Meenakshi Amman Temple

ExplainerWhat is a kumbabishekam?What the rite means, the twelve sessions, the 2018 fire and the court-monitored restoration. 10 daysRitual calendarEvery rite from 8 to 17 September, with time and venue. MuhurthamThe three muhurthams7.40, 7.55 and 8.10 — the half hour that is the peak of the festival.

1. 8 September · Aavani 22 · Tuesday

   The festival opens

   The festival opens with the shanti homam. Vasthu shanti follows in the evening at the Veeravasantharayar Mandapam.

2. 9 September · Aavani 23 · Wednesday

   Sacred water and earth from the Vaigai

   Both sessions are held at the Vaigai river — sacred water is drawn in the morning, sacred earth gathered in the evening.

3. 10 September · Aavani 24 · Thursday

   Mulaipari and the protective thread

   The acharyas take the ten-fold purificatory bath at the golden lotus tank; ankurarpanam follows at the main yagasala in the evening.

4. 11 September · Aavani 25 · Friday Key day

   The yagasala is raised; the first kalam begins

   The yagasala is constructed and fire is drawn from the sun. The first of the twelve ritual sessions begins that evening at the Kambathadi Mandapam.

5. 12 September · Aavani 26 · Saturday

   Second and third kalams

   The second ritual session in the morning, the third in the evening.

6. 13 September · Aavani 27 · Sunday

   Fourth and fifth kalams

   A Sunday, and heavier crowds are expected.

7. 14 September · Aavani 28 · Monday Key day

   Sixth and seventh kalams; purification of the parivara images

   In the evening session the parivara deities, beginning with Vinayakar, undergo bimbasuddhi and rakshabandhanam.

8. 15 September · Aavani 29 · Tuesday

   Eighth and ninth kalams

   Two days out from the kumbabishekam; the ritual sessions continue.

9. 16 September · Aavani 30 · Wednesday Key day

   Maha kumbabishekam of the parivara deities

   The parivara deities receive their maha kumbabishekam at 5am. Nadisandhanam follows in the evening, and Lord Subramaniya Swamy of Thirupparankundram arrives in Madurai.

10. 17 September · Aavani 31 · Thursday Key day

    Maha Kumbabishekam

    The maha kumbabishekam falls in three muhurtham moments — 7.40, 7.55 and 8.10 in the morning. The moolavar maha abhishekam follows in the afternoon and the five deities process along Masi Veedhi at night.

The full programme