MADURAI: The famous annual Chithirai festival in Madurai which draws thousands and thousands of devotees every year will not take place this year because of the prevailing conditions that does not suit congregations or gathering of devotees due to lockdown.
A formal announcement was made today – 17th April 2020- in a press release by Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple. “In the present situation, it is not possible to conduct ‘Chithirai Thiruvizha’ which is supposed to commence on 25th April with flag hoisting ceremony in the temple. The daily events, ceremonies, pattabshishekam, celestial marriage etc that are part of this festival will not take place,” Mr.N.Natarajan, Joint Commissioner and Executive Officer of the temple, has announced through a press release.
However, the temple will conduct on 4th May 2020 conduct celestial marriage formalities as per rituals between 9.05 am and 9.29 am inside the temple by just four ‘Sivachariyars’.
Devotees can watch this on temple website- www.maduraimeenakshi.org, the press released added. Married women can do their ‘thali’ procedure by following the temple website on 4th May morning- 9.05 a.m to 9.29 a.m.
