Flower shower by dolls draws crowds during Chithirai festival
During the Madurai Chithirai festival, the deities Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar pause in procession for the Poochorithal ritual, where doll-like figures shower flowers and offer garlands. The event, held at the junction of West Masi Street and Netaji Road, draws thousands of devotees each year. According to a temple priest, Poochorithal has been a tradition for over 130 years and symbolizes the people's gratitude to the deities.
- ▪The Poochorithal ritual takes place during the Chithirai festival in Madurai.
- ▪The flower shower occurs when the deities' chariot stops under a pandal on West Masi Street.
- ▪Two doll-like figures leaning forward perform the act of offering garlands and sprinkling flowers.
- ▪Poochorithal has been practiced for more than 130 years as a gesture of public devotion.
- ▪The ritual happens near the Dhandayuthapaniswamy Temple at the intersection with Netaji Road.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Amid chants and the reverberant sound of nadaswaram, as Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar pause in procession, two winged, doll-like figures come — leaning forward to offer a garland and sprinkle flowers, which is called as Poochorithal, a unique moment in the Madurai Chitrai festival along West Masi Street.At the junction of West Masi Street and Netaji Road, near the Dhandayuthapaniswamy Temple, the Goddess Meenakshi’s chariot pauses for a few minutes under a decorative pandal. Thousands of devotees gather here to witness the Poochorithal event. A temple priest K. Karthikeyan, says, “Poochorithal, which has been in practice during Chitrai festival for more than 130 years, remains as a people’s gesture — an expression of gratitude offered to the deities.”
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Hindu — Top.
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