Meenakshi Thirukalyanam 2023 Date, Time, Rituals, and Significance
The celestial union of Meenakshi Amman and Lord Shiva is commemorated during the Meenakshi Thirukalyanam festival. One of the largest events in Madurai, the cultural centre of Tamil Nadu, is this large celebration. Legend has it that Lord Shiva once travelled to Madurai to exchange vows with Meenakshi, and ever since, this custom has been practised. Devotees from all over the world travel to Madurai to the famous “Meenakshi Amman Temple” to see this wonderful event, which occurs there every year. Meenakshi Thirukalyanam, which is a component of the well-known Chithirai festival, takes place on the tenth day. To witness Lord Sundareswarar (Lord Shiva) and Meenakshi’s heavenly wedding, lakhs of devotees from Madurai and surrounding areas visit the “Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple” on this auspicious day (Goddess Parvati). Many devotees swarm the temples in search of their lords’ supernatural blessings.
Meenakshi Thirukalyanam Date 2023
Monday, May 1, 2023
Rituals of Meenakshi Thirukalyanam
- Devotees arrive at the Meenakshi Madurai temple at sunrise on the day of Meenakshi Thirukalyanam. They dress neatly after taking a sacred bath in the Golden Lotus pond.
- Prior to offering prayers to “Viboothi Vinayakar,” Goddess Meenakshi is first worshipped using traditional practises.
- On this day, worshippers chant bhajans and devotional songs.
- Wearing the sacred ash, or “Uthiraksham,” before entering the temple grounds is also regarded as lucky.
- To present to their lords, devotees frequently carry fruits, coconuts, and incense sticks.
- The Gods and Goddesses’ idols are dressed in lovely silk garments and flower garlands inside the temple.
- In addition to this, the entire temple is dressed as a bride on the day of Meenakshi Thirukalyanam.
- The Meenakshi Madurai temple has close to 50 priests who conduct the puja rites and special prayers.
- The ceremonial wedding rites are conducted by the chief priests of the temple.
- At the conclusion of the celebration, majestic statues of Lord Sundareswarar and Lady Meenakshi Amman are carried out on the streets in the “Pushpa Pallakku” and “Yaanai Vahanam” procession.
Significance of Meenakshi Thirukalyanam
Meenakshi Thirukalyanam is a celebration that is a part of the well-known “Chithirai Thiruvizha” festival. The Tamil calendar’s month of “Chitirai” is when this event is celebrated. According to the Gregorian calendar, Madurai celebrates Chithirai Thiruvizha every year in the month of April with a lot of fanfare. It is regarded as the longest festival in the world, lasting a whole month (30 days). The first 15 days of this are devoted to Goddess Meenakshi, a manifestation of Goddess Parvati, and the final 15 days are devoted to Alagar, a form of Mahavishnu. Alagar, Meenakshi’s older brother, travelled to Madurai to witness the union of Meenakshi and Lord Shiva.