Tamil Nadu is gearing up for the state’s biggest temple festival, the Madurai Chithirai Thiruvizha Festival. This festival is celebrated at the famous and iconic Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai and is held during the Tamil month of Chithirai. It is known for the reenactment of the divine wedding of Lord Sundareshwar and Goddess Meenakshi, which is followed by Lord Alagar’s celestial journey. From dates to schedule, here’s everything you must know about this festival.
Madurai Chithirai Thiruvizha 2026 Guide
Chithirai Festival 2026 Dates
Madurai Chithirai Thiruvizha is one of the most culturally rich and grand festivals in India and is celebrated with devotion and enthusiasm in the city. It is a beautiful blend of culture, spirituality, and traditions. This year, the festival will begin on April 19, 2026, and end on May 5. The festival is extra special, it weaves two important events together: the sacred wedding of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareshwarar and the celestial journey of Kallazhagar from Azhagar Kovil.
Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple Festival Schedule
Madurai Chithirai Thiruvizha 2026 will last for several days with grand rituals, symbolic events, and grand processions being a part of the celebrations.
April 18: Vaastu Shanti
Generally, most of the events in India begin with Vaastu Shanti, and so does this festival in Tamil Nadu. It is a significant purification ritual performed to cleanse the premises of the temple and also the spiritual aura.
April 19: Kodiyetram
Kodiyetram means flag hoisting, which marks the official beginning of the Chithirai Thiruvizha 2026. A sacred flag is raised, which carries the temple emblem, acts like an invitation to the divine to gather for this celebration. It is said that on this day, the divine gates open and link the earth with the divine space as everyone gears up for this sacred gathering.
April 20 to April 25: Vahanam
The streets of the city of Madurai feature various vahanams or palanquins each day between April 20 and 25. Each procession symbolizes something spiritual and important about the deities and their blessings.
- Bootha and Anna Vahanam
- Kailasa Parvadham & Kamadhenu Vahanam
- Thanga Pallaku
- Thanga Guthirai & Vedar Pari Leelai
- Saiva Samaya Varalaaru & Rishaba Vahanam
- Gangalanathar & Yaali Vahanam
April 26: Meenakshi Pattabhishekam
This is one of the most important events of the Chithirai festival. It is said to be the event that marks Goddess Meenakshi as the supreme ruler of Madurai. This divine ceremonial evening celebrates feminine power and leadership with great grandeur.
April 28: Thirukalyanam
This is the main event, the celestial wedding of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareshwarar, and is widely known as Meenakshi Thirukalyanam. There are majestic processions symbolising the divine gathering to witness this beautiful wedding.
April 29: Therottam
Huge chariots with deities in them are pulled through the streets by thousands of devotees. It symbolises community participation and unity for divine service.
April 30: Transition
This day marks the end of Meenakshi temple festivals and the beginning of the Kallazhagar festival.
Alagar Vaigai Entry 2026 Time
May 1 marks the most emotional and important moment of the Kallazhagar festival. On this day, Kallazhagar (a form of Lord Vishnu) makes his entry into the sacred Vaigai River. According to mythological stories, he begins his journey to attend the celestial wedding but is late. So he decides to bless all the devotees from the river itself.
The next two days host various processions in elegantly decorated palaquins.
- Sesha Vahanam, Garuda Vahanam & Dasavatharam
- Mohini Avatharam & Rajanga Alankaram
On May 4, the return journey of Kallazhagar begins. Thousands of devotees gather here to bid farewell and seek the blessings of the divine. The journey ends on May 5 as he returns to Azhagar Kovil.
Summing Up
Madurai Chithirai Thiruvizha Festival is an iconic festival that lasts several days. This festival in Tamil Nadu is one of a kind, with many processions, a spiritual aura, beautiful traditions, and endless devotion. So make sure you experience this amazing festival at least once.
