MADURAI: Thousands of devotees witnessed the celestial wedding (Thirukalayanam) of Goddess of Meenakshi with Lord Sundareswarar performed on the tenth day of Chithirai festival here in Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple on Tuesday.
Devotees started to gather at the Veli streets since 5.a.m, the entire temple premises was fully packed with the devotees a few hourse before the wedding time.
Around 8.10 a.m, Deities of Tirupparankunram temple, Lord Subramaniaswamy and Lord Pavala kanivai perumal were brought to the wedding staage to witness the event.
Amid chanting the hymns, between the auspicious time, at 8.15 to 8.20 am Goddess of Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar Priyavidai carried in palanquin to the wedding stage.
The rituals started at 8.30 a.m. Siva bhattar performed the rituals on behalf of Goddess Meenakshi while Senthil Bhattar represented Lord Sundareswarar.
More than 20 women family members of officials and VIP's being invited for Paligai event. The women have sprinkled water on the pots filled with millet's in the stage. Lord Sundreswarar was put on dhoties and Goddess Meenakshi been put on silk sarees.
At 8.53 am, as the mantras being repeated several times, the two sivachariars exchanged garlands symbolizing the marriage and a ‘Diamond studded Thali Chain’ was put on Goddess Meenakshi at 8.54 am.
Another Mangalsutra was put on Goddess of Nachiyar sitting with Lord Sundrareswar priyavidai at 8.55 am
After Aradhana shown to deities, Senthil Bhattar put sandal to Goddess meenakshi. Then sacred water sprinkled on the deities.
Immediately after the ‘thali’ was placed on the idol of Goddess Meenakshi, thousands of women devotees replaced their Thali, in keeping with the belief that it would bring a long life for their partners.
The temple administration installed 20 LED screens in Veli Veethi's for the devotees to witness the wedding event.
After the celestial wedding, deities taken to old Thirukalyana mandapam for public dharshan. Then day long celebration will be concluded with procession in the evening around the temple streets.
City Commissioner Shailesh Kumar Yadav was present till end of the event. Madurai Collector K Veera Raghava Rao, Temple Thakkar Karumuttu K Kannan and large number of VIP's sat before the stage for more than two hours and witnessed the Thirukalayanam.