Madurai Meenakshi amman Wedding
The Chitra festival is celebrated for 12 days during the Tamil month of Chitrai and begins with the flag hoisting on the first day. On the 8th day the coronation of Meenakshi Amman takes place. On the 9th day the Goddess is taken out in parade. On the 10th day the celestial wedding of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar is performed, followed by car festival the next day, Theertha festival is celebrated on the 12th day with the Lord and Goddess going round Masi streets.
Thousands of devotees from Madurai and other parts of Tamil Nadu thronged the Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple here as early to witness the celestial wedding of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar on the tenth day of the Chithirai festival. The whole area wore a festive look as people queued up to enter the temple amidst tight security. Though, for the first time devotees had to buy tickets to witness the ceremony, the move streamlined the entry of devotees into the temple unlike in the previous years.
The celestial wedding was held on a flower-decked stage erected on the Aadi Street. Roses, jasmines, gardenias and tulips worth a few lakh rupees were used for adorning the stage. Deities Murugan and Pavalakanivai Perumal were brought all the way from the Thiruparankundram temple to participate in the august ceremony. Sivachariar Prakash represented the god and Sivachariar Swaminathan the goddess during the nuptial. The celestial couple was ornamented with silk and floral garlands. Two priests who represented the goddess and the god placed the diamond-studded ‘thali’ in the hands of Lord Sundareswarar and then tied it around the goddess. Immediately, women devotees tied saffron threads round their necks. Packets of saffron and threads were also distributed among the devotees.
During the regal ceremonies of the Chithirai festival, the goddess is decked in ornaments made of precious stones. They include emerald waist chain, diamond crown and other pieces studded with rare rubies and sapphires. These jewels were donated to the goddess by the past royals. There is a popular saying that Queen Victoria was so fascinated by the ‘neela nayaka’ pendant of the goddess made of ten huge sapphires weighing 30 sovereigns that she had it taken to England and later returned it to the temple authorities. The pendant is one of the best-looking pieces of the goddess and could be seen from a distance.
Madurai Meenakshi Amman Wedding Festivals
The celestial wedding, the grandest festivity at the temple city, marks the conclusion of the Chithirai festival in Madurai. The festival is held in two parts, the ten-day event at Meenakshi temple and another of equal number of days at the Alagarkoil temple, situated 14 km away from Madurai.
The Chithirai festival commenced at the Meenakshi temple on April 14 with the hoisting of flag, following which a series of events connected with the space wedding were held.
The car festival will be held on next day.
