| Chitrai Festival
Chitrai is the first month of Tamils. In this month a festival is held
to celebrate the advent of spring. On the full moon day, the images of
gods and goddesses from the temples in and around Madurai are
taken to the bed of the river Vaigai, in colourful processions accompanied
by the hundreds and thousands of people and musicians. The atmosphere
is one of mirth and merriment. The festival marks the marriage of Madurai's
powerful presiding deity, Meenakshi with Lord Shiva.
It marks the end of one financial year and the
beginning of another for agriculturists in Madurai district. Payments
for servants engaged in agricultural operations are made on yearly basis
i.e. from one Chitrai festival to the next.
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