Chennai: The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court has mandated the Madurai district administration to consider a plea demanding the closure of liquor shops and clubs during Chithirai festival in the district.

The High Court has ordered the administration to take into account the petition filed by a leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party calling for the closure of bars and nightclubs in Madurai from April 30 to May 5 during the festival.

The Madurai district administration had earlier on Wednesday declared May 5 to be a holiday in honour of the festival. On April 23, flags were raised to mark the beginning of Madurai's celebrated Chithirai festival. The main event of the celebration will be Kallazhagar's arrival into the Vaigai waters on May 5. The district administration informed the temple authorities that May 5 will be a holiday in the district as a result.

The Meenakshi temple hosts a 12-day festival that includes a number of activities, such as the goddess Meenakshi's coronation on April 30, her celestial wedding to Amman Sundareswarar on May 2, and the Chariot Festival on May 3. Theerthavari at the Meenakshi Amman temple marks the end of the festival on May 4. On May 5, Kallaghar plunges into the Vaigai River as part of the Chitrai celebration. 

The Chithirai Festival, commonly referred to as Chithirai Thiruvizha, is a yearly event that takes place in Madurai in the month of April. The event celebrates the merger of Sundareshwar, a manifestation of Shiva, and the goddess Meenakshi, a manifestation of Parvati. Meenakshi Kalyanam or Meenakshi Thirukalyanam are other names for the Chithirai festival.

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