On April 12, the Madurai Chithirai festival will begin with the raising of the flag.

The Meenakshi and Kallalagar temple officials released the dates of the next Chithirai festival on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Madurai is working feverishly to get ready for the festivities.

The Chithirai festival, one of the biggest held in Madurai, lasts for more than 10 days. The celebration is scheduled to begin on April 12 of this year at the Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple with a flag hoisting ceremony. Major events will then take place, such as the drawing of the Chithirai temple vehicle and the heavenly wedding of the goddesses Meenakshi and Sundareswarar.

Kallalagar, the renowned god, will be carried in a procession to the Vaigai River. In light of the celebration, the temple administration declared that people were required to erect tents at least thirty feet high and decorate with neem leaves so as not to impede the processions that would be taking place on Masi Street. The management of the temple has requested that no marigold garlands be given.

Important dates
Raising the flag at the Meenakshi temple on April 12; “Pattabhishekam” (the goddess Meenakshi’s coronation) on April 19; and “Thirukalyanam” (a celestial marriage ceremony) on April 21.
Car procession at Chithirai Meenakshi temple on April 22
Meenakshi Temple, the end of the Chithirai festival, April 23
April 23, Kallalagar procession entering Vaigai River