonies began at 4 am with Odhuvamurthigal singing 'Thirumurai'. The procession of deities, Lord Pavala Kanivai Perumal and Lord Subramaniya Swamy from the Thiruparangundram Temple, arrived at the temple by 6 am. Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar were brought to the Thirukalyanam Mandapam by 8:15 am. Adorned in traditional green attire and gem-embedded ornaments and armour, Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar were brought to the Mandapam following a procession. The deities will remain in the Thirukalyanam Mandapam for devotees to have darshan. The traditional wedding feast for the Meenakshi Thirukalyanam was arranged at Sethupathi School. Being the major event of the ongoing Chithirai Festival, the temple car procession is scheduled to be held at the Meenakshi Temple on Friday (May 9) following the Thirukalyanam ritual. Thousands of devotees gathered at the Thirukalyanam Mandapam to witness the ritual inside the temple. State ministers P Moorthy and Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, along with other dignitaries from Madurai, were present at the temple to participate in the event. A large number of devotees thronged the Chithirai streets around the temple and watched the entire ritual through LED screens placed around the temple. Police were stationed at all entry points to regulate crowd movement at the Meenakshi Temple. Detailed security arrangements were made in and around the temple in view of the festival. Philanthropists were seen distributing Annadhanam around the temple specially for the festival. Despite the scorching summer heat, devotees continued to flock to the temple on Thursday. They were seen gathering under shades as the temperature began to rise in the morning hours. "Since the seating inside the Thirukalyanam Mandapam is limited, we had to wait outside the temple and watch the Thirukalyanam ritual through the LED screens. As the celestial wedding took place at the same time as per tradition, married women who had gathered around the Meenakshi Temple changed their mangalsutra during the occasion," said S Haritha, a devotee who arrived at the temple to take part in the Meenakshi Thirukalyanam.
