Latest news with #AadiThiruvathiraifestival
Hans India
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Edappadi Palaniswami likely to meet PM Modi in Tiruchi
Chennai: AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami is likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Tiruchi during the latter's two-day visit to Tamil Nadu on July 26 and 27. This would be the first formal meeting between the two leaders since the AIADMK renewed its alliance with the BJP ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to arrive in Tamil Nadu on the evening of July 26 after completing an official visit to the Maldives. He is expected to land at the Tuticorin airport at 7.50 p.m. and will inaugurate the expanded Tuticorin airport and proceed to Tiruchi for an overnight stay. On July 27, PM Modi will attend the Aadi Thiruvathirai festival at the historic Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple in Ariyalur district. Following the event, he is scheduled to depart for New Delhi from Tiruchi at 2.25 p.m. According to sources, Edappadi Palaniswami is expected to meet the Prime Minister either late on July 26 or on the morning of July 27 in Tiruchi. While AIADMK has not officially confirmed the meeting, the party has rescheduled EPS's pre-announced campaign events -- originally planned in Karaikudi, Tirupattur, and Sivaganga on July 26 -- to July 29. The party, in a statement, did not mention the reason for the rescheduling, but political observers believe it is to facilitate the meeting with PM Modi. This meeting gains significance as all alliance negotiations between the AIADMK and BJP had so far been handled primarily by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. EPS and PM Modi had not met directly since the fallout during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections when both parties contested separately. Earlier, Amit Shah had declared that the BJP would be part of the alliance led by AIADMK in the 2026 Assembly polls