The 12-day annual Chithirai brahmotsavam of the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple here began on Friday with the traditional flag-hoisting ceremony. Hundreds of devotees witnessed a special puja performed on the occasion.
Karumuttu. T. Kannan, Chairman, Board of Trustees of the temple, and trustees Pugalagiri Vadamalyan, M. Balasubramanian, Rukmani Palanivel Rajan and S. Rajaram took part along with P. Balasubramanian, Commissioner of Police, K. Rajanayagam, Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department and Executive Officer, and a host of temple and Government officials.
An added feature this year will be the recitation of ‘Jada parayanam,' which forms part of the Veda mantras, at the 100-pillar hall during the duration of the Chithirai festival.
The ‘pattabhishekam' for Goddess Meenakshi will be performed on the eighth day, Friday (April 23) evening between 7.06 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. The next day evening (April 24) the Goddess will undertake ‘Dhik vijayam' at Lalasri Rengachathiram Mandapam on the junction of North-East Masi streets.
The highlight of the festival, the celestial wedding, will be conducted at the `tirukalyana mandapam' on West-North Adi street junction on the 10th day, Sunday (April 25), in the presence of Lord Subramaniaswamy of Tirupparankundram and Pavalakanivai Perumal, between 9.22 a.m. and 9.58 a.m.
The car festival will take place on April 26
