Madurai Kumbabhishekam: 5 Tonnes of Flower Garlands Adorn 12 Gopurams
The grand garlands, prepared over the past two days in the Puthu Mandapam area, ranged from 40 feet to 122 feet in length
MADURAI: The 12 gopurams of the historic Meenakshi Amman temple were adorned with colourful flower garlands, weighing around 5 tonnes, ahead of the consecration ceremony scheduled for Thursday.
The grand garlands, prepared over the past two days in the Puthu Mandapam area, ranged from 40 feet to 122 feet in length. They were prepared for all 12 gopurams, including the golden vimanas of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar and the eastern, western, northern and southern rajagopurams.
Before the garlands were taken to the gopurams, the Lord Vallabha Vinayagar at the Ashta Sakthi mandapam, near the Amman shrine entrance, was decorated with the garland and special poojas were performed. Subsequently, prayers were offered at the Sri Maha Muneeswarar temple near the northern gopuram.
The first garland was then lifted towards the top of the eastern rajagopuram. The garlands were transported from Puthu Mandapam to the respective 12 temple gopurams with more than 50 workers involved in decorating the nine-tiered eastern rajagopuram alone.
The elaborate decoration, carried out with considerable coordination and manpower, added to the festive atmosphere at the temple ahead of the consecration ceremony.