Madurai’s Chithirai festival witnessed its key event on Tuesday (April 28) as the Meenakshi–Sundareswarar Thirukalyanam was conducted in a grand manner at the Meenakshi Amman Temple.
The annual festival began with flag hoisting on April 19. Since then, the Goddess and the Lord have been taken in morning and evening processions on various vahanas. After Meenakshi’s coronation on Monday, the traditional “Dik Vijayam” episode was held.
The wedding rituals took place at the Thirukalyana Mandapam between 8:35 am and 8:59 am, accompanied by Vedic chants. Devotees gathered in large numbers, and during the tying of the mangalyam, married women offered turmeric threads in worship.
Temple authorities allowed 6,000 devotees with paid entry and 6,000 free to witness the ceremony. The event also saw the presence of Pavazhakanivai Perumal and Lord Murugan arriving from Thiruparankundram.
Ahead of the festivities, the special “kuzhippottu thali” linked to the mangalyam was brought to the temple in a palanquin with ceremonial offerings. Organisers also arranged a wedding feast for 1.5 lakh people at Sethupathi School. The chariot procession is scheduled for April 29 at 6:00 am, while water resources officials have planned a first-time diversion method to ensure water availability in the Vaigai river for Kallazhagar’s entry on May 1. The Thirukalyanam was livestreamed on Dinamalar’s digital platforms, including YouTube.
