Chithirai Festival Madurai|Chithirai Festival in Chennai

Celebrated in the Madurai temple located about 500 kilometers from Chennai, Chithirai Festival, Madurai is a popular festival in southern India. Madurai is popularly known as the City of Festivals.Chithirai Festival Madurai, Karthigai Deepam Festival, Tamil Nadu Temple, Tamil Nadu Tourism, Chithirai Festival, Madurai, Festivals in Tamil Nadu The festivals of Madurai are well known for their color and vivaciousness. Devotees gather in large numbers and worship the gods and goddesses.

Chithirai Festival, Madurai includes a procession of Lord Vishnu, locally known as Lord Kallazhagar. Chithirai Festival Madurai, Karthigai Deepam Festival, Tamil Nadu Temple, Tamil Nadu Tourism, Chithirai Festival, Madurai, Festivals in Tamil Nadu The brother of Goddess Meenakshi, Lord Vishnu travels from his abode in Azhagarmalai to get his sister married to Lord Sundareshwarar. This journey from his abode to his sister’s wedding, on a golden chariot, is the legend behind celebrating the Chithirai Festival, Madurai.

Description

The celebrations begin with the hoisting of the flag in the temple. Chithirai Festival Madurai, Karthigai Deepam Festival, Tamil Nadu Temple, Tamil Nadu Tourism, Chithirai Festival, Madurai, Festivals in Tamil Nadu The celestial wedding of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareshwarar is celebrated every year in Madurai during the Chithirai Festival. Devotees on this auspicious day celebrate by riding a golden chariot with the idols of the god and the goddess.

The journey around the city is accompanied with drum beats, flowers incense sticks and camphor. The spiritual ambience is heightened with the offerings made by the devotees like sweets and coconut.

A fair is organized on this day. Devotees traveling from different parts of the country visit the fair after the festival. The ten day festivity is a time of the year when devotees from different social and regional background gather together to celebrate and worship.

Time to celebrate

Chithirai Festival, Madurai is celebrated between April and May during the Tamil month of Chithirai. This is one of the popular festivals of Madurai.

The Chithirai festival, one of the renowned attractions in Tamil Nadu is held at the Madurai temple, 500-km from Chennai. The festivity starts on the full moon day of the Tamil month Chithirai (April-May) and ends on the tenth day. The celebration is filled with pomp and festivity. The Chithirai festival marks the beginning of the financial year. On this occasion, the images of Hindu Gods and Goddesses are taken to Vaigai River in a huge procession.
This festival of Madurai is associated with Lord Vishnu of the Hindu mythology.

According to the legend, Lord ‘Kallazhagar’ (Vishnu) goes to Madurai from his abode - Azhagarmalai 30-km from Madurai to attend the marriage of his sister Goddess Meenakshi to Lord Sundareswarar on real-gold horse chariot. The ‘Kallazhagar’ entering the river Vaigai is indeed a spectacular sight.

As part of the rituals a decorated chariot carrying the two idols of the couple will move out of the temple in procession and passes through the streets. and in the vicinity of the ‘Devasthanam’. Devotees make offerings of coconuts, flowers, camphor and Agarbattis. A trade exhibition and fairs organized here lend festivity to the occasion. The famous festivals held at Madurai, include “Teppam festival”, the annual float festival, wherein the images of Sri Meenakshi and Lord Sundareshwar are mounted on floats and taken to Mariamman Teppakkulam tank.

The Chithirai festival is held in the famous Madurai temple, 500-km from Chennai. The festivity starts from the Tamil month Chithirai (April-May) and ends on the tenth day. The celebration is filled with pomp and festivity.

The Remarkable Procession
The highlight is the procession of Lord 'Kallazhagar' (Lord Vishnu) the elder brother of Goddess Meenakshi, who proceeds from his abode - Azhagarmalai 30-km from Madurai, to give away his sister in marriage to Lord Sundareshwar. One can witness an ancient legend unfold right before your eyes as Lord Vishnu rides to his sister's wedding on gleaming real-gold horse chariot. The 'Kallazhagar' entering the river Vaigai is indeed a spectacular sight.

Legend has it that Lord Vishnu as Azhagar rode on a golden horse to Madurai to the celestial wedding of Goddess Meenakshi (Parvati) with Lord Sundareshwar (Lord Shiva).

Celebrations
On the occasion, a decorated chariot carrying the two idols of the couple is taken around the town to the tumultuous notes of Nadaswaram and beats of drums. A spiritual ambience descends on Madurai. As the procession passes through the streets and in the vicinity of the 'Devasthanam', devotees make offerings of coconuts, flowers, camphor and Agarbattis (incense sticks). A spirit of devotion marked by pomp and gaiety pervades right through the day. The festival draws a mammoth crowd. A trade exhibition and fairs organized here lend festivity to the occasion.

OTHER FESTIVALS AT MADURAI
The famous festivals held at Madurai, include "Teppam festival", the annual float festival, wherein the images of Sri Meenakshi and Lord Sundareshwar are mounted on floats, and taken to Mariamman Teppakkulam tank, where for several days they are pulled back and forth across the water in the middle of the tank, on an illuminated raft embellished with flowers, before being taken back to the main temple.

 

 

 

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