Celestial wedding at Meenakshi temple held with religious fervour

The divinely wedding was solemnized on a flower-decked stage erected at the junction of North and West Aadi Streets inside the temple premises between the auspicious hours of 8:35 am and 8:59 am, amid chanting of Vedic hymns by the temple priests.

Two Sivacharyas (Priests) representing the Goddess and the Lord placed the diamond-studded Thaali (Mangalsutra) on the hands of Lord Sundareswarar idol and then it around Goddess Meenakshi idol at 0854 AM, as part of the ongoing 12-day annual Chithirai Brahmotsavam festival. Following the celestial wedding, a large number of women devotees renewed their Mangalsutras. 

Later, the processional idols of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar were taken out in a grand procession on a palanquin and a silver elephant respectively to the Thiru Kalyana Mandapam” for public darshan. 

The event was aired live through LED screens kept in all Aadi, Chithirai and Aavani Streets around the temple for the convenience of the devotees. The temple administration has organized a grand feast for thousands of devotees this afternoon in view of the celestial wedding event.

During the regal ceremonies of the Chithirai Brahmotsavam, the idol of Goddess Meenakshi is decked in ornaments made of precious stones, including diamond crown, emerald waist chain and other jewels studded with rare sapphires, diamonds and rubies. 

Police have made tight security arrangements throughout the city, especially in and around the temple in view of the celestial wedding.

The city police have deployed around 2,500 police personnel for the bandobust duty.