Chithirai Thiruvizha 2026 at Madurai Meenakshi Temple - Chariot Festival Schedule

Chithirai Thiruvizha is one of the most important annual festivals held at the world famous Madurai Meenakshi Temple at Madurai in Tamil Nadu.Madurai Meenakshi Temple Chariot Festival Schedule 2026 dates are from April 19 to April 30. Pattabhishekam of Goddess Meenakshi is on April 26, 2026. Celestial Wedding or Thirukalyanam of  Lord Sundareswarar with Goddess Meenakshi is on April 28, 2026. The Car festival is on April 29, 2026. The festival is celebrated for 12 days during the Tamil month of Chithirai or Chithirai (April – May). Chithirai Thiruvizha ends on April 30, 2026.

Chithirai Thiruvizha begins with flag hoisting ceremony - April 19, 2026

Thikvijayam or the procession of Meenakshi Sundarambal is on April 7, 2026.

Note - All the festival dates need to be verified with the temple as official dates are not made available online on official websites.

The most important rituals associated with the festival are -

• the coronation or Pattabhishekam of Meenakshi Amman on the eighth day,
• procession of Goddess Meenakshi on the ninth day,
• Thirukalyanam or celestial wedding of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar on the tenth day,
• the car festival on the 11th day and
• the Theertha festival is celebrated on the 12th day with the Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi going round Masi streets and blessing the devotees.

Madurai Meenakshi Temple Festival Schedule 2026

April 19, 2026

Chithirai Thiruvizha Kodiyetram Kodiyetram (Flag Hoisting)

Karpaga Vriksham, Simha Vahanam

April 20, 2026

Bootha, Anna Vahanam

April 21, 2026

Kailasa Parvatham, Kamadhenu Vahanam

April 22, 2026

Thanga Pallakku

April 23, 2026

Vedar Pari Leelai - Thanga Kuthirai Vahanam

April 24, 2026

Saiva Samaya Sthabitha Varalatru Leelai

Rishaba Vahanam

April 25, 2026

Nandeeswarar, Yali Vahanam

April 26, 2026

Madurai Meenakshi Pattabhishekam

Velli Simhasana Ula

April 27, 2026

Madurai Meenakshi Digvijayam

Indira Vimana Ula

April 28, 2026

Madurai Meenakshi Sundareswarar Thirukalyanam (Celestial Wedding)

Yanai Vahanam, Pushpa Pallakku

April 29, 2026

Thiru Ther - Therottam or Ratha Utsavam Chariot Festival)

Sapthavarna Chapram

April 30, 2026

Theertham, Velli Vrishabham Sevai