Hi everyone!! Hope the last article about Chithirai Thiruvizha was interesting to read and know about it!! Since you all now know the story behind the festival, in this post am gonna briefly tell you how the festival is being celebrated!!
THE MEENAKSHI - SUNDARESHWARAR FESTIVAL :
On 27th of April(yesterday), the Flag was hoisted in the Meenakshi Amman temple to announce the commencement of the festival. After that, from 28th, it’s a 12 day long festival where Meenakshi Amman(separately) and Sundareshwarar-Piriyavidai(together) will come around the 4 main streets of Madurai in a huge procession every morning and evening.
Everyday, Meenakshi Amman and Sundareshwarar-Piriyavidai take part in the procession in different vehicles, some of them being : The Bull, Elephant, Golden Palanquin, Swan,etc.
The procession will be a grand and colourful affair. The temple cow with a drum beaten by a man leads the whole procession, announcing the commencement to the huge crowd waiting for it on both sides of the roads. It’s followed by the other temple animals like Elephant, Camels and then by a huge gang of kids and elders performing different dance, art forms and also disguised like the Gods. Words would fall short if i try to explain that sight!!!
All these are finally followed by Lord Ganesha, Meenakshi Amman, Sundareshwarar-Piriyavidai and other gods : Veeraraghava Perumal, Murugan.
Day 8 of the festival is the day of coronation for Meenakshi Amman. Followed by this, on Day 9th, is the day when Meenakshi Amman declares and goes to the war against Lord Sundhareshwarar. On this day, both travel in a vehicle called “Indira Viamana”. 2 small boys disguised as Meenakshi and Sundareshwarar sit in their respective vehicles along with them, holding a bow and arrow. On reaching every corner of the streets, the procession pauses, Meenakshi’s vehicle is turned around to face Sundareshwara’s vehicle following behind and the kids in their vehicle enact the war by shooting the arrows. At the end of the procession, Meenakshi amman is engaged and given all gifts and the wedding saree, etc from the groom’s side, for the wedding which is to take place the very next morning!!
So, on Day 10th is the Celestial wedding of Meenakshi-Sundareshwarar in wedding hall present inside the temple. Followed by this, in the evening, Meenakshi Amman, the new bride takes part in the procession in a fresh flower palanquin while the bridegroom along with Piriyavidai come on a silver elephant.
On Day 11, in the morning is the epic chariot procession. A huge number of people, together pull the 2 chariots, one of Meenakshi Amman and the other of Sundareshwarar-Piriyavidai, across the 4 main streets. The power is cut in those areas during the procession to avoid the electrical damages that might be caused due to the height of the Chariots.
And in the evening, with literally no other company, only Meenakshi Amman along with Sundareshwarar and Piriyavidai in a single vehicle come around the 4 main streets. This occasion is also know as “Ther Thadam paarthal”, i.e.. it’s believed that the God and Goddess come together following the track of the chariot, which they road in the morning to make sure that no damage or hurt was caused to any living thing due to that. And also to thank all. ONLY ON THIS DAY, IN THE WHOLE YEAR, MEENAKSHI AMMAN WILL COME TOGETHER WITH SUNDARESHWARAR - PIRIYAVIDAI, IN THE SAME VEHICLE!!!
And finally, Day 12 is the last day of the Meenakshi amman festival, which again takes place as the usual procession and comes to an end.
THE AZHAGAR FESTIVAL :
On 26th April (day before yesterday), the flag was hoisted to announce the commencement of the festival in the Azhagar temple.
On 8th May, a day after the wedding of Meenakshi-Sundareshwarar, Azhagar starts from Azhagar hills to Madurai. Thousands of people from and all around Madurai go to see this ceremony!! People from villages come in bullock carts even today, to keep up the tradition!!
The next 2 days goes in his travel. His Palanquin is carried by men and they travel day and night. All through the way, there are many mandaps(halls) set by the devotees. Azhagar stops at each and every mandap on his way to Madurai and also when returning back, where devotees offer prayers to him and the men carrying Azhagar take rest for a couple of minutes before proceeding again.
