An exhibition being organised by the Archaeological Survey of India as part of the Aadi Thiruvathirai festival in Gangaikonda Cholapuram.
| Photo Credit: Special arrangement
Gangaikonda Cholapuram in Ariyalur district in Tamil Nadu wore a festive look on Saturday, a day ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to the ancient capital of the imperial Cholas built by Emperor Rajendra Chola I.
The village and the Brihadisvara Temple, situated along the Tiruchi-Chidambaram National Highway, has been decked up with flags and garlands to welcome the Prime Minister, who will participate in the valediction of the Aadi Thiruvathirai festival marking the birth anniversary of Rajendra Chola I.
Mr. Modi will release a commemorative coin in honour of the king, accepting a request made by R. Komagan, Chairman of the Gangaikondacholapuram Development Council Trust.
The king had built Gangaikonda Cholapuram along with the Brihadisvara Temple and the Cholagangam, a massive lake, after his victorious expedition to the Gangetic plains about 1,000 years ago.
Reaffirming the Chola capital’s link to the river, Mr. Modi would hand over a pot of water brought from the river Ganga to the temple priests. “The Prime Minister will hand over the pot brought from Varanasi to the Sivachariars of the temple to perform abishekam,” Mr. Komagan told The Hindu.
Heads of various Saivaite mutts in Tamil Nadu are also set to participate in the event. “About 30 heads of Saivaite maths and sadhus will attend the event. A group of 44 oduvars will recite hymns from Thiruvasagam,” Mr. Komagan said.
The Prime Minister will inspect a thematic photo exhibition on “Saiva siddhanta and Chola Temple Arts”, put up by the Archaeological Survey of India, which maintains the temple. Music composer Ilaiyaraaja will perform a 20-minute concert in the presence of Mr. Modi.
After an overnight stay in Tiruchi, Mr. Modi will fly to Gangaikonda Cholapuram in a helicopter on Sunday morning. After offering prayers at the temple, he will participate in the public event.
Mr. Modi is also expected to go on a roadshow from the helipad, set up near the Cholagangam, or Ponneri, to the temple. The village and the Brihadisvara Temple have been under security blanket with the deployment of over 2,000 police personnel.
On Saturday, Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat visited the temple and reviewed the arrangements.
Published – July 27, 2025 12:32 am IST
