The 2026 Chithirai Festival at the Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple is scheduled to be held from April 18 to April 30 over 12 days. The festival begins with Vastu Shanti on April 18 and will be officially inaugurated with the flag-hoisting ceremony on April 19. A series of daily morning and evening rituals, processions, vahana services, and special temple events have been planned throughout the festival period. Major highlights include Meenakshi Pattabhishekam on April 26, Meenakshi Digvijayam on April 27, the celestial wedding of Meenakshi and Sundareswarar on April 28, and the grand temple car procession on April 29. A large turnout of devotees is expected in Madurai during the celebrations.
Key events:
Vastu Shanti, Chithirai Festival flag hoisting, Silver Simhasanam procession, Golden Chapparam, Golden Pallakku, Rishaba Vahanam, Meenakshi Pattabhishekam, Meenakshi Digvijayam, Thirukalyanam, Temple Car Festival
| Date | Day | Event | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 April 2026 | Saturday | Vastu Shanthi | – |
| 19 April 2026 | Sunday | Day 1 | |
| 19 April 2026 | Sunday | Chithirai Festival Flag Hoisting | Morning – Time will be updated soon |
| 19 April 2026 | Sunday | Silver Simhasanam Procession | – |
| 19 April 2026 | Sunday | Karpaga Virutcham, Simha Vahanam | 7:00 PM to 10:30 PM |
| 20 April 2026 | Monday | Day 2 | |
| 20 April 2026 | Monday | Golden Chapparam | 7:00 AM to 9:30 AM |
| 20 April 2026 | Monday | Bootha, Anna Vahanam | 7:00 PM to 10:30 PM |
| 21 April 2026 | Tuesday | Day 3 | |
| 21 April 2026 | Tuesday | Golden Chapparam | 7:00 AM to 9:30 AM |
| 21 April 2026 | Tuesday | Kailasa Parvatham, Kamadhenu Vahanam | 7:00 PM to 10:30 PM |
| 22 April 2026 | Wednesday | Day 4 | |
| 22 April 2026 | Wednesday | Golden Pallakku | From 9:00 AM |
| 22 April 2026 | Wednesday | Golden Pallakku | 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM |
| 23 April 2026 | Thursday | Day 5 | |
| 23 April 2026 | Thursday | Golden Chapparam | From 9:00 AM |
| 23 April 2026 | Thursday | Golden Horse Vahanam – Vedar Pari Leelai | 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM |
| 24 April 2026 | Friday | Day 6 | |
| 24 April 2026 | Friday | Golden Chapparam | 7:30 AM to 10:30 AM |
| 24 April 2026 | Friday | Thirugnanasambandar Historical Leelai | 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM |
| 24 April 2026 | Friday | Rishaba Vahanam | 7:30 PM to 11:00 PM |
| 25 April 2026 | Saturday | Day 7 | |
| 25 April 2026 | Saturday | Sri Kangaalanathar Procession | 8:00 AM to 10:30 AM |
| 25 April 2026 | Saturday | Swami and Ambal Procession | 12:00 PM |
| 25 April 2026 | Saturday | Nandikeswarar, Yaali Vahanam | 7:00 PM to 10:30 PM |
| 26 April 2026 | Sunday | Day 8 | |
| 26 April 2026 | Sunday | Golden Pallakku | From 10:00 AM |
| 26 April 2026 | Sunday | Meenakshi Pattabhishekam | 7:35 PM to 7:59 PM |
| 26 April 2026 | Sunday | Silver Simhasanam Procession | 9:00 PM to 11:00 PM |
| 27 April 2026 | Monday | Day 9 | |
| 27 April 2026 | Monday | Maravarna Chapparam | 7:00 AM to 9:30 AM |
| 27 April 2026 | Monday | Meenakshi Digvijayam | 6:00 PM to 11:30 PM |
| 28 April 2026 | Tuesday | Day 10 – Thirukalyanam | |
| 28 April 2026 | Tuesday | Silver Simhasanam | From 4:00 AM |
| 28 April 2026 | Tuesday | Subramania Swamy Procession | From 6:00 AM |
| 28 April 2026 | Tuesday | Kanni Oonjal | – |
| 28 April 2026 | Tuesday | Meenakshi Sundareswarar Thirukalyanam | Morning – Time will be updated soon |
| 28 April 2026 | Tuesday | Elephant Vahanam, Pushpa Pallakku | 7:30 PM to 11:30 PM |
| 29 April 2026 | Wednesday | Day 11 – Therottam | |
| 29 April 2026 | Wednesday | Ratharohanam | – |
| 29 April 2026 | Wednesday | Temple Car Pulling Ceremony | From 6:30 AM |
| 29 April 2026 | Wednesday | Sapthavarna Chapparam | 7:00 PM to 10:30 PM |
| 30 April 2026 | Thursday | Day 12 | |
| 30 April 2026 | Thursday | Devendra Pooja | Noon |
| 30 April 2026 | Thursday | Silver Rishabam Sevai | 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM |
| 30 April 2026 | Thursday | Farewell Ceremony | 9:00 PM |
