CHITHRAI FESTIVAL
One of the biggest celebrations in Madurai is the two week long Chithirai Festival, which lasts for about a month. The festival reenacts the wedding of Lord Sundareswarar and Goddess Meenakshi. The festival dates back four hundred years. During the festival, the streets of Madurai are decorated with colorful lights and processions of deities are taken out in the streets.
A tribute to Meenakshi, the queen of Madurai and daughter of Malayadhvaja Pandya and Kanchanamalai. 'Meenakshi' is the goddess with fisheyes and an aspect of Parvati. The illustration below represents her readiness for marriage with Sundareswarar in Madurai.
This celestial wedding witnessed a huge gathering of gods and goddesses in attendance, with Lord Vishnu, who was also Meenakshi’s brother, conducting the ceremony. Every year, a grand celebration is held at the Meenakshi Temple in Madurai commemorating the holy union of the goddess Meenakshi Amma and Lord Sundareswarar.
Kallaghar River Descent or Alaghar River Descent is a Saiva Vainava unity festival celebrated in the ancient city of Madurai in the month of Chitrai. Legend has it, Lord Kallazhagar rode a golden horse to the celestial wedding of his sister Meenakshi.
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