Indian Festivals
Madurai Chithirai Festival 2023
Apr
Madurai is a famous south part of the Tamil Nadu, Madurai is one of the popular art-culture places with affluence. Madurai is a symbol tradition and festival as well as Chithirai is the first month of Tamil During the time festivity celebrated place of the Meenakshi temple also it is a remarkable festivity in Madurai.
Indian festivals are world-renowned as well as the Chitirai festival is the most famous traditional festivity in Madurai in the South part of TamilNadu. Many people came to visit this festival from other states and continents. This celebration starts with Kodiyettram (Flag Hosting) it mentions the begins of the festivity. Chitra festival glimpse of our ancient culture, traditions, and customs among all festivals. Traditionally, this celebration performs on Tamil first month and the Chithirai festival. Being celebrated on the fifth day of April/May as per the English Gregorian calendar. However, the Thiruvizha generates, auspicious of the month of Tamil.
This festival witnesses the marriage of Lord Sundareswarar or Lord Shiva and goddess Meenakshi. Who was Lord Vishnu’s sister and thus signifies the unification of people from all castes and creeds? It starts from the flag hoisting ceremony followed by the rituals which last long for two weeks during this time traditional drama, dance, and music plays in front of the devotes.
History
Goddess Meenakshi is the daughter of King Pandiya and she is the incarnation of Shakti. However, the Goddess Meenakshi was the younger sister of Kallazhagar (incarnation of Lord Vishnu and when the goddess married Lord Sundareswarar, her brother could not visit her in person. The married couple went to meet Lord Vishnu at the Vaigai river where Lord Vishnu went inside the river to present his gifts to the couple. Chithirai festival marks this incident and celebrates it with full enthusiasm.
Procedure
Traditionally, every year this festival started by flag hoisting ceremony in Madurai Meenakshi temple. Flag hoisting signifies the emergence of two-week-long festivities, and everyone starts to prepare for the same.
Whenever this festival starts with Kodi Yetram and ends on deity Pattabhishekam.
Madurai Chithirai Festival Dates 2023:
| Day | Date | Day | Slot | Time | Festival |
|
1st Day
|
05 April 2023
|
Tue
|
Morning | 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM | Kodiyetram (Flag Hoisting) |
| Evening | 19:00 | Karpaga Vriksha, Simha Vahanam | |||
|
2nd Day
|
06 April 2023
|
Wed
|
Morning | 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM | Thanga Sapparam |
| Evening | 19:00 | Bootha, Anna Vahanam | |||
|
3rd Day
|
07 April 2023
|
Thu
|
Morning | 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM | Thanga Sapparam |
| Evening | 19:00 | Kailasa Parvadham, Kamadhenu Vahanam | |||
|
4th Day
|
08 April 2023
|
Fri
|
Morning | 09:00 | Thanga Pallakku |
| Evening | 18:00 | Thanga Pallakku | |||
|
5th Day
|
09 April 2023
|
Sat
|
Morning | 09:00 | Thanga Sapparam |
| Evening | 19:00 | Thanga Kuthirai Vahanam | |||
|
6th Day
|
10 April 2023
|
Sun
|
Morning | 08:00 | Thanga Sapparam |
| Evening | 19:30 | Saiva Samaya Sthabitha Varalatru Leelai – Rishaba Vahanam | |||
|
7th Day
|
11 April 2023
|
Mon
|
Morning | 08:00 | Thanga Sapparam |
| Evening | 19:00 | Nantheekeshwarar, Yaali Vahanam | |||
|
8th Day
|
12 April 2023
|
Tue
|
Morning | Sree Meenakshi Pattabhishekam | |
| Evening | 21:00 | Velli Simhasana (Kaibaram) | |||
| 9th Day | 13 April 2023 | Wed | Evening | 18:00 | Sree Meenakshi Digvijayam – Indira Vimanam |
|
10th Day
|
14 April 2023
|
Thu
|
Morning | 10:35 AM – 10:59 AM | Sree Meenakshi Sundareshwarar Thirukalyanam |
| Evening | 19:30 | Yaanai Vahanam, Pushpa Pallakku | |||
|
11th Day
|
15 April 2023
|
Fri
|
Morning | 06:30 | Thiru Therottam – (Ratha Utsavam, Vadam Pidithal) |
| Evening | 19:00 | Sapthavarna Chapram | |||
| 12th Day | 16 April 2023 | Sat | Sri Kallazhagar Vaigai Aatril Ezhuntharural 1000 Ponsaprathudan – Night Saithyobacharam at Vandiyur |
||
| 13th Day | 17 April 2023 | Sun | Thirumalirunsolai Sri Kal Azhagar – Vandiyur Thenur Mandapam – Sesha Vahanam in Morning – Garuda Vahanam in the Afternoon – Moksham for Manduga Maharishi – Dasavathara Katchi at Ramarayar Mandapam at Night | ||
| 14th Day | 18 April 2023 | Mon | Morning Mohanaavatharam – Night Kallazhagar Thirukollam in Pushpa Pallakku at Mysore Mandapam | ||
| 15th Day | 19 April 2023 | Tue | Sri Kal Azhagar Thirumalai Eluntharural |
Madurai Chithirai Festival Dates 2022:
| Date | Day | Ratha Yatra |
| 3rd May 2022 | Tuesday | Chithrai Thiruvizha Kodiyetram (Flag hoisting) – Karpaga Vriksha, Simha Vahanam |
| 4th May 2022 | Wednesday | Bootha, Anna Vahanam |
| 5th May 2022 | Thursday | Kailasa Parvadham, Kamadhenu Vahanam |
| 6th May 2022 | Friday | Thanga Pallakku |
| 7th May 2022 | Saturday | Vedar Pari Leelai, Thanga Guthirai Vahanam |
| 8th May 2022 | Sunday | Saiva Samaya Sthabitha Varalatru Leelai, Rishaba Vahanam |
| 9th May 2022 | Monday | Nantheekeshwarar, Yaali Vahanam |
| 10th May 2022 | Tuesday | Sree Meenakshi Pattabhishekam, Velli Simhasana Ula |
| 11th May 2022 | Wednesday | Sree Meenakshi Digvijayam, Indra Vimana Ula |
| 12th May 2022 | Thursday | Sree Meenakshi Sundareshwar Thirukalyanam(Celestial Wedding), Yaanai Vahanam – Puspha Pallakku |
| 13th May 2022 | Friday | Thiru Ther – Therottam (Ratha Ustavam), Sapthavarna Chapram. |
| 14th May 2022 | Saturday | Theertham, Velli Virutchaba Seva |
| 16th May 2022 | Monday | Sri Kallazhagar Vaigai Aatril Ezhuntharural – 1000 Ponsaprathudan, Night Saithyobacharam at Vandiyur |
| 17th May 2022 | Tuesday | Thirumalirunsolai Sri Kal Azhagar – Vandiyur Thenur Mandapam, Sesha Vahanam, Garuda Vahanam, Moksham For Manduga Maharishi, Dasavathara Katchi at Ramarayar Mandapam at Night |
| 18th May 2022 | Wednesday | Mohana Avatharam, Night Kallazhagar Thiru Kollam in Puspha Pallaku at Mysore Mandapam. |
| 19th May 2022 | Thursday | Sri Kal Azhagar Thirumalai Eluntharural |
Madurai Chithirai Festival Dates:
| Date | Â Day | Ratha Yatra |
| Â 25 April 2020 | Â Saturday | Karpaga Vriksha, Simha Vahanam. |
| 26 April 2020 | Sunday | Bootha, Anna Vahanam |
| 27 April 2020 | Monday | Kailasa Paravadham, Kamadenu Vahanam |
| 28 April 2020 | Tuesday | Thanga pallakku |
| 29 April 2020 | Â Wednesday | Vedar Pari Leelai – Thanga Guthirai Vahanam |
| 30 April 2020 | Thursday | Rishaba Vahan |
| 01-May-2020 | Friday | Nantheekeshwar, yaali Vahanam |
| 02-May-2020 | Saturday | Â Sree Meenakshi Pattabhishekam – Velli Shimhasana Ula |
| 03-May-2020 | Sunday | Sree Meenakshi Digvijayam – Indira Vimana Ula |
| 04-May-2020 | Monday | Sree Meenakshi Sundareshwarar Thirukalyanam |
| 05-May-2020 | Tuesday | Thiru Ther – Therottam – Sapthavarna chapram. |
| 06-May-2020 | Wednesday | Theertham, velli Virutchaba Sevai |
| 07-May-2020 | Thursday | Sri Kallazhagar Vaigai Aaatril Ezhunthrural |
| 08-May-2020 | Friday | Thirumalirunsolai Sri Kal Azhagar |
| 09-May-2020 | Saturday | Mohanaavatharam |
| 10-May-2020 | Sunday | Sri Kal Azhagar Thirumalai Eluntharural |
