Sakthi
Thamil Changam - English articles
MADURAI CHITRAI THIRUVIZHA.
Madurai is the second largest city in Tamilnadu., but
it is one of the very ancient city in the world. Very ancient Tamil
poems [sangam literature] have described about Madurai and its pride. It was
the capital city of Pandiya dynasty. Many other clan of kings have ruled
this city.
The main nucleus of this city is SREEMEENAKSHI
TEMPLE. The history and evolution of Madurai has been always with Meenakshi
temple. [for Meenakshi temple, legends,history click thamil
articles. [ heading: mamadurai]
Madurai Meenakshi temple is one of the Indian temples
which enjoys the colors of various festivals all through the year. Every
month the temple celebrates minimum 10 days festival.
These festivals are based on
seasons, agriculture, customs, history of Meenakshi, Lord Shiva's divine
plays. The festivals have been designed by our aacharyas [spiritual
teachers ] and forefathers in
such a way to make all sect of society to mingle with harmony and to help
all occupations at least once in a year.
This article is going to describe the most famous
festival of Madurai. It is called as ''Chitrai thiruvizha [festival]''.It is
the most crowdy, colorful occasion in and around Madurai city for 15
days.
CHITRAI MONTH:
Chitrai is the first Tamil month. It usually starts
from April 13th or 14th.It is very hot during this month. Farmers are at
rest., after their harvest .So all over the state they celebrate various
colourfull annual festivals for their local, family and village gods and
demigods.
People enjoy family
gatherings, feasts, sacrifices, games, performing folk arts,
competitions
and slowly prepare for the forthcoming monsoon.
Madurai Meenakshi temple also celebrates its annual
festival in this month. The main events of this Chitrai festival are based
on Meenakshi's legends. On the very first day ,the sacred temple
flag post will be decorated and the sacred flag will be hoisted to commence
the festival.
Then every day morning and evening Meenakshi and her
consort Lord Sunderaswarar will be decorated and taken for long procession
all over the main streets of the city.
MOST IMPORTANT DAYS:
The most important days in Chitrai festival are ,
1.Meenakshi patabishekam:
Meenakshi will be celebrating her coronation
ceremony on this day .By evening 6 to 6.30 ,Meenakshi will be placed on a
golden thrown. Her left leg will be folded and right leg will be
hanging. Her left hand will be placed on the left thigh and right
hand holds the royal stag.
Poojaries [priests] perform various rituals .It is very very
rare to see the royal coronation of a king or Queen today in our
nation. Madurai holds its pride in celebrating it.
Then poojaries will adorn Meenakshi with gem studded
royal Pandiya clan crown and place a long golden stag studded with gems
along with flag.
Women are given the front place to see the festival.
Later the stag will be taken under procession
allaround the temple complex.
2.Meenakshi's digvijayam:
Next day evening Madurai gets ready slowly to see
the great spiritual -celestial-romantic war between Meenakshi and
Sunderaswarar. The deities will be taken in separate chariots .Meenakshi
will be decorated as a warrior.
A boy will be decorated as shiva and a girl as
Meenakshi. Chariots will be taken through the main streets specially
organized for the festival. Madurai citizens will be waiting to see the
celestial-romantic war.
By late night the drama starts.
Meenakshi as Pandiya princess wants to conquer many
dynasties till Himalayas. So she started marching with her large army of
soldiers, elephants, horses and chariots and invaded many nations and
checked many terrorists and finally she reaches Himalayas.
Mount Kailasam upon Himalayas is considered as lord
Shiva's abode. So she wants to capture Kailasam.So she started fighting
with Boothaganas[Shiva's army] . Even Nandhideva [shiva's sacred mount, sacred
bull] was defeated. Finally Lord Shiva came into the scene.
Meenakshi faced Shiva and with full anger and ego
she started the war. But when Shiva looked at her, he made her to realize
herself spiritually. When she has realized herself as Parvathy's
incarnation she sheds her ego and surrenders to Shiva. She expressed
her divine love to marry him. Shiva also accepted her love and accepted to
marry her in Madurai at the month of Chitrai.
This legend will be dramatized in this late night
festival. Sunderaswarar will give the authorized engagement patrika [wedding
card].
Then Madurai people go back to rest for few hours
and wake up soon to have bath,ware new cloths,adorn with flowers,jewells
and rush with the pass towards Meenakshi temple.
3.Meenakshi kalyanam:
Based on a traditional Hindu wedding
festival., Meenakshi kalyanam will be performed before people. It is one of
the biggest occasion, people feel so sacred and divine within them self.
The citizens relish their[ Queen's wedding. After
wedding the celestial couple will be placed in Thirumalainayakar's Golden
roofed Kalyanamantabham.Till today Meenakshi will be decorated with
Vaidurya mangalyam [sacred wedding thread] offered by Thirumalainayak king
[16 A.D].Thousands of devotees rush to see the reception of Meenakshi in this mantabham, till evening the festival
proceeds. Married women tie fresh mangalyam thread on this occasion. Many
people offer food, manjal, sacred threads, small gifts. Hand fans made out of
paper, bamboo, cocount and palm leaves are the special gifts from various
sponsors during this festival just to fan our self to tolerate the hot
sun.
When Meenakshi starts her procession, the shops all
along the streets offer silk, cotton sarees, large garlands and sandal paste
to honor her and Shiva.
During the reception ,devotees fan for the
devotees with large royal fan made of peacock feathers.
Even very poor devotees offer at least jaggery and
peanuts to others and enjoys their Queen's wedding.
Every year Tamil nadu government arrange for a big
Wedding feast. Now let us leave the Meenakshi temple and travel across 12
miles north to Madurai.
Thank you!!!
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