Lakhs witness celestial wedding in Madurai

The cultural capital of Tamil Nadu held a festive atmosphere as roads and streets leading to the temple were flooded with devotees since the morning hours.

The celestial wedding is one of the significant events of the annual festival, which is celebrated in the Tamil month of Chithirai. The twelve-day festival began on April 8 with flag hoisting and great enthusiasm among devotees in Madurai.

Special poojas were performed before the deities exchanged garlands at 9.52 am amid chanting of the names of the God and Goddess by the devotees.

The divine wedding was solemnized on a flower-decked stage erected at the junction of North and West Aadi streets inside the temple premises this morning. Even devotees from abroad witnessed the famous Thirukkalyanam (celestial wedding).

Two priests of the temple, representing the Goddess and the Lord placed the diamond-studded ‘Thaali’ (Mangalsutra) on the hands of Lord Sundareswarar idol and then tied it around Goddess Meenakshi idol in the auspicious hour of 9.52 am, amid chanting of Vedic hymns. A large number of women devotees renewed their Mangalsutras, following the celestial wedding.

Later, the processional idols of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar were taken out in a grand procession on a palanquin and a silver elephant respectively to the Thirukkalyana Mandapam for public darshan.

Despite scorching heat and after the wedding ceremony, a large number of devotees thronged the temple and waited in long queues on Chithirai streets, to get access to the temple. The entire event was aired live through large LED screens kept in all the Aadi, Chithirai and Aavani streets around the temple for the convenience of the devotees.

The temple administration organized a grand feast for thousands of devotees this afternoon in view of the celestial wedding event. Authorities made arrangements for distribution of water, buttermilk and beverages to devotees to help them beat the summer heat.

Mobile phones were not allowed inside the temple after the order of High Court, Madurai Bench in the wake of a fire in a portion of the temple last year. 

More importantly, the key event of Lord Kallazhagar entering into the Vaigai river would be witnessed on Friday following ‘Ethirsevai’ on Thursday. ‘Vaasthu Shanti’ puja was conducted on Sunday as a prelude to flag hoisting event, one of the main events of the festival.

Tickets for the celestial wedding were booked both online and at Birla Vishram, the temple rest house. Tickets were sold at Rs 200 and Rs 500, sources said.

This year the Chithirai festival celebrated with religious gaiety and fervour at Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple for 12-days in Tamil month of  Chithirai, coincides with the Lok Sabha polls.

A devotee who came all the way from Thirumangalam to witness the celestial wedding said the festivity which extends in coming days, would not disturb the devotees from voting since they would spend their time in the temple only till 8 am. Chidambaram, the devotee said that after devoting their time in the temple festivity, they would have adequate time to access polling booths and exercise their franchise.

On the other contrary, Kannan, another devotee from Arapalayam in Madurai, opinionated that the ongoing festival could possibly affect polling as many would hardly return to their dwelling places.

A shop keeper from West Chithirai street, K Murugan said that the overlap would certainly affect polling in Madurai and also in its neighbouring districts.

Many elderly people claimed that it would be difficult for them to reach the polling booth on a sunny day.

An official who took part in the meetings convened by Collector S Natarajan, pointed out there could be a possible decline in the polling percentage, despite the extended two-hour duration.

The official said that if earlier an average of 80 per cent was recorded, the polling could this time even go down to 50 per cent in Madurai. Hence he added that everyone should try their best to exercise their franchise.