Question

Chithirai festival of Tamil Nadu is dedicated to which of the following Goddesses?

• A. Pidari
• B. Mariamman
• C. Meenaksh
• D. Muneeswaran

Answer 1

Answer:

C. Meenaksh

Chithirai Festival and Goddess Meenakshi

• The Chithirai festival, a significant cultural event in Tamil Nadu, is primarily dedicated to Goddess Meenakshi.
• This festival is most prominently celebrated in the city of Madurai, which is home to the renowned Meenakshi Amman Temple.
• The festival commemorates the divine marriage of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar (a form of Lord Shiva).
• The celebrations typically span several days, often around the Tamil month of Chithirai (April-May).
• A key event is the grand procession where the divine couple is taken out in a chariot (Therottam) through the streets of Madurai.
• The festival also has a unique connection with the Alagar festival, which is celebrated in the neighbouring Vaigai River bed. Lord Alagar, brother of Goddess Meenakshi, is believed to visit her during this period.
• This interlinking of the two festivals highlights the regional folklore and traditions associated with the deities.
• The Chithirai festival is a major tourist attraction, drawing devotees and visitors from across India and abroad, contributing significantly to the cultural tourism of Tamil Nadu.
• Goddess Meenakshi is depicted as a warrior princess and the ruling queen of Madurai. Her name translates to "fish-eyed" (Meen = fish, Akshi = eyes), a common motif in South Indian art and iconography.