One day, little Chinnappa asked his mother,
“Mama, what is the Chithirai Festival?”
His mother smiled and said,
“Look, Chinnappa, this is a big story… In Madurai, our goddess Meenakshi got married. That’s why we celebrate this festival!”
She was the daughter of a king but not an ordinary girl — she was brave and wise! Our Lord Shiva, in the form of Sundareswarar, came to marry her.
Their wedding was celebrated with great joy by everyone. This divine marriage is what we call the Thirukalyanam Festival.
Meenakshi Amman had a big brother named Azhagar Perumal. He lives on Azhagar Hill. For his sister’s wedding, he got dressed up beautifully and started coming down. But by the time he arrived, the wedding was already over!
Angrily, he said,
“I won’t enter!”
and went down into the Vaigai River, where he gave the wedding gifts (called Thogai) and then returned.
His arrival and descent into the river is celebrated as a grand festival.
“This festival is the pride of Madurai! It showcases our culture, faith, and devotion — the grand Chithirai Festival!”
The Chithirai Festival is a grand temple festival celebrated every year in the Tamil month of Chithirai (April-May) in Madurai. It uniquely brings together both Shaivism and Vaishnavism traditions.
During the rule of the Pandya kings, their daughter was Meenakshi Devi—believed to be an incarnation of Goddess Parvati. From a young age, she was known for her bravery and wisdom.
Once, before going to war in the northern lands, she met Lord Shiva and recognized him as her life partner. Shiva then came to Madurai as Sundareswarar and married her.
Called the Meenakshi-Sundareswarar Thirukalyanam, this sacred wedding is celebrated with grandeur every year at the Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai.
Meenakshi’s brother Azhagar Perumal (Vishnu) set out from Azhagar Hill to attend the wedding but found it was already finished when he arrived. Disappointed, he descended into the Vaigai River, gave his gifts, and returned.
This event is commemorated annually as Azhagar’s descent into the Vaigai River.
| Day | Event |
|---|---|
| 1st Day | Flag Hoisting |
| 5th Day | Meenakshi Pattabhishekam (Coronation) |
| 8th Day | Meenakshi-Sundareswarar Wedding (Thirukalyanam) |
| 9th Day | Chariot Procession (Therottam) |
| 10th Day | Azhagar’s Descent into Vaigai River |