Flower shower by dolls draws crowds during Chithirai festival

Amid chants and the reverberant sound of nadaswaram, as Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar pause in procession, two winged, doll-like figures come — leaning forward to offer a garland and sprinkle flowers, which is called as Poochorithal, a unique moment in the Madurai Chitrai festival along West Masi Street.

At the junction of West Masi Street and Netaji Road, near the Dhandayuthapaniswamy Temple, the Goddess Meenakshi’s chariot pauses for a few minutes under a decorative pandal. Thousands of devotees gather here to witness the Poochorithal event. A temple priest K. Karthikeyan, says, “Poochorithal, which has been in practice during Chitrai festival for more than 130 years, remains as a people’s gesture — an expression of gratitude offered to the deities.”