The centuries-old Chithirai festival at the Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple concluded on a grand note this year, with over 30 lakh devotees attending the 15-day celebrations.
The celestial wedding of Goddess Meenakshi with Lord Sundaresvara, held on the Chithirai Pournami night, drew the largest crowds, with the procession covering the four mada streets in a 12-hour ritual.
The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department deployed 12,000 personnel for security and crowd management, with CCTV cameras installed at 450 strategic locations.
Chief Minister MK Stalin participated in the special abishekam ceremony and announced a ₹500 crore renovation grant for the temple complex.
Foreign tourists from 38 countries attended the festival, with the Tourism Department reporting a 40% increase in international visitor footfall compared to last year.