Latest news with #Kallalagar
New Indian Express
14-05-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Kallalagar to return to Alagar hills today in ‘Mohini alangaram'
MADURAI: A day after the entry of Kallalagar into River Vaigai, the deity as part of the ongoing Chithirai festival in Madurai was taken in a procession to the Thenur mandapam (hall) on Tuesday where the ritual of the lifting of the curse of sage Manduga was performed amid the presence of scores of devotees. On Tuesday, Kallalagar mounted on a golden sesha vahana was taken in a procession to the Thenur mandapam in the Vaigai bed. Later in the night, the Kallalagar procession will reach Ramarayar mandapam in a golden Garuda vahana. As per the ritual, fulfilling the wish of sage Manduga, Kallalagar shows all his 10 avatars (dasavathara darisanam). The rituals are scheduled to be performed at the Ramarayar mandapam. Later on Wednesday, the deity will be adorned in mohini alangaram and will begin the journey back to the Alagar hills. Special crowd regulation measures have been made at both the mandapams. Meanwhile, S Vignesh, a devotee from Kulamangalam, commended the WRD for clearing the invasive plant species ridding the river near Thenur mandapam. 'But throughout the rest of the year, the river remains unmaintained, promoting invasive plant growth and garbage dumping. The corporation and the WRD department could take action.'
New Indian Express
13-05-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Lord Kallalagar enters Vaigai, sea of humanity converges in Madurai
MADURAI: The much-awaited event of the annual chithirai festival – Lord Kallalagar entering the Vaigai river – took place on Monday morning. Adorned in green silk (to mark prosperity in agriculture) and mounted on a golden horse vahanam, Kallalagar entered the river at 5.48 am as hysterical crowds chanted 'Govinda, Govinda' and loudspeakers blared 'Vararu Vararu Alagar Vararu' song from the Vijayakant-starrer Kallalagar, rendered by Deva. Kallalagar , the processional deity of Sundaraja Perumal temple, started in a procession from Thirumaliruncholai or Alagar Kovil on Saturday and arrived at the HR&CE department mandagapadi built in the Vaigai river. Upon his arrival, people who had converged on the river banks in Goripalayam erupted with joy and devotion. On Sunday night, Kallalagar arrived at Prasanna Venkatachalapathy temple in Tallakulam. Around 2.30 am, rituals were performed and the deity was adorned in green silk and placed on the iconic golden horse vahanam for his journey to Madurai. As per tradition, the processional deity of Koodal Alagar temple, Lord Veera Ragava Perumal mounted on a silver horse vahanam received Kallalagar into the Vaigai river. After circling the platform built inside the river three times, Kallagar proceeded on the Vaigai North bank road to Ramarayar Mandapam where 'theertha vaari (spraying of water) ritual' was performed. Thousands of devotees disguised as deities Kallalagar and Pathinettam Padi Karuppu sprayed scented water on the deity using leather bags Thopparai. Later, the procession proceeded to Vandiyur Perumal temple.
New Indian Express
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Mounted on iconic golden horse, Lord Kallalagar enters Vaigai river
MADURAI: As part of the annual Chithirai festival, lord Kallalagar adorned in traditional green silk on his golden horse Vahana entered into the Vaigai river in Madurai on Monday. Thousands of people thronged to thr banks of Vaigai river to view Kallalagar enter the Vaigai river. At 5.48 am today, the Kallalagar procession arrived at the HR&CE department Mandagapadi built in the Vaigai river. Upon arrival of the procession, the Vaigai banks in Goripalayam erupted with 'Govinda Govinda' chants and the speaker blared the 'Vararu Vararu Alagar Vararu' song, bringing in the festival vibe among devotees gathered at the venue. The ten-days-long Chithirai festival is celebrated at Kallalagar temple from May 8 to May 17. The procession of lord Kallalagar from Alagar hills to Madurai is the largest festival celebrated in Madurai. Earlier, the procession arrived at Tallakulam Perumal temple on Sunday night, after rituals the procession deity was adorned in traditional green silk (as per the tradition the green silk represents prosperity in agriculture). Mounted on the iconic Golden horse Vahana by 2.30 am started from Tallakulam temple towards Vaigai river.
New Indian Express
11-05-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Madurai Chithirai festival: Procession of Kallalagar from the hills begins
MADURAI: As part of the Chithirai festival, the procession of Kallalagar started from the Alagar hills on Saturday evening. In view of this, the city corporation has taken a series of steps along the procession route. The procession of the deity, after visiting hundreds of mandagapadis along the way, is expected to enter River Vaigai on May 12. Madurai corporation commissioner Chitra Vijayan said that 52 temporary potable water tanks and nine temporary toilets have been set up along the procession route. As around 50 tonnes of additional waste is expected to be generated, 27 special vehicles and 431 sanitation workers have been deputed. About 300 garbage bins have also been placed along the route, she added.
New Indian Express
10-05-2025
- General
- 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.
