State, Union govts vie to celebrate Rajendra Chola birth anniv
The state govt's celebration of Aadi Thiruvathirai, the festival marking the birth anniversary of the Chola monarch, was jointly launched by ministers Thangam Thennarasu, S S Sivasankar, R Rajendran, and MP Saminathan in the presence of Chidambaram MP Thol Thirumavalavan on Wednesday at Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple at Jayamkondam in Ariyalur district. The temple was built by Rajendra Chola.
Tamil development minister M P Saminathan announced during the event that the state govt would install a 35-feet statue of Raja Raja Chola, the father of Rajendra Chola I.
The statue would come up in the Rs55 crore Chola museum proposed at Thanjavur. Finance minister Thangam Thennarasu said the state govt has already allocated Rs22 crore to develop the grand museum. The ministers heaped praise on chief minister M K Stalin for sanctioning Rs19.2 crore to redevelop Cholagangam tank built by the king near the temple.
Meanwhile, the Union govt organised parallel celebrations from Wednesday which will culminate in the cultural and spiritual events on July 27.
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A PIB statement said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, TN governor R N Ravi, Union culture minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and minister of state for parliamentary affairs L Murugan would participate in the celebrations on the day.
State govt sources said CM M K Stalin was set to participate in the celebrations on Sunday with Modi. However it was cancelled due to his hospitalisation. It would be Thangam Thennarasu who is most likely to represent the state govt at the event.
"Kalakshetra Foundation will present a Bharatanatyam performance, followed by Devaram Thirumurai chanting by traditional Othuvars. A booklet on Devaram hymns will be released.
The festival will conclude with a musical presentation by maestro Ilaiyaraaja,'' said the statement. Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) will curate special exhibitions on Chola Shaivism and temple architecture, in addition to organizing heritage walks and guided tours, it added.
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