Golden vahanam carries Lord Kallazhagar into sacred waters

Thousands of devotees ceremonially carried the idol of Lord Kallazhagar on a golden horse vahanam into the Vaigai River as part of the Chithirai festival rituals on 1 May 2026 in Madurai.

The Chithirai festival, one of Madurai's most significant annual celebrations, culminated with Lord Kallazhagar's ritual entry into the Vaigai River aboard an ornate golden vahanam on 1 May 2026.

Alagar Kovil's presiding deity Lord Kallazhagar was ceremonially immersed in the Vaigai River during the Chithirai festival observance, a centuries-old tradition believed to bestow blessings on devotees and the region.

Large gatherings of devotees assembled along the Vaigai River in Madurai on 1 May 2026 to witness the sacred entry of Lord Kallazhagar's idol during the Chithirai festival, a major pilgrimage and cultural event.