Meenakshi Amman
Temple – Festivals
The most important festival associated with the temple
is the "Meenakshi Thirukkalyanam" (the divine marriage of Meenakshi) that is
celebrated in April every year. The wedding of the divine couple is regarded as a classic
instance of south Indian female-dominated marriage, an arrangement referred as
"Madurai marriage".
The male dominated marriage is called "Chidambaram
marriage", referring to Shiva's uncontested dominance, ritual and mythic,
at the famous Shiva temple of Chidambaram. The marriage brings together rural and urban
people, deities and mortals, Saivas (those who worship Shiva) and Vaishnavas (those who
worship Vishnu) in order to celebrate Meenakshi as the royal monarch.
During the one-month period, there are a number of
events including the "Ther Thiruvizha" (chariot festival) and
"Theppa Thiruvizha" (float festival). Major Hindu festivals
like Navarathri and Shivrathri are celebrated in the temple.
Like most Shakti temples in Tamil Nadu, the Fridays
during the Tamil months of Aadi (July–August)
and Thai (January–February) are celebrated in the temple by thousands
of devotees.
"Avani Moola Utsavam" is a 10-day festival
mainly devoted to Sundareswarar describes his various Thiruvilayadal meaning
Shiva's sacred games.
Festivals are celebrated in this temple throughout the
year. Festivals celebrated per month are listed below
Chithirai
Month (mid-April to mid-May):
The Chitra festival is celebrated for 12 days during the
Tamil month of Chitrai (April in the English calendar) and begins with the flag
hoisting on the first day. On the 8th day the coronation of Meenakshi Amman
takes place. On the 9th day the Goddess is taken out in procession.
On the 10th day the celestial wedding of Goddess
Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar is performed, followed by car festival the
next day, Theertha festival is celebrated on the 12th day with the Lord and
Goddess going round Masi streets.
Vaikasi
Month (mid-May to mid-June):
The spring festival is hosted for ten days during this
month. On the 10th day milk mango offerings would be offered to the deities. The
Lord and Goddess would proceed to the New Mandapam stay there and be taken out
in process. On the day of Moola star, the procession of 63 Saints would be
conducted in the morning and at night Tirugnanasambandar would be taken out in
procession.
Aani
Month (mid-June to mid-July):
Oonjal festival would be conducted for ten days during
this month. On the 10th day, the triple fruit pooja would be performed.
Abhishekam would be performed for Sivakami Amman and Arulmighu Nadaraajar on
the day of Uthiram. The Panchasabha Nadaraja Moorthy would be taken out in
procession along the fur Masi streets.
Aadi
Month (mid-July to mid-August):
The Aadi Mulaikottu festival is celebrated for 10 days
during this month. The festival would be confined to only to the Amman, who will
be taken out in procession along Aadi streets. Special recitals of Nadaswaram
would be the highlight of this festival.
Aavani
Month (mid-August to mid-September):
The Aavani festival would be conducted for 18 days. Six
days of the festival would be devoted to Arulmighu Chandrashekarar and the
balance 12 days would be for the Panchamurthis. On the 7th day of the festival,
coronation would be performed for Sundareswarar and on the 8th day the horse
reins would be exchanged.
On the 9th day the episode of Lord Sivaperuman carrying
soil for earning Pittu would be enacted while the theertham on the occasion of
the joining of Avittam and Pooranai would be celebrated.
On the same night, Arulmighu Tiruparankundram
Subramaniyar and Thiruvadhavur Arulmighu Manickavasaka Peruman would bid
farewell.
During the festival of Chandrashekarar, procession would
be taken out along the second corridor of Swami Shrine. The Panchamurthis would
be taken around in procession along Aavani Moola streets. During these days the
ten miracles performed by the Lord of Madurai would be enacted by the Sivacharyas.
Purattasi
(mid-September to mid-October):
The Navarathri festival would be celebrated for Amman in
a grand manner during this month. Amman would appear in a separate dress and
look every day and bless the devotees at the `kolu mandapam’ in Amman Sannidhi.
Kalpa pooja and Lakshrachana would be performed everyday
for the Amman at the sanctum. On the 10th day the washing of hair ceremony
would be performed. On that Panchamurthis would be taken out in procession
within the temple premises.
On all ten days of the festival cultural festivals would
be hosted in a grand manner. The entire temple complex would be bathed in
colour lamps and the dolls would be arranged in a manner to find a niche in the
hearts of the devotees.
Aippasi
(mid-October to mid-November):
Kanda Sashti festival would be celebrated for six days
at the Koodal Kumarar Sannidhi. Surasamharam is not performed here. On the
seventh day when Arulmighu Muthukumarar goes out in procession, `Pavadai
Dharshan’ would be conducted.
On the day of Deepavali festival, a durbar would be held
for the employees of the temple.
On the days of Pooram in this month, the ceremony of
hoisting and swinging Meenakshi Amman would be performed.
Karthigai
Month (mid-November to mid-December):
Deepam (lights) festival would be conducted for ten days
during this month. Swamy would be taken out in procession along the Aadi
streets. On the day of Karthigai one lakh lamps would be lit in the temple. On
that day a bonfire would be lit in East Masi Street.
Margazhi
(mid-December to mid-January):
Oil anointing ceremony would be conducted for nine days
in this month at the New Mandapam. Arulmighu Meenakshi Amman would be taken out
in procession along the Chitra streets. On the day of Tiruvadhirai, Arudhra
Dharshan will take place. Pancha Sabha Nataraja Moorthigal would be taken in
procession along the Masi streets.
On the day of Ashtami the Lord and Goddess would ride
the oxen vehicle and go round Kottai streets. Tiruvembavai festival would be
conducted for ten days. Every day, Arulmighu Manickavasagar would be taken out
in procession along Aadi streets in the mornings.
On the 10th rotating wheel and golden spring ceremonies
would be conducted. In the mornings Tiruvembavai and Thiruppalli Yezhutchi
lyrics would be recited and there will be religious discourses by spiritual
leaders. Competitions would be conducted for school and college students and
prizes presented.
Thai
(mid-January to mid-February):
The float festival would be conducted for 12 days during
the month. Swamy and Amman would be taken out in procession along the Chitra
streets. On the 8th day the casting of net festival would be held while
theertham festival and the pushing of the float would be held on the 10th day.
On the 11th day harvesting of sheaves and on the 12th day the float festival would
be conducted.
Maasi
(mid-February to mid-March):
The Maasi Mandala festival would be conducted for a Mandalam
(48 days). Six days of the festival is devoted to Arulmighu Vinayaka and six
days for Arulmighu Kumar and three days for the triumvirate and six days for Chandrashekarar.
The deities would be taken out in procession along the
second corridor of Swamy Sannidhi. Panchamoorthy festival would be celebrated
for ten days, when they will be taken out in procession along the Chitra
streets. Theertham would be held on the day of Maham.
Silent festival would be conducted for nine days of
which three days would be for Chandrashekarar and an equal number of days for
Swamy and Chandikeshwarar. On the 10th day, the flag would be lowered and
accounts read.
Panguni
(mid-March to mid-April):
The summer spring festival would be hosted for nine days
at the Velliaymbala mandapam. Swamy and Amman would be taken in procession
along Chitra streets. On the day of Panguni Uthiram, Swamy and Amman would
proceed to Arulmighu Thiruvappudayar temple and bless those who excel in their
religious belief by sprinkling `rasa vadham’.