Archive · 16 Sep 2026
Tamil Nadu CM Wishes Madurai Temple’s Kumbhabhishekam Ceremony
The Madurai Meenakshi temple is holding a special ceremony called Kumbhabhishekam.
This ceremony is happening after 17 years.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay sent his good wishes to everyone attending.
He said the temple represents Tamil spirituality, art, culture and architecture.
The main ceremony will happen on Thursday morning.
Many lakh devotees are expected to watch it.
Officials have arranged security, water, toilets, parking and large screens.
The chief minister also asked people to protect old temples and pass their heritage to future generations.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay congratulated devotees on the Madurai Meenakshi temple’s Maha Kumbhabhishekam.
The grand consecration ceremony is being held after a 17-year gap, with the previous event taking place in 2009.
The main ceremony is scheduled for Thursday between 7:40 am and 8:10 am, followed by an evening procession.
Authorities expect several lakh devotees and have deployed about 6,000 staff, CCTV cameras and facial-recognition systems.
The temple administration has arranged live broadcasts, LED screens, parking for nearly 8,000 vehicles and temporary public facilities.
- Who
- Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, temple officials, government departments and devotees are involved.
- What
- The Madurai Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple is holding its Maha Kumbhabhishekam, or grand consecration ceremony, after 17 years.
- When
- The main ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, September 16, from 7:40 am to 8:10 am; preparatory Yagasala rituals began on September 11.
- Where
- The event is taking place at the Madurai Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple, with public viewing facilities at locations including the Periyar and Mattuthavani integrated bus stands.
- Why
- The ceremony celebrates the temple’s spiritual, historical and cultural heritage, while the chief minister urged people to preserve ancient temples for future generations.
- Ceremony
- Maha Kumbhabhishekam of the Madurai Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple
- Gap since previous ceremony
- 17 years; the previous event was held in 2009
- Main ceremony time
- 7:40 am to 8:10 am on Thursday
- Expected attendance
- Several lakh devotees
- Staff deployed
- About 6,000 staff
- Security arrangements
- More than 200 facial-recognition and CCTV cameras, supported by round-the-clock control rooms
- Public facilities
- Parking for nearly 8,000 vehicles, temporary toilets, drinking-water pipes and live broadcasts