Latest news with #ThirukalyanaVirundhu
The Hindu
08-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
‘Thirukalyanam', the wedding for the masses
Elaborate arrangements had been made for the devotees who gathered on Chithirai streets outside Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple in Madurai to witness the 'Thirukalyanam' (celestial wedding) of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar on Thursday. Giant LED screens had been installed on all corners of the Chithirai streets for devotees to have a virtual glimpse of the 'Thirukalyanam'. As per tradition, the women devotees replaced their 'Thali' with a new one on the occasion. The devotees eagerly paid 'moi' outside the temple as if it is the wedding of known persons. Several people distributed mangalsutra, vermilion powder and pictures of the presiding deities to fulfil their vow. People of all ages from different parts of the State had come along with their families to attend the grand event. Tin sheet roofs had been installed around the Chithirai streets and other places near the temple to protect the devotees from the sweltering summer heat. Water bottles, biscuits and hand fans were also distributed. A large number of police personnel had been deployed around the temple, and ambulances, fire tenders and mobile toilets stationed near the premises. Following the celestial wedding, thousands of devotees headed to the 'Thirukalyana Virundhu' organised by Pazhamudir Solai Thiruvarul Murugan Bhaktha Sabhai at Sethupathi Higher Secondary School, where close to a lakh devotees were treated to a grand feast. The devotees were served several dishes that included 'ven pongal', sambar rice, tomato rice, curd rice and vegetable pulao. The essential items like rice, ghee, oil and vegetables were contributed by the devotees.
The Hindu
08-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Devotees from far and near throng Meenakshi temple to witness celestial wedding
Thousands of devotees from far and near thronged Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple in Madurai on Thursday to witness the grand 'Thirukalyanam' (celestial wedding) of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar on the 10th day of the annual Chithirai festival. The celestial wedding, the highlight of the festival, took place at the flower-bedecked Thirukalyana Mandapam between 8.30 a.m. and 8.59 a.m.. The 'Thirumangalyam' was placed on Goddess Meenakshi at 8.55 a.m. amid chanting of hymns. Lord Sundareswarar, Goddess Piriyavidai and Goddess Meenakshi were brought to the decorated dais following a procession along the Chithirai streets amid chants from the devotees. The 'wedding guests', Lord Subramaniaswamy, the presiding deity of Subramaniaswamy Temple at Tirupparankundram, His consort Goddess Deivanai and Lord Pavalakkanivai Perumal, arrived at the venue. The deities were dressed up in silk attires and decked up in gold. U. Shunmuga Sundara Bhattar and V. Karthikeya Bhattar performed the holy rituals and exchanged the garlands on behalf of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar. As the 'Thirumangalyam' was placed on Goddess Meenakshi, women devotees replaced their 'Thali' with a new one as per custom. It is believed that the ritual strengthens their marital bond. Rose water and flowers were sprinkled on the deities followed by the 'maha deeparadhana'. Later, the deities were taken to the old 'Thirukkalyana Mandapam' on the temple premises for the devotees to offer their prayers. Outside the temple on the four Chithirai streets, the devotees gathered in large numbers and watched the grand event telecast on huge LED screens. The devotees started pouring into the venue as early as 5 a.m. and stayed till the end of the event. The devotees paid 'moi' outside the temple and were given a receipt and a gift bag containing a mangalsutra, vermilion powder and pictures of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar. Following the celestial wedding, the devotees headed to Sethupathi Higher Secondary School for the Thirukalyana Virundhu (marriage feast). Ministers for Commercial Taxes and Registration P. Moorthy, Minister for Information Technology and Digital Services Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, Chairperson of Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple Board of Trustees Rukmini Palanivel Rajan, Madurai Collector M.S. Sangeetha, Corporation Commissioner Chitra Vijayan, Commissioner of Police J. Loganathan, MLAs, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department officials and others were present at the event.
The Hindu
07-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Scores of volunteers work for Thirukalyana virundhu
Ahead of the Thirukalyanam (celestial wedding) of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar, hundreds of volunteers — men, women and children — were on Wednesday seen busily making preparations for the grand feast. As close of one lakh devotees are expected to partake of the Thirukalyana Virundhu, organised by Pazhamudir Solai Thiruvarul Murugan Bhaktha Sabhai, after witnessing the celestial wedding, the volunteers and the cooks drawn from various places of the district were seen cutting vegetables, sorting spices and cleaning utensils. V. Senthil of Avaniapuram, a consultancy professional who has volunteered for the first time, said out of his interest to work in the preparation for the feast, he registered his name. 'Though the main feast will be on the day of the wedding, on the other days, food will be prepared for those who make the arrangements,' he added. He said he volunteered on all the days as he felt that this period held a significance in the whole of Chithirai festival. In addition to the religious events, feeding lakhs of people in a feast was really the important part of the celebrations, he stated. A. Vinoth Kumar, a cook from Mathur Chettikulam near Azhagarkovil, who was roped in for cooking the food, said his team was cooking for the occasion for the sixth consecutive year. He said they would prepare wheat halwa, curd rice, vegetable biriyani and samba wheat biriyani. A few other teams would be preparing different food items, he added. 'Though we get paid for the work, it is out of our interest to serve the public, we do this work,' he said, adding that earlier his father, who was also a cook, used to prepare food items for the feast. Almost all the essential items for the preparation of the food would be donated by the people, an organiser said.
The Hindu
05-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
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.
