Meenakshi Kalyanam Festival
The Chithirai Festival, a grand and vibrant celebration in Madurai, unfolds as a tapestry of religious fervor, cultural richness, and historical significance. This annual festival, held in the Tamil month of Chithirai (April-May), is a glorious spectacle that immerses the city in a sea of traditions, processions, and spiritual celebrations, with the iconic Meenakshi Amman Temple at its epicenter.
The Chithirai Festival commemorates the divine wedding of Lord Sundareswarar (an incarnation of Lord Shiva) and Goddess Meenakshi, the presiding deities of the Meenakshi Amman Temple. The wedding ceremony is reenacted with great pomp and grandeur, attracting devotees who believe that witnessing this celestial event will bring them divine blessings.
The festival begins with the ceremonial hoisting of the divine flag, known as the "Kodi Yetram," signaling the commencement of the grand celebrations. This is followed by the coronation of Lord Alagar, the brother of Goddess Meenakshi, who undertakes a majestic procession from Alagar Kovil to Madurai. The procession is a visual extravaganza, with Lord Alagar adorned in resplendent attire and seated atop a magnificent chariot.
- Meenakshi Kalyanam festival is an annual event celebrated in the Tamil month of Chithirai (April-May), lasting for several days.
- The festival remember the divine marriage of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar, known as Meenakshi Thirukalyanam, a major of the celebrations.
The central event of the Chithirai Festival is the "Meenakshi Thirukalyanam" – the celestial wedding of Lord Sundareswarar and Goddess Meenakshi. The deities, bedecked in opulent jewelry and silk garments, are carried on elaborately decorated palanquins in a grand procession around the temple. The streets of Madurai are transformed into a colorful panorama as the deities make their way through the city, accompanied by traditional music, dance, and the fervent devotion of the devotees.