Chennai, Apr 15: After the COVID 19 restrictions eased, the annual chariot festival has finally pulled up a huge crowd in the Meenakshi Amman Temple, in Madurai, this year. The festival is celebrated in the Tamil month of Chithirai.
A large number of devotees will be participating in the annual chariot festival in Madurai, on Apr 15. People have crowded outside the Meenakshi Amman Temple. The festival is annually celebrated in the Tamil month of Chithirai, however, the pandemic had resulted in mute celebrations for the last two years.
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The annual Chithirai festival commenced on Apr 5 (Tuesday) with its traditional temple flag being hoisted at the Meenakshi temple. According to the temple authorities, the celestial wedding or Thirukalyanam was scheduled to take place on Apr 14, while the car festival is to be held on Apr 15. The Kallazhagar festival is scheduled to be celebrated on Apr 16.
The festival is celebrated for an entire month. The first 15 days mark the coronation of Meenakshi (Parvathi) as a divine ruler of Madurai and her marriage with Sundareshwar (Shiva).