festivals

Madurai, being a temple city with a population dominated by Hindus, celebrates many Hindu temple festivals, and has a generally festive atmosphere. Some of the popular festivals celebrated in Madurai are:

• Chithirai Festival – Also known as Chithirai Thiruvizha, Meenakshi Kalyanam or Meenakshi Thirukalyanam, this is an annual Tamil Hindu celebration in the city of Madurai, done during the month of April. It is a significant festival that includes various cultural, religious and agricultural events.
• Vasantham Festival - A popular spring festival which is held at the Meenakshi Temple at Madurai for ten days to worship Hindu gods Lord Sundareswara and Meenakshi Amman, and on the last day offerings of milk and mango are made to the deities.
• Navaratri Festival – A 9- day festival that is celebrated all over India by Hindus; Madurai’s people celebrate this festival in their own way, and the city, particularly temples are gorgeously decorated and filled with festive vigour. On the 10th day, called Dussehra the festival culminates in a pompous celebration by worshipping goddess Durga (in Madurai people worship Meenakshi Amman).
• Kolattam (Karthigai)
• Maasi Mandala Utsavam