Chithirai Thiruvizha festival is one of the longest festivals in the world. It takes place in Madurai from April -May every year. Chithirai festival was scheduled to be celebrated between 25 April to 10 May in 2020. However, the celebrations were impacted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The wedding ceremonies of the Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareshwara were conducted on 4 May between 9.05 AM to 9.29 AM as per auspicious timings. This event was live-streamed on the internet for the common devotees.
During the festival usually, lakhs of people visit Madurai. The entire city bustles with a vibrant festive spirit. Mandagapadis are erected, the Meenakshi temple is filled with devotees. Speakers blare with religious verses, roadside vendors sell everything from toys to buttermilk.
Locals open up their houses for the pilgrims. Everyone girl or boy is out there in their best colors having fun and soaking the atmosphere in spite of the scorching Madurai summer.
Meenakshi Festival
The Legend of a Daughter with Three Breasts
Legend has it that a Yagna was performed by King Malayadwaja Pandya and his wife Kanchamalai seeking a successor. However, a three-year-old daughter with three breasts was born. The intervention of Lord Shiva instructs that she must be raised like a son and then when she meets her husband, the third breast would disappear.
The daughter grows up to be a skilled warrior, ascends the throne of Madurai and meets Lord Shiva who was in his form of Sundareshwar at the battle in Kailash. The third breast disappears and she takes her form as Meenakshi, an avatar of Goddess Parvati. The marriage of Meenakshi and Sundareshwar was huge with all celestial and mortal beings gathered to witness the historic event.
Meenakshi Festival
This was celebrated as the ‘Meenakshi festival’ for fifteen days which starts with the Kodi Yetram – flag hoisting by the chief priest of the Meenakshi Temple. It is followed by the Pattabhishekam – the coronation ceremony of Meenakshi. Next is the Dikvijayam, when Meenakshi meets Sundareshwar and falls in love with him. Then comes the highlight, the Meenakshi Thirukalyanam – the grand marriage of Meenakshi and Sundareshwar.
Thousands arrive at the temple in the early hours to witness this celestial spectacle. Once married, Meenakshi and Sundareshwar head out to the city in their chariot to greet their subjects and this is observed as the Ther Thiruvizha. During this, the streets around the temple are filled with people struggling to see their beloved God and Goddess.
Algar Festival
Alagar festival was celebrated in the next fifteen days with the entry of Lord Kallalagar into the Vaigai river as the highlight.
Legend says that Mandooka Rishi, a saint was bathing in the Aagayaganga river in Alagar Hills when Durvasar (Durvasa) Rishi a powerful and ill-tempered saint passed by. Mandooka Rishi failed to acknowledge him which angered Durvasar Rishi and he cursed Mandooka Rishi to spend the rest of his life as a frog in the Vaigai river.
Mandooka Rishi prayed and pleaded to Lord Alagar (an avatar of Lord Vishnu) to lift his curse. Lord Alagar was impressed and arrived at the river to lift his curse and also demonstrated all his ten avatars on his request.
To commemorate this journey of Lord Alagar into the city and the river, the Alagar festival is observed annually. The festival kicks off with Lord Alagar emerging from his abode at Alagar Kovil. He then travels through the city and stops at Mandagapadis where people crowd to seek his blessings.
The entry of Lord Alagar into the river is marked with pomp and joy. Thousands of devotees wait all night to witness this event and as dawn breaks, the entire area is a sea of human heads with everyone wanting a glimpse of The Almighty. After this the demonstration of the ten avatars, Dasavataram takes place.
Chithirai Thiruvizha Festival
Initially, the Meenakshi festival and the Alagar festival were celebrated by the Saivaites and Vaishnavaites respectively. Thirumalai Nayakar, during his reign, merged both the festivals into one and was celebrated for fifteen days during the Tamil month Chithirai. It was done to establish harmony between the Saivaites and Vaishnavaites who had their differences at many points in history.
This gave birth to a new story behind the festival. It was said that Lord Vishnu was Meenakshi’s brother. Lord Vishnu left Srivaikuntam, his abode to participate in his sister’s marriage. He disguised as a robber (Kallar) to protect himself along the way. But he couldn’t reach on time and they were married without his presence.
This angered the Lord who then vowed to never set foot in Madurai and all the gifts he brought for the marriage were exchanged in a mandapam in the middle of the Vaigai river. After this, the Lord settled in Azhagar Kovil on the outskirts of Madurai.
One of the Longest Festival in the World
Today Chithirai Thiruvizha is one of the longest festivals in the world which is celebrated in the month of Chithirai in commemoration of the wedding of Lord Shiva and Goddess Meenakshi.
This one-month grand celebration in which the first fifteen days are for the coronation of Goddess Minakshi and marriage with Lord Sundareshwara (Thirukalyanam) and later fifteen days are for Lord Algar’s journey to Madurai is a prime example of the cultural wealth of India.