Thousands of devotees witnessed the annual float festival, wherein the float carrying the deities of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar was pulled around the Maiya Mandapam of Mariamman Teppakulam here on Tuesday.
The event marks the culmination of the 12-day Thai Poosam festival. Every year, the decorated float of Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple is drawn around the Maiya Mandapam on Thai Poosam day.
The day also marks the birth anniversary of King Thirumalai Nayak. The walls of the tank and the Maiya Mandapam had been decorated with colourful lights.
As per custom, youth from Devendrakula Vellalar community from nearby Anuppanadi pulled the float around the Maiya Mandapam using ropes. People from different parts of Madurai district gathered to witness the grand event.
Adequate police and fire and rescue services personnel had been deployed in the area to ensure the safe conduct of the festival. Traffic diversions had been made around the Teppakulam.
Earlier in the day, the deities were taken in a procession through the Chithirai streets, East Masi Street, Yanaikkal, Nelpettai and Kamarajar Salai to Sri Muktheeswarar Temple near the Teppakulam. After rituals were performed at the temple, the deities were taken to the float which went around the mandapam in the morning and the evening.
At Murugan temples
Thaipoosam festival was celebrated in a grand manner at Sri Subramaniaswamy Temple at Tirupparankundram and Pazhamudhir Cholai Temple at Azhagarkoil.
Many other Murugan temples in the city too had long queues of devotees who had come to witness special pujas performed at the shrines.
Thousands of devotees from far and near had come to Palani in Dindigul district to participate in the festival celebrated at Sri Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple.
The devotees pulled the temple car, carrying the presiding deities Lord Muthukumaraswami and Goddesses Valli — Deivanai, along the four radha veedhis.
Published - February 11, 2025 10:52 pm IST
