The famous Chithirai festival (April May) at Madurai took place this month on a grand scale witnessed by more than a million people covering roughly a month. No doubt the city called ''Thoonga nagaram'' - the city that never sleeps, wore a festive look and the traders big and small had a hectic sales.
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| Alagar getting into Vaigai river, Madurai TN thehindu.com |
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| Alagar getting into Vaigai river, TN kalpavrikshamedia.com |
The first half of the event (roughly 15 days)- celestial wedding of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar, normally called locally Meenakshi Thirukalyanam, took place in the morning between 8:30 am and 9 am on May 8, 2025, with devotion and this was followed by the idol of Lord Kallalagar (God Vishnu) from the nearby
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| Meenakshi Kalyanam chariot festival kalpavrikshamedia.com, |
temple wearing green silk (mark of prosperity in agriculture) mounted on iconic golden horse (Vahana) entered the river near the main bridge and a sea of humanity descended on the the site to witness this annual event that took place a few days ago on Monday morning around 5.45 am. before the event Kallalagar, the processional deity of Sundaraja Perumal temple of Kallalagar hill temple, proceeded toward Madurai in a religious procession from Thirumaliruncholai or Alagar Kovil on Saturday and arrived at the HR & CE department mandagapadi built in the Vaigai river. Upon his arrival, people who had converged on the river banks in Goripalayam to get the Lord's blessings.
Kallalagar, the processional deity of Sundaraja Perumal temple of Kallalagar hill temple, proceeded toward Madurai in a religious procession from Thirumaliruncholai or Alagar Kovil on Saturday and arrived at the HR & CE department mandagapadi built in the Vaigai river. Upon his arrival, people who had converged on the river banks in Goripalayam to get the Lord's blessings.
On Sunday night this May, Kallalagar arrived at Prasanna Venkatachalapathy temple in Tallakulam. Around 2.30 am, customary rituals were performed and the deity was adorned in green silk and placed on the iconic golden horse vahanam for his journey to Madurai. Tradition has it, the processional deity of Koodal Alagar temple, Lord Veera Ragava Perumal mounted on a silver horse vahanam received Kallalagar into the Vaigai river.
After circling the platform built inside the river three times, Kallagar proceeded on the Vaigai North bank road to Ramarayar Mandapam where ‘theertha vaari (spraying of water) ritual’ was performed. Thousands of devotees disguised as deities Kallalagar and Pathinettam Padi Karuppu sprayed scented water on the deity using leather bags Thopparai. Later, the procession proceeded to Vandiyur Perumal temple.
After the entry of Kallalagar into River Vaigai, the deity was taken in a procession to the Thenur mandapam (hall) on Tuesday. Here, the ritual of removing the the curse of sage Manduga cast by an angry sage was taken place in the presence of a large crowds of devotees. As requested by the sage Manduga, the lord obliged him with all 10 Avatars.
On Tuesday(13th May) Kallalagar mounted on a golden sesha vahana was taken in a procession to the Thenur mandapam in the Vaigai bed. This was followed by the Kallalagar procession to Ramarayar mandapam where he was worshipped on a golden Garuda vahana. On Wednesday 14th appeared in Mohini Avataram Kallalagar began his journey back to his abode the Alagar hills, near Madurai city.
As per the ritual, fulfilling the wish of sage Manduga, Kallalagar shows all his 10 avatars (dasavathara darisanam). The rituals are scheduled to be performed at the Ramarayar mandapam. Later on Wednesday, the deity will be adorned in mohini alangaram and will begin the journey back to the Alagar hills. The purpose of his visit was to attend his sister Meenakshi (Parvati) wit Suderesar (form of Shiva) with costly gifts. To avoid robbers in the dense forest, wearing the guise of a robber, he proceeded to Madurai. Upon knowing that the celestial wedding had taken place, a bit disappointed he got back to his abode after lifting the curse on sage Moduga. It is said during his stint in Madurai, Lord Kallazhagar attended more than 470 mandapadi with ethirsevai and honor.
Countless people deplore the fact the city after the Chithirai festival never maintained the river banks on both sided and the invasive plants will start growing again. They clear the river site only during the main festival events and after it was over, the entire site is left uncared for. The govt. agency HR & CE does the same thing.
https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2025/May/13/lord-kallalagar-enters-vaigai-sea-of-humanity-converges-in-madurai
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