Madurai celebrates the full moon with exciting festival: 30-01-2008
The temple town of Madurai becomes an eventful and noisy place to be when the full moon arrives in January and February and a spectacular festival ensues.
Celebrated at the Mariamman Teppakulam Tank, the festival dominates the area and provides a great opportunity for travellers to enjoy some of India's lesser known culture,
The Tank is an area of water five kilometers east of the Meenakshi Temple.
On top of the sacred water lies a small temple that is the centre of the festival.
Images of the goddess Meenakshi that have been dressed in jewelled images are brought in a procession from the Meenakshi temple to the Tank where they are the floated on a raft.
The raft is covered in flowers and lamps and is willed towards the centre by chants of prayer and plenty of lively music.
Madurai is a town situated on the banks of the River Vaigai and was the capital city of the Pandya Kings of South India.
© Adfero Ltd
Find out about our tailor made holidays to India
Order our Brochure for Indian Subcontinent
Audley Travel are specialists in tailor-made individual itineraries for discerning travellers seeking authentic experiences around the world.