The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Madurai News : Thousands witness `tirukalyanam' at Madurai Meenakshi temple

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 02, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Madurai

Thousands witness `tirukalyanam' at Madurai Meenakshi temple

By Our Staff Reporter

Devotees witnessing the celestial wedding of Meenakshi and Sundareswarar at the Meenakshi temple in Madurai on Saturday. — Photo: K. Ganesan

MADURAI, MAY 1. The `tirukalyanam' (celestial wedding) of Goddess Meenakshi with Lord Sundareswarar was performed amid chanting of Vedic hymns by Sivachariars in the aesthetically- decorated hall at the junction of North and West Adi Streets at the Meenakshi temple here today.

The deities of the Tirupparankunram temple, Lord Subramaniaswamy and Lord Pavalakkanivai Perumal, were brought to the venue to witness the event. Lord Chokkanathar and Goddess Piriyavidai and Lord Vinayagar were the other deities present.

The rituals started with Vinayaka and other pujas and swapping of garlands. At the stroke of 8.38 a.m. the `mangalya dharanam' ceremony was performed.

Mohan alias S. Meenakshi Sundara Bhattar, decorated as bridegroom, tied the `mangalyam' around the neck of Pitchai alias K. Chandrasekara Bhattar, who performed the role of Goddess Meenakshi.

The deities, Lord Sundareswarar and Goddess Meenakshi, were taken to the Thirukkalyana Mandapam where thousands of deities worshipped them after the wedding.

The deities were decorated with rare ornaments. Goddess Meenakshi was adorned with green silk saree, `kalyana kreedam', which is also called as `vasimalai kreedam', `muthu kreedam' `sorna kavasam', `yagnaobaveetham' and `pachchai thali pathakkam', Goddess Piriyavidai was decorated with `natchiar mambala kondai'.

Lord Sundareswarar was adorned with while silk dhoti.

Thousands of devotees assembled at the venue right from early morning to witness the ceremony. People were seen distributing the `mangalya saradu' to the devotees.

A grand wedding feast for about 25,000 persons was arranged by the Pazhamuthirsolai Thiruvarul Murugan Bhaktha Sabhai.

The Election Observer, G. S. Gill, the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Commissioner, G. Ramakrishnan, the Collector, B. Chandra Mohan, the Commissioner of Police, Abhash Kumar, the HR and CE Joint Commissioner, P. Baskaran, were among the dignitaries who were present on the occasion.

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