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The annual solemnization of the marriage of Meenakshi with
Lord Sundareshwar (Shiva) is one of the most spectacular temple festivals
at Madurai's famous
Meenakshi temple in Tamil Nadu.
Car processions of the Goddess and the God are some of the colourful
features of this festival.
Time of The Festivity
Meenaskhi Kalyanam, the wedding festival of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord
Sundareshwar is celebrated for twelve days from the second day of the
lunar month (i.e. two days after the new moon). This is a spectacular
festival celebrated in the month of Chaitra (April-May).
The festival is characterized with royal decorated umbrellas, fans and
traditional instrumental music. Scenes from mythology are enacted and the
deities of Lord Shiva, Goddess Shakti and Goddess Meenakshi are taken out
in a colourful procession. Thousands of devotees from all over the country
gather in the city of Madurai on
this occasion.
Air: Madurai
is connected by air with Mumbai
and Chennai. Madurai
airport is 10-km away from the city.
Rail: Madurai has direct
rail connections to Bangalore,
Coimbatore, Kollam,
Chennai,
Rameswaram,
Thanjavur,
Tiruchirappalli, Tirunelveli,
Tirupathi and Tuticorin.
Road: There are excellent roads connecting Madurai to all parts of
South India. Madurai city has 5 Major Bus Stands- Periyar Bus Stand, Anna
Bus Stand, Palanganatham Bus Stand, Arapalayam Bus Stand, Mattuthavani Bus
Stand ply in regular buses within and beyond the state.
Accommodation is available at the economy and star hotels, lodges and cottages in Madurai.