Masi Streets Filled with Devotees – Kailasa Spectacle Enthralls Crowd

The third day of the Madurai Chithirai Festival was celebrated with grandeur on Tuesday (April 21, 2026), drawing large crowds of devotees to witness both morning and night processions. Beginning around 7:00 AM, the deity was taken in a golden chariot procession through the four Masi streets, reaching the Kalyana Sundara Mudaliyar Mandagapadi inside the temple premises for rituals. The procession concluded with the deity returning to the temple around 9:30 AM. In the evening, at approximately 7:00 PM, the night procession featuring the Kailasa Parvatham and Kamadhenu vahanams commenced along the same route, concluding at around 10:30 PM with devotees gathering in large numbers to receive blessings.

Festival Highlights and Key Details:
Four Masi Streets, temple premises, Kalyana Sundara Mudaliyar Mandagapadi, devotees, temple administration
Heavy crowd turnout, traffic congestion, heightened devotional atmosphere, strengthened security arrangements
Morning golden chariot procession, night Kailasa Parvatham–Kamadhenu procession, police monitoring, traffic diversions
Spiritual symbolism of the third day, increased religious participation, ritual performances, mythological narration of Sama Veda

The third day holds deep spiritual significance, symbolizing the removal of various layers of worldly bondage, including three types of karma, thirty-six tattvas, three gunas, and three impurities. The night procession highlights the mythological episode of Ravana and Mount Kailasa. According to legend, Ravana, driven by arrogance, attempted to lift Mount Kailasa, the abode of Lord Shiva. In response, Lord Shiva pressed the mountain down with His toe, trapping Ravana beneath it. Realizing his mistake, Ravana is said to have played music using his own nerves and sang Sama Veda hymns in devotion, which pleased Lord Shiva, who then granted him grace.

This episode symbolizes the destruction of ego and the transformation of arrogance into devotion through surrender. It also represents the concept of “Sthiti” — preservation and protection by the divine.

Temple authorities confirmed that all events were conducted smoothly with adequate security arrangements in place.