CHITHIRAI THIRUVIZHA in Meenakshi Sundareshwarar Temple (Commonly known as Meenakshi Amman Temple) is one of the most famous celebrated festival in MADURAI. This is celebrated between April and May during the Tamil month of Chithirai. People from all the villages in and around Madurai will join in this festival.This year it started on April 26. On May 4 is Pattabhishegam of Goddess Meenakshi Amman. Thirukkalyanam (Wedding) of Lord Sundareswarar with Goddess Meenakshi is on May 5. The festival in Meenakshi Temple will end on May 7 with the Theertha festival.THIRUVIZHA (FESTIVAL) begins with the kodi yaetram(hoisting of the festival flag) in Meenakshi Sundareshwarar Temple.Once the flag is hoisted, people in Madurai will not go out of the city till the festival is completed . Each and every family in Madurai will celebrate the festival. The Wedding of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareshwarar is the main function of this festival. This festival say a short story. Wedding of Goddess Meenakshi and Sundareshwarar will take place in the absence of meenakshi's brother , Lord Azhagar (Perumal). Lord Azhagar will be engaged by his devotees in Azhagar malai at the time of marriage. Hence , he will be late for marriage. On hearing the news of marriage without his presence, he gets angry and returns to his place, Azhagar Koil. On the way to the temple , he crosses River Vaigai. This occasion is celebrated as Azhagar Aatril Erangum Vaipogam. Lord Azhagar will get into vaigai in golden horse. Lot of devotees will assemble in river vaigai to watch this occasion. Azhagar reaching Azhagar Koil is the last day of the festival.
Meenakshi Kalyanam is truly one of the most popular festivals of Madurai that attracts visitors in large numbers, not only across India but from other counties as well. This festival will take a period of 12 days. The festival commences from the second day of the lunar month that is exactly two days after the new moon.
On the day of wedding, free wedding feast will be arranged for the devotees in the temple. Most of the people in Madurai will have their lunch in temple. Yellow wedding ropes will be provide to all the ladies in the city. They tie it to their Mangalyam. Wedding of Meenakshi and Sundareshwarar is considered to be their own family wedding and they will prepare wedding feast in their home which includes Rice, Sambar, Rasam, Payasam, Vadai, Paniyaram/Appam, Curd, Appalam and Pickle. In the evening, Goddess and Lord will be decorated with lot of fragnance flowers and will be taken in a car through all the four masi streets. People will gather there and enjoy their god. The car visit will be following a person carrying umbrella, lord ganesh, lord murugan. Animals like elephants , horses , cows and camels will also take part in their visit accompanied with drum beats, flowers incense sticks and camphor. The spiritual ambience is heightened with the offerings made by the devotees like jaggery and coconut.
The next day after wedding , Goddess and Lord will be take a ride in a big Temple Car (Thaer). This is Thaerrottam , lot of devotees will be assembling to watch it and try to hold the rope of the car. The next day is Azhagar Aatril Erangum Vaipogam. On the same day evening , Lord Azhagar will be decorated with flowers and bless the people in and around Vaigai river and have a stay in Lord Varadahraja Perumal Temple ,near Tallakulam at night.
The next day,Lord will be moving to Azhagar Koil. During this journey, lot of devotees will accompany him from Madurai to Azhagar Koil , few kilometres from the city, leave him and then return back.
The last 12th day is the Theertha festival. Goddess and Lord will have a ride in masi streets.
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