Among the temple festivals of India, one of the most spectacular one that last 30 days (15 days apart) is the Chithirai festival (April_May) of Madurai, Tamil Nadu. More than 0ne million people attended the festivities. This festival is closely linked to this ancient city
About the ensuing Chithirai festival of Madurai 2025, different media reports have come up with different dates. According to The Hindu news paper dated February 17, 2027 the popular festival begins on April 29 in Madurai; celestial wedding of Meenakshi with Sundareswarar will be on May 8, 2025.
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| celestial wedding of Meenakshi with Sundareswarar facebook.com |
On the first day 29th April, the customary flag hoisting on the flag pole (Dwajasthambam) will be held in the early morning with prayers, pujas and aarti in the presence of temple officers on the temple premises.
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| Kallazhagar getting into Vaigai river. kalpavrikshamedia.com |
According to a press release, the ‘pattabhishekam’ , as important part of the ritual, would be performed on May 6, followed by ‘digvijayam’ on May 7 and the grand celestial wedding (thirukalyanam) of Meenakshi and Sundareswarar will be on May 8. The car festival is scheduled for May 9.
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| Kallazhagar Perumal temple upload.wikimedia.org |
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| kallazhagar Perumal temple upload.wikimedia.org |
Above image: Ornate stone pillared mantap of Kalyana Mandapam, ;rare Vijayanagara period images are housed in the sculpted pillars. images top and bottom. sriram mt - Own work. Kallalagar Temple or Kallazhagar Temple" dedicated to the god Vishnu Sundararaja Perumal is in the village Alagar Koyil, glorified by the Azhwar saints of the 6th–9th centuries CE. Here, the god's consort is Lakshmi as Thirumagal.
Chithirai, a grand festival event, the first 15 days of the event is celebrated in Madurai for the celestial wedding arrangements between Meenakshi and Sundareswarar, while the next 15 days is about Alagar making preparations for her marriage.
As part of the Chithirai festival, Lord Kallazhagar (God Vishnu) would start the journey earlier from Alagarkoil hills towards Madurai and the ‘edhir sevai’ - reception with honors would be held on May 11 and the grand entry of the Lord Kallazhagar into the Vaigai river would take place on May 12. Here the lord removes the curse on Moduka rishi, according to the mythology.
City corporation commissioner and other officials inspected the preparatory works underway at the Madurai Meenakshi temple, Vaigai river and the Kallalagar temple, ahead of the annual Chithirai festival in the last week of April. Special security arrangements are in place with numerous CCTV cameras at vantage points to control the crowds and to tackle terrorists threats. More than 2000 personnel will be on duty during the events. No motor vehicles are allowed to park around the venues.
They also chose spots across the venue to place water tanks,as the milling crowds need to manage scorching summer heat. Works were underway to keep the places around Meenakshi temple clean special steps were taken to remove water hyacinth from the Vaigai river ahead of the Kallalagar procession from the hill. Annadhanam will be provided during the events and donations are collected from the donors. Plastic items are banned during the festivities.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/chithirai-festival-begins-on-april-29-in-madurai-celestial-wedding-of-meenakshi-with-sundareswarar-on-may-8/article69269816.ece
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