Teppam Festival in Madurai Flag Hoisting on Jan 21, Grand Main Event on Feb 1

The flag hoisting ceremony for the Teppam Festival at the world-famous Madurai Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple will be held on Wednesday (January 21).

The Teppam Festival is traditionally celebrated every year during the Thai month on the full moon (Pournami) day. Accordingly, this year’s festival begins on January 21. The flag hoisting will take place between 10:05 am and 10:29 am.

Following this, throughout the festival days, Meenakshi Sundareswarar, along with the Panchamoorthis, will go on procession twice daily, in the morning and evening, around the four Chithirai streets.

Key events of the festival include:

• 6th day (Jan 26): Saiva Samaya Sthabitha historical leela
• 8th day (Jan 28): Machakandiyar wedding enactment
• 9th day (Jan 29): Swami procession on the Sapthavarana chariot
• 10th day (Jan 30): Teppam muttuthallal ritual
• 11th day (Jan 31): Kathir Aruppu festival

The main Teppam Festival will be held on February 1. On this day, in the early hours, Swami with Piriyavidai and Amman separately will set out with the Panchamoorthis and proceed to the Muktheeswarar Temple located near Vandiyur Teppakulam.

After special abhishekam and rituals, Swami and Amman will grace the decorated float at the Teppakulam and bless devotees. The float will circle the tank twice during the daytime and once at night on a float illuminated with electric lights. Later, the deities will return to the temple around midnight.

Arrangements for the festival are being carried out by Trustee Committee Chairperson Rukmani Thyagarajan, Joint Commissioner N. Suresh, and the temple trustees.