Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple's grand kumbhabhishekam ceremony begins in Madurai

The consecration ceremony of the Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple in Madurai began with Vedic hymns and special pujas early Thursday morning, with senior priests from different temples carrying holy water to the flower-decorated gopurams across the illuminated complex.

The priests are scheduled to perform the kumbhabhishekam between 7.40 a.m. and 8.10 a.m.. The entire temple complex has been lit up for the grand occasion.

VIPs and Officials Gather Before Dawn

Several VIPs, including Tamil Nadu Cabinet Ministers, High Court judges, senior officers and government secretaries, as well as MPs and MLAs, reached the temple as early as 4 a.m.. The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department officials arranged seating at multiple locations on the upper deck to allow them to watch the consecration proceedings.

Crowds Line Up Outside Temple

Thousands of people from far and wide have queued outside the temple to witness the kumbhabhishekam. The Madurai Corporation issued strict notices to property owners around the temple, prohibiting them from allowing people to climb their buildings to view the ceremony.

The consecration marks a significant ritual in Hindu temple tradition, performed periodically to purify and re-energize the sacred structure.

Source: The Hindu