Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple kumbabishekam begins
The Kumbhabhishekam consecration ceremony for the Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple in Madurai began on Thursday with traditional rituals. The event drew thousands of devotees and numerous high-ranking government officials.
Why it matters
This is a major cultural and religious event in India, highlighting the significance of heritage sites and traditional practices in modern society.
With chanting of vedic hymns and special pujas, the Kumbhabhishekam [consecration ceremony] of Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple in Madurai commenced early Thursday (September 17, 2026) in a grand manner.
The entire temple complex has been illuminated with lights and the senior priests, drawn from different temples, carrying the holy water to the multiple towers ( gopurams ) decorated with flowers.
The priests are expected to perform the ceremony at the scheduled time between 7.40 a.m. and 8.10 a.m.
Several VIPs — including Ministers from the Tamil Nadu Cabinet, High Court judges, senior officers and secretaries to government, MPs and MLAs — have arrived at the temple as early as 4 a.m.
The HR&CE department officials have made seating arrangments at multiple locations on the upper deck for them to view the consecration proceedings.
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