When he is on his way to madurai, all through the night people go to see him on the roads. And this is called “Aethir sevai”.
On 10th May, he reaches Vaigai river, and the ceremony of him trying to cross it, coming to know of the marriage and refusing to cross the river in anger, takes place. Lakhs of devotees come together on this day, carrying leather bags filled with sandalwood scented water. They splash this water on Azhagar in the belief of cooling his anger down. The color of the dress worn by Azhagar on this day is said to decide the status of this year in Madurai. If he wears white, the year is predicted to be peaceful, green means that it would be prosperous and red means not so good. There is a process of how the colour of the dress is decided, which am not aware of. That night, he stays at the Thuluka Nachiyar temple, the temple in the name of the Muslim women.
The next day, on 11th May, Mundooka Rishi’s curse is broken by Azhagar. A crane bird is brought to this ceremony and the incident is enacted. And all night, till 12th May morning, Azhagar appear in his Dashavatars (10 Avatars), in a mandap. Then again he starts his procession, around that part of the city, visiting mandaps all day long. During this, people offer aarti in a pot containing jaggery while he passes by on the roads and then share the jaggery with everyone around as a prasad.
Finally on 13th of May, he starts his journey back to Azhagar hills. And even today, after reaching “Kallandhiri” on the way, the offerings box containing the money from the devotees is opened for a particular group of people who are believed to be the descendants of the group which looted along with Azhagar. They are permitted to take a handful of money from it and the rest is taken to the temple. This is followed as a ritual.
On reaching Azhagar hils, Azhagar is not permitted into the temple for 48 days, after which he is whipped and then let inside.
So.. That’s it for the rough schedule of how the festival is being celebrated. The whole month, Madurai dances to the tunes of Chithirai Thiruvizha!! Though it comes every year, the enthusiasm and fun never dies!! Hope you enjoyed knowing about it and will plan to experience it once in the lifetime!! See yaa everyone. 😃
PICS COURTESY : Our sincere thanks to our friend, Mr.Prasenna Kameswaran, for sharing his photographs of last year festival with us. 😊
AZHAGAR PIC COURTESY : Google
THE MEENAKSHI - SUNDARESHWARAR FESTIVAL :
On 27th of April(yesterday), the Flag was hoisted in the Meenakshi Amman temple to announce the commencement of the festival. After that, from 28th, it’s a 12 day long festival where Meenakshi Amman(separately) and Sundareshwarar-Piriyavidai(together) will come around the 4 main streets of Madurai in a huge procession every morning and evening.
Everyday, Meenakshi Amman and Sundareshwarar-Piriyavidai take part in the procession in different vehicles, some of them being : The Bull, Elephant, Golden Palanquin, Swan,etc.
The procession will be a grand and colourful affair. The temple cow with a drum beaten by a man leads the whole procession, announcing the commencement to the huge crowd waiting for it on both sides of the roads. It’s followed by the other temple animals like Elephant, Camels and then by a huge gang of kids and elders performing different dance, art forms and also disguised like the Gods. Words would fall short if i try to explain that sight!!!
All these are finally followed by Lord Ganesha, Meenakshi Amman, Sundareshwarar-Piriyavidai and other gods : Veeraraghava Perumal, Murugan.
Day 8 of the festival is the day of coronation for Meenakshi Amman. Followed by this, on Day 9th, is the day when Meenakshi Amman declares and goes to the war against Lord Sundhareshwarar. On this day, both travel in a vehicle called “Indira Viamana”. 2 small boys disguised as Meenakshi and Sundareshwarar sit in their respective vehicles along with them, holding a bow and arrow. On reaching every corner of the streets, the procession pauses, Meenakshi’s vehicle is turned around to face Sundareshwara’s vehicle following behind and the kids in their vehicle enact the war by shooting the arrows. At the end of the procession, Meenakshi amman is engaged and given all gifts and the wedding saree, etc from the groom’s side, for the wedding which is to take place the very next morning!!
So, on Day 10th is the Celestial wedding of Meenakshi-Sundareshwarar in wedding hall present inside the temple. Followed by this, in the evening, Meenakshi Amman, the new bride takes part in the procession in a fresh flower palanquin while the bridegroom along with Piriyavidai come on a silver elephant.
On Day 11, in the morning is the epic chariot procession. A huge number of people, together pull the 2 chariots, one of Meenakshi Amman and the other of Sundareshwarar-Piriyavidai, across the 4 main streets. The power is cut in those areas during the procession to avoid the electrical damages that might be caused due to the height of the Chariots.
And in the evening, with literally no other company, only Meenakshi Amman along with Sundareshwarar and Piriyavidai in a single vehicle come around the 4 main streets. This occasion is also know as “Ther Thadam paarthal”, i.e.. it’s believed that the God and Goddess come together following the track of the chariot, which they road in the morning to make sure that no damage or hurt was caused to any living thing due to that. And also to thank all. ONLY ON THIS DAY, IN THE WHOLE YEAR, MEENAKSHI AMMAN WILL COME TOGETHER WITH SUNDARESHWARAR - PIRIYAVIDAI, IN THE SAME VEHICLE!!!
And finally, Day 12 is the last day of the Meenakshi amman festival, which again takes place as the usual procession and comes to an end.
THE AZHAGAR FESTIVAL :
On 26th April (day before yesterday), the flag was hoisted to announce the commencement of the festival in the Azhagar temple.
On 8th May, a day after the wedding of Meenakshi-Sundareshwarar, Azhagar starts from Azhagar hills to Madurai. Thousands of people from and all around Madurai go to see this ceremony!! People from villages come in bullock carts even today, to keep up the tradition!!
The next 2 days goes in his travel. His Palanquin is carried by men and they travel day and night. All through the way, there are many mandaps(halls) set by the devotees. Azhagar stops at each and every mandap on his way to Madurai and also when returning back, where devotees offer prayers to him and the men carrying Azhagar take rest for a couple of minutes before proceeding again.
When he is on his way to madurai, all through the night people go to see him on the roads. And this is called “Aethir sevai”.
On 10th May, he reaches Vaigai river, and the ceremony of him trying to cross it, coming to know of the marriage and refusing to cross the river in anger, takes place. Lakhs of devotees come together on this day, carrying leather bags filled with sandalwood scented water. They splash this water on Azhagar in the belief of cooling his anger down. The color of the dress worn by Azhagar on this day is said to decide the status of this year in Madurai. If he wears white, the year is predicted to be peaceful, green means that it would be prosperous and red means not so good. There is a process of how the colour of the dress is decided, which am not aware of. That night, he stays at the Thuluka Nachiyar temple, the temple in the name of the Muslim women.
The next day, on 11th May, Mundooka Rishi’s curse is broken by Azhagar. A crane bird is brought to this ceremony and the incident is enacted. And all night, till 12th May morning, Azhagar appear in his Dashavatars (10 Avatars), in a mandap. Then again he starts his procession, around that part of the city, visiting mandaps all day long. During this, people offer aarti in a pot containing jaggery while he passes by on the roads and then share the jaggery with everyone around as a prasad.
Finally on 13th of May, he starts his journey back to Azhagar hills. And even today, after reaching “Kallandhiri” on the way, the offerings box containing the money from the devotees is opened for a particular group of people who are believed to be the descendants of the group which looted along with Azhagar. They are permitted to take a handful of money from it and the rest is taken to the temple. This is followed as a ritual.
On reaching Azhagar hils, Azhagar is not permitted into the temple for 48 days, after which he is whipped and then let inside.
So.. That’s it for the rough schedule of how the festival is being celebrated. The whole month, Madurai dances to the tunes of Chithirai Thiruvizha!! Though it comes every year, the enthusiasm and fun never dies!! Hope you enjoyed knowing about it and will plan to experience it once in the lifetime!! See yaa everyone. 😃
PICS COURTESY : Our sincere thanks to our friend, Mr.Prasenna Kameswaran, for sharing his photographs of last year festival with us. 😊
AZHAGAR PIC COURTESY : Google
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