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

A s 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.

Also read : Devotees gather for historic consecration of Meenakshi temple in Madurai

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.

Also read: Madurai’s festival flowers: Champak, marigold and jasmine for the Meenakshi temple Kumbabishekam

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.

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 Madurai Devotees 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.