Tamil Nadu - Madurai   

12-day Chithirai festival begins with flag hoisting ceremony

Staff Reporter

For the first time, procession of presiding deities to have 27 `parivaarangal'

MADURAI: The 12-day annual Chithirai festival commenced with the hoisting of flag at the Meenakshi-Sundareswarar Temple here on Sunday. Hundreds of devotees witnessed the special puja performed on the occasion. The celestial wedding would be held on May 9.

Talking to reporters, the chairman, temple Board of Trustees, Karumuttu. T. Kannan, said elaborate arrangements had been made for the most important festival. For the first time, procession of the presiding deities would have 27 components — 27 `parivaarangal' such as camel, elephant, `mayilattam', and `kollattam' on festival days.

The `pattabhishekam' for Goddess Meenakshi would be held on the eighth day, Sunday evening. The next evening the Goddess would make `dhik vijayam' at Lalasri Rengachathiram Mandapam at the North Masi-East Masi Streets junction.

The highlight of the festival, the celestial wedding would be conducted at the `tirukalyana mandapam' on the 10th day, May 9, in the presence of Lord Subramaniya Swamy of Tirupparankundram and Pavalakanivai Perumal, between 8.26 a.m. and 8.50 a.m.

The car festival would take place on May 10.

Passes on sale

Stating that 14,500 passes would be issued for the celestial wedding, Mr. Kannan said the temple would sell 1,000 passes at the rate of Rs. 20 each from Monday.

All the passes would bear the original signature of the Joint Commissioner, P. Baskaran, he said.

The `white' pass-holders would be allowed through the North Tower, and the `light blue' and `pink' pass-holders through the West Tower.

For the first time, special arrangements have been made for the safe and easy passage of physically challenged persons to the wedding venue.

"They should assemble at Birla guest house near West Tower, from where temple employees would take them," Mr. Kannan said. Similarly, a separate enclosure for foreigners would be provided.

Feast for 25,000

The temple authorities have made arrangements to provide delicious wedding feast for nearly 45,000 devotees.

Apart from showing the wedding proceedings through close-circuit television and LCD projectors, the marriage function would be broadcast `live' through local cable television and webcast on www.maduraimeenakshi.org through which people from any part of the world could watch it.

The Joint Commissioner said `tirumangalyam prasadam' would be distributed to devotees on the occasion.

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