Blog April 30, 2024 Celebrating Two Years of Shiva Temple Manchester: Chithirai Thiruvizha with Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Thirukalyanam in Manchester At Shiva Temple Manchester we recently celebrated our second anniversary and  annual Chithirai Thiruvizha, marking another successful year of fostering cultural connection within the Manchester Hindu community. Chithirai Thiruvizha, also known as the Chitra Festival, is a significant event in the Tamil Hindu calendar. Held during the month of Chithirai (April-May), it commemorates the celestial wedding of Parvati, the embodiment of Shakti, to Shiva, the embodiment of Shiva. This divine union represents the sacred balance between the feminine and masculine energies in the universe. The Manchester event, held on April 27th, 2024, drew over 300 devotees to witness the sacred Meenakshi Sundareswarar Thirukalyanam. This ceremony, led by Lambothara Kumarasamy Kurukkal of Wales Kalpaga Vinayagar Devasthanam, recreated the grandeur of the celestial wedding in meticulous detail. The day’s festivities began with a “Sangalpam,” a vow or resolution made by devotees to participate in the ceremony. This was followed by the core wedding rituals, including “Archanai” (worship) and devotional “Bhajans” (songs). Live “Nadhaswaram” music, a traditional South Indian wind instrument performance, by Sri Senthil Kumar and Sri Praveen Kumar further enhanced the spiritual atmosphere. Following the ceremony, a grand “Maha Prasadham” (blessed food) was served, generously sponsored by Sai Spice restaurant and caterers. This communal meal provided a wonderful opportunity for devotees to connect and celebrate together. The dedication of sponsors, volunteers, devotees, committee members, and trustees was instrumental in making the event a success. The organisers extend their heartfelt gratitude to all who contributed. The celebrations extended beyond the temple walls with a community badminton tournament held in the afternoon at St Ambrose College, Manchester. This event, a fantastic success with 24 participating teams, saw families and young children come together in a spirit of friendly competition. The winners, Mr. Selvaraj Blessan and Mr. Praveen Kumar, are to be congratulated, as well as the runners-up, Mr. Thamarai Kannan and Mr. Pradeep. Looking ahead, the Shiva Temple Manchester enters its third year with a focus on promoting both spiritual well-being through temple prayer activities and physical well-being through community events focusing on health and well-being initiatives. This commitment to holistic well-being reflects the temple’s dedication to serving the diverse needs of the Manchester community. For more information and to support the Shiva Temple Manchester, visit their donation link:  www.shivatemplemanchester.co.uk https://tinyurl.com/shivatemplemanchester Previous Post Recent Blogs April 2024 – Chithirai Thiruvizha with Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Thirukalyanam April 30, 2024 December 2023 – Second Year Annual Ayyappa Pooja December 30, 2023 November 2023 – Udayalur Dr Shri Kalyanaraman Concert November 30, 2023 October 2023 – Navaratri Celebrations October 30, 2023 September 2023 – Ganesh Chathurthi Festival September 30, 2023