Devotees jubilant as they watch in person the celestial event after two years

MADURAI

Thousands of devotees thronged Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple in Madurai on Thursday to witness ‘Thirukalyanam’, the celestial wedding of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar. Their jubilation was the result of the order allowing public participation in the event, which had been banned for two years in view of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

The women devotees replaced their ‘Thali’ with new sacred thread as per tradition outside the temple. The devotees paid ‘moi’ outside the temple as part of the wedding. They were given a receipt and a gift bag that contained a sacred thread, vermilion powder and pictures of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar.

Giant LED screens were installed on the Chithirai streets for the devotees to have a virtual glimpse of the celestial wedding.

Tin sheet roofs were installed at key places around the temple to protect the devotees from the sun and rain. People of all ages from different parts of Tamil Nadu had come along with their family members to attend the event.

Water bottles and food packets were distributed to the devotees by volunteers. Several people were distributing sacred thread, vermilion powder and pictures of the presiding deities to fulfil their vow.

Though the devotees were satisfied with the arrangements made for the event, some of them faced difficulties with respect to the toilet facilities. They only had access to the limited number of e-toilets on South Chithirai Street.

The authorities could not complete the construction of a toilet complex here in time for the event. “Work was going on in full swing day and night. But, since the work was not completed, the complex is kept locked,” a shopkeeper said.