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Chithirai Festival

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Thousands of devotees descended on the Vaigai riverbed in Madurai to witness the annual ritual of Lord Kallazhagar entering the river as part of the Chithirai festival.

Chithirai Festival:

  • About: The Chithirai Festival in Madurai celebrates the celestial union of Lord Sunderswarar (Lord Shiva) and Goddess Meenakshi, considered to be Lord Vishnu’s sister. 
    • The festival also known as Chithirai Thiruvizha, Meenakshi Thirukalyanam or Meenakshi Kalyanam falls at the beginning of April or the Tamil month Chithirai. 
Vaigai River:

  • Source: Rises in the Varushanad Hills of western Tamil Nadu.
  • River Course:  It initially flows northeast through the Kambam and Varushanad valleys, flows into Palk Strait, which separates the southeastern coast of India from Sri Lanka. 
  • Tributaries: Siruliar, Theniar, Varaha Nadi, and Mangalar

Kolattam Dance:

  • It is a folk art performed in the Tamil Nadu state of India.  It is also called Kolannalu or Kolkolannalu
  • Kolaattam is performed only by women.
  • Owing to the usage of sticks, this dance is also called “stick dance”.
  • Commencement: The festival commences by hoisting a flag (Kodi Yetram) at Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple. The ‘kodimaram’ (flag pole) on which the flag is hoisted is decorated with beautiful flowers.
    • Lord Kallazhagar is considered to be Goddess Meenakshi’s brother, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
    • The last days of the festivals are celebrated in Kallazhagar temple, in the Alagar Hills in Madurai. 
  • Festival Celebration: During the procession, traditional Tamil dance forms like Kolattam are performed.  
    • It is a 15-day celebration that sees a union of the two Hindu sects, Shaivites and Vaishnavites, the devotees of Shiva and Vishnu respectively.

Meenakshi Temple of Madurai:

  • Location: Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple is a historic Hindu temple located on the southern bank of the Vaigai River, Madurai in Tamil Nadu.
  • Presiding deity: The temple is dedicated to goddess Meenakshi, a form of Shakti/Parvati  and her consort Shiva in the form of Sundareshwarar.

Additional Reading: Meenakshi Temple

 

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UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध

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