The Celestial Wedding That United a Town | The Chithirai Festival, Madurai - Storytrails
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The Celestial Wedding That United a Town | The Chithirai Festival, Madurai

What is the story behind the Chithirai festival? 

Every year in April-May, tens of thousands of people visit Madurai to take part in the Chithirai festival. Huge, colourful chariots are drawn through the streets of Madurai in a re-enactment of the celestial wedding of Lord Sundareshwarar and Goddess Meenakshi. The festivities are centred around two ancient temples, the Kallazhagar temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, and the Meenakshi temple dedicated to Goddess Meenakshi. But did you know that the festival in its current form was the creation of a king Thirumalai Nayak, who ruled over Madurai in the 17th century? What is the story behind this grand festival that connects two prominent temples and brings a whole town together? 

Produced in partnership with Tamil Nadu Tourism and Thiagarajar Mills

Editing credits: Venkat Krishna

Photo and video credits: Rextane Nissi and Rishwanth Jayaraj

Music – S. S. Sriram

1. Brihadeeswarar Temple, Thanjavur

Anupam Mukherjee, CC BY-SA 4.0<https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons  

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brihadeeswarar_Temple-Thanjavur-Tamilnadu-IMG_9528.jpg

 

2. Taj Mahal, Agra, India

© Yann Forget / Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Taj_Mahal,_Agra,_India_edit2.jpg

 

3. Hampi, Karnataka

Joel Godwin, CC BY-SA 4.0<https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hampi_karnataka.jpg

 

4. Twin fish flag of Pandyas

Jayarathina, CC BY-SA 3.0<https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Twin_fish_flag_of_Pandyas.svg

 

5. Elephant coin of the Pandyas Sri Lanka 1st century CE

Uploadalt, CC BY-SA 3.0<https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Temple_between_hill_symbols_and_elephant_coin_of_the_

Pandyas_Sri_Lanka_1st_century_CE.jpg

 

6. Map of Vijayanagar Kingdom

DeepstoneV, CC BY 4.0<https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Map_of_Vijayanagar_Kingdom.jpg

 

7. Madurai Nayak Kingdom

The Southern Star at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0<http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/>, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Madurai_Nayak_Kingdom.jpg

 

8.A Statue of Thirumalai Nayak

Thamizhpparithi Maari, CC BY-SA 3.0<https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%22A_Statue_Thirumalai_Nayak%22.JPG

 

9.Thirumalai Nayak mahal

Gunaamuthan, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>,via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thirumalai_nayak_mahal.jpg

 

10.Thirumalai Nayakar mahal

Ashwin Kumar from Bangalore, India, CC BY-SA 2.0<https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thirumalai_nayakar_mahal_(11875880213).jpg

 

11. Goddess Minakshi

<ahref=”https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Minakshi.jpg”>See page for author</a>, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Minakshi.jpg

 

12.Siva Parvati Kalyanam

CC BY-SA 3.0<https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Siva_Parvati_Kalyanam(originally_Meenakshi_Sundareswara_Wedding).JPG

 

13. An aerial view of Madurai city from atop Meenakshi Amman temple

CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:An_aerial_view_of_Madurai_city_from_atop_of_Meenakshi_Amman_temple.jpg

 

14. Hindu gods and goddesses statues.

https://www.rawpixel.com/image/4022188/hindu-images

 

15. God Vishnu with his two wives, the goddesses of the earth and the wealth

Paper Jewels, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vishnu_0.jpg

 

16. Mariage of Shiva and Parvati witnessed by Vishnu, Meenakshi Temple

Richard Mortel from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, CC BY 2.0<https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mariage_of_Shiva_and_Parvati_(Meenakshi)_witnessed_by_Vishnu,_Meenakshi_Temple,_Madurai_(2)_(36857653813).jpg

 

17. Tanjore Paintings, Big temple 

Ankushsamant, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tanjore_Paintings_-_Big_temple_02.JPG

 

18.Alagar kovil Chariot

CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alagar_kovil_Ther.jpg

 

19. Meenakshi temple, view from West side tower

Mamichaelraj, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MEENAKSHI_TEMPLE-VIEW_FROM_WEST_SIDE_TOWER.jpg

 

20. Mural Paintings in Brihadeeswara Temple

Sugeesh, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mural_Paintings_in_Brihadeeswara_Temple_02.jpg

 

21. Illustration of shiva lingam

https://freesvg.org/shiva-lingam

 

22. Illustration of Thirunamam

https://freesvg.org/1512759709

 

23.Thirumalai Nayak of Madurai

CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thirumalai_Nayak_of_Madurai.jpg

 

24. Wall painting in Meenakshi Temple, Madurai  

Richard Mortel from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wall_painting,_Meenakshi_Temple,_Madurai_(2)_(36857960593).jpg

 

25. Meenakshi Sundareswarar marriage statues in the temple, Madurai

https://www.pxfuel.com/en/free-photo-jllix/download

 

26. Agricultural Fieldworks, Kanchipuram & TamilNadu

mckaysavage, CC BY 2.0<https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:01AgriculturalFieldworks%26Kanchipuram%26TN.jpg

 

27. Paddy field in Tamilnadu Seratobikiba

CC BY-SA 4.0<https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Paddy_field_in_tamilnadu.jpg

 

28. Paddy Fields, Thanjavur

Ricardo.martins CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Paddy_Fields_Thanjavur.jpg

 


END OF STORY

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