MADURAI: Thousands of devotees thronged and witnessed the famous ‘Thirukkalyanam’ (Celestial Wedding) of Goddess Meenakshi with Lord Sundareswarar at the world renowned Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple here today.
The divinely wedding was solemnized on a flower-decked stage erected at the junction of North and West Aadi Streets inside the temple premises between the auspicious hours of 8.35 am and 8.59 am amidst chanting of Vedic hymns by the temple priests.
Two Sivachariyas, representing the Goddess and the Lord respectively, placed the diamond-studded ‘Thaali’ (mangalsutra) on the hands of Lord Sundareswarar and then tied it around the neck of Goddess Meenakshi at 8.45 am as part of the ongoing 12-day annual Chithirai Brahmotsavam festival. Following which, a large number of women devotees also renewed their 'mangalsutras'.
Later, the idols of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar were taken out in a grand procession on a palanquin, and on a silver elephant respectively to the ‘Thirukkalyana Mandapam’ for public view.
The event was aired live through LED screens kept in Aadi, Chithirai and Aavani streets around the temple for the convenience of the devotees. In view of the celestial wedding event, the temple administration, to its share, had organized a grand feast for thousands of devotees this afternoon.
During the regal ceremonies of the Chithirai Brahmotsavam, the idol of Goddess Meenakshi is decked in ornaments made of precious stones, including diamond crown, emerald waist chain and other jewels studded with rare sapphires, diamonds and rubies.
The divinely wedding was solemnized on a flower-decked stage erected at the junction of North and West Aadi Streets inside the temple premises between the auspicious hours of 8.35 am and 8.59 am amidst chanting of Vedic hymns by the temple priests.
Two Sivachariyas, representing the Goddess and the Lord respectively, placed the diamond-studded ‘Thaali’ (mangalsutra) on the hands of Lord Sundareswarar and then tied it around the neck of Goddess Meenakshi at 8.45 am as part of the ongoing 12-day annual Chithirai Brahmotsavam festival. Following which, a large number of women devotees also renewed their 'mangalsutras'.
Later, the idols of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar were taken out in a grand procession on a palanquin, and on a silver elephant respectively to the ‘Thirukkalyana Mandapam’ for public view.
The event was aired live through LED screens kept in Aadi, Chithirai and Aavani streets around the temple for the convenience of the devotees. In view of the celestial wedding event, the temple administration, to its share, had organized a grand feast for thousands of devotees this afternoon.
During the regal ceremonies of the Chithirai Brahmotsavam, the idol of Goddess Meenakshi is decked in ornaments made of precious stones, including diamond crown, emerald waist chain and other jewels studded with rare sapphires, diamonds and rubies.