Chithirai Festival or Chithirai Thiruvizha is an annual celebration celebrated in the city of Madurai during the month of April. It is celebrated during the Tamil month of Chitirai. It lasts for one month of which the first 15 days mark the celebrations of the coronation of Goddess Meenakshi and the Marriage of Lord Sundareswara and Goddess Meenakshi, and the next 15 days mark the celebrations of the Journey of Lord Alagar from Kallazhagar temple in Alagar Koyil to Madurai.

Historically, they were separate events. They were Meenakshi festival and Alagar festival celebrated on different months as two separate celebrations.

As per the legend, Meenakshi was the daughter of Pandya king Malayadhwaja Pandian and queen Kanchana Malai. The royal couple didn't have a child for a long time. So, Malayadhwaja Pandian performed special poojas and offered his prayers to God. During the pooja, a small girl came out of the fire and sat on the lap of the king. At that time a divine voice from the sky told them that this child was an incarnation of Shakti (Wife of Lord Shiva) and Lord Shiva himself would come to marry her at the right age. Meenakshi was trained in warfare and she was crowned as the Queen of Pandya kingdom after her father. She conquered the whole world with her extraordinary war skill and at last she went to Kailasham (the abode of Lord Shiva) to conquer it. When Meenakshi confronted Lord Shiva in the battlefield, she fell in love with him and realized that she is an avatar of Shakti.

Lord Shiva assured Meenakshi that he will come to Madurai to marry her. As promised Lord Shiva along with all the Devas and rishi's came to Madurai. Lord Shiva married Meenakshi and ruled the Pandya kingdom under the name Sundara Pandyan.

This is a Separate celebration that was celebrated by Saivaites (Followers of Lord Shiva). The below is the story of Alagar festival that is celebrated by Vaishnavites (Followers of Lord Vishnu).

Once, Mandooka rishi (a saint) was taking bath in the holy waters of Aagaayagangai in Alagar hills. At that time, the most powerful and short tempered Durvasar Maharishi came by the way. Mandooka rishi hadn't noticed his arrival, But Durvasa took this as an insult. So he cursed Mandooka to become a frog and live in the river Vaigai. Mandooka was worried by the curse and pleaded for mercy. Durvasa told him to go to Vaigai and pray to Lord Alagar to get out of his curse and get back his human body. As advised by Durvasa he went to river Vaigai and lived in the river as a frog and pray lord Alagar.

Alagar was pleased by the prayers of Mandooka rishi and he himself went to river Vaigai to lift the curse off Mandooka rishi. And, as per Mandooka's wish he showed him all his ten avatars and blessed him.

During the rule of King Thirumalai Nayakar, both the festivals were merged as one single event to unite the people of the two groups (Saivism and Vaishnavite).[citation needed] Since then they are celebrated as one grand event during the Tam