A week after Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple authorities opened online booking of tickets for ‘Tirukalyanam’ (celestial wedding), one of the major events of the Chithirai festival, the tickets are in good demand.
P. Jayaraman, Executive Officer of the temple and Joint Commissioner of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, said here on Sunday that the response had been excellent. “We have sold 400 tickets of Rs.200 denomination and 450 tickets of Rs.500 denomination.” Expecting the sales to remain steady in the next few days, Mr. Jayaraman said he was anticipating a rush for tickets in the last few days of April.
The celestial wedding of Lord Sundareswarar and Goddess Meenakshi is witnessed by thousands of people every year. This year, it is scheduled to take place between 10.30 a.m. and 10.54 a.m. on May 10.
The temple’s official website, www.maduraimeenakshi.org, through which tickets are being booked, will also act as a window for devotees to witness the festival live. Temple officials said that there would be live streaming of the festival on the website so that people from all over the world could witness the celestial wedding.
Preparations are under way on the temple premises for the Chithirai festival which will begin with flag hoisting on May 1. The Adi streets at the temple where many of the auspicious events, including the ‘Thirukalyanam’ will take place, are being spruced up.
