Huge crowds as annual chariot festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu| Video

The festival - which is celebrated during the Tamil month of Chithirai - saw muted celebrations for two years due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Updated on: Apr 15, 2022, 14:20:07 IST

By HT News Desk | Written by Manjiri Sachin Chitre | Edited by Swati Bhasin

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Huge crowds were seen in attendance as the annual chariot festival processions were carried out in Tamil Nadu. A large number of devotees have gathered in Madurai near the Meenakshi Amman temple. In a video shared by news agency ANI, thousands of people can be seen around the temple, celebrating the festival.

Huge crowds as annual chariot festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu (ANI)

The festival - which is celebrated during the Tamil month of Chithirai - saw muted celebrations for two years due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The annual 'Chithirai' festival or the annual chariot festival is also known as Chithirai Thiruvizha, Meenakshi Kalyanam or Meenakshi Thirukalyanam. It commenced last week, and the traditional flag hoisting was done at the Meenakshi Amman temple in Madurai on Tuesday. The festival celebrations last for one month - out of which the first 15 days mark the celebrations of the coronation of Goddess Meenakshi as the divine ruler of Madurai and her marriage.

Also read: Karnataka temple festival begins with recital of Quran as usual

The festival highlights the celestial wedding of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar. The wedding, also known as Thirukalyanam, was observed on Thursday at the iconic temple. According to the temple authorities, the Kallazhagar festival will be held on Saturday.

Also read: Supreme Court seeks Tamil Nadu reply on plea of man who gave death threat to hijab case judges

Before the festival began, the district authorities held several rounds of discussions for a smooth conduct. According to reports, state finance minister PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan had also inspected the areas close to the temple. Reportedly, over 3,000 police personnel have been deployed in the district during the festival, and are also ordered to look after crowd management.

Meanwhile, while India has been witnessing a surge of nearly 1,000 Covid cases every day, the recent spike in Delhi and Mumbai has caused concerns.

Tamil Nadu currently has a total of 230 active cases in the state, as per the union health ministry.

(With inputs from ANI)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.