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.
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”.
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- 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
30 Apr 2024
