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Sunday, April 10, 2011

Chithirai Festival சித்திரை திருவிழா (Chithirai Thiruvizha)

Chithirai festival is celebrated for 12 days during the Tamil month of Chithirai at the world famous Madurai Meenakshi Sundareshwar Temple at Madurai in Tamil Nadu.
This year 2011 the festivals starts on April 6 2011 and will be celebrated till April 20, 2011

History
Lord Kallazhagar (Lord Vishnu) came mounted on a golden horse to Madurai from Azhagar Kovil, a famous Vishnu temple near Madurai, to participate in the celestial wedding of his sister Meenakshi. However, he arrives late and misses the wedding. Furious, he gets into the river, and then proceeds back home. 


The Chithirai festival begins with flag hoisting ceremony











Important rituals associated with the festival are -

the coronation(Pattabhishekam) of Meenakshi Amman on the 8th day - April 14 2011
















procession of Goddess Meenakshi(Annai Meenakshi Thikku Vijayam) on the 9th day - April 15 2011
Thirukalyanam or celestial wedding of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar on the 10th day - April 16 2011















the procession of temple chariots (car festival) on the 11th day - April 17 2011





















the Theertha festival is celebrated on the 12th day with the Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi going round Masi streets and blessing the devotees
Arulmigu Kallazhagar Edhir sevai

















































Arulmigu Kallazhagar at Vaigai River in Golden Horse - April 18 2011
 






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