Please try to celebrate your ancient festivals with your friends & family without fail. That makes your culture to be alive.
Two minutes is not enough to show the whole festival. Somehow I showed here the best part of it. Hope you will enjoy it.
The whole movie is shot using Nokia N95.
Story Behind "Chithirai Festival":
The annual Bhramhotsavam celebrated in the tamil month of Chithirai (Aries) is the most important one and it ties in the legends related to the Madurai temple such as the coronation of Meenakshi, the Divine marriage etc. The Chithirai festival also coincides with the annual festival at Tirumaaliruncholai. During this time the entire area in and around Madurai is transformed into one of a great celebratory space.
Legend has it that Vishnu gave his sister away in marriage to Shiva. In commemoration of this legend, an image of Vishnu is brought in procession from Tirupparamkunram to Madurai. Since Subramanya is the presiding deity of the Tirupparamkunram temple, an image of Subramanya leads the procession. Following the wedding, images of Meenakshi and Sundareswarar are taken out in a grand procession on a palanquin and a silver elephant respectively. (It is to be noted that the Tirukkalyaanam festival is celebrated on Chitra Pournami in all Shiva temples celebrating the annual Bhramhotsavam in the month of Chithirai).
During this time, Kallazhagar (Vishnu) from Azhagar Temple(Tirumaaliruncholai) makes a visit to Vandiyur, near the Vaigai river, on the eastern outskirts of Madurai. It is believed that Kallazhagar realizes that he is too late for his sisters wedding, so refuses to cross the river and returns disappointed to Azhagar Temple.
Historically, the chithirai festival used to be celebrated in Maasi, hence the festival processions use the Maasi streets. The festival apparently was moved to the month of Chithirai in the period of the Naik kings so that the timing would synchronize with that of Azhagar Temple.
