Madurai’s Meenakshi Temple kumbabishekam LIVE: Devotees gather in large numbers

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The priests carry the holy water to the gopuram at the Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple in Madurai ahead of the consecration ceremony on September 17, 2026. | Photo Credit: G. Moorthy

As poojas for the consecration ceremony of the Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple are set to begin shortly, the devotees holding permit passes arrived in large numbers at the temple premises.

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.

To manage the crowds, a filtering system based on pass colours—red, yellow, purple, and green—is in place, directing devotees to specific access areas closest to the temple core. Devotees can enter the temple from the west and south towers and exit through the east tower. For any information, the public can also reach out through toll-free numbers 1800-425-6781 and 1800-425-6782, said a spokesman from the Madurai district administration.

Garlands are being adorned, and pujas are being performed for the kalasams on the gopurams. Priests are engaged in pujas across 12 gopurams.

The priests will carry the holy water, which was sanctified in the yagasala, in kalasams to pour over the gopurams.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay stated that the Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple stands as a testament to the glories of spirituality, art, culture, architecture, and sculpture of the Tamil people across centuries. 

Taking it to the X, Mr. Vijay said, “On this auspicious day when the grand festival of the sacred holy bath takes place, in a manner that conveys to the world the noble identity of Tamil culture, and in a manner that highlights the grandeur of the spiritual and historical heritage of our land, may the divine grace of the Lord abound in everyone’s life, and may well-being, prosperity, and joy flourish abundantly!”

“Let us preserve our ancient revered temples and their historical significance, and carry forward the spiritual and cultural grandeur to future generations as well!” he added.

Tamil Nadu Minister for Electricity, Non-Conventional Energy Development C.T.R. Nirmal Kumar, who was atop the temple at the location of the ceremony, carried out a surprise inspection of the control room and other arrangements made for the facilitation of devotees. 

He also checked with the police and officials about the security arrangements made for crowd control.

Minister for Higher Education P. Vishwanathan interacts with the Chairperson, Board of Trustee, and Rukmini Palanivel Rajan during the consecration of Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple in Madurai on September 17, 2026.

Rukmini Palanivel Rajan is the mother of former DMK Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan.

WhatsApp Image 2026-09-17 at 7.20.19 AM.jpeg

Hundreds of devotees pushed down the barricades who approached near the West Gopuram at the Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple in Madurai ahead of the consecration ceremony.

Police are trying to control the crowd from breaching the security barricades.

As poojas for the consecration ceremony of the Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple are set to begin shortly, the devotees holding permit passes arrived in large numbers at the temple premises.

Expressing pride as final preparations wrapped up, Tamil Nadu Minister for Energy Resources and Law C.T.R. Nirmal Kumar stated that hosting the historic consecration of the Madurai Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple under the current administration was a matter of profound joy.

​Devotees gather for historic consecration of Meenakshi temple in MaduraiDevotees gather in Madurai for the consecration of Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple, with elaborate arrangements ensuring a smooth ceremony.

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, carry the holy water to the multiple towers ( gopurams) decorated with flowers.

​Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple kumbabishekam beginsKumbabishekam at Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple begins with vedic chants, attracting VIPs and thousands of devotees.

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