Context:

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. 

• 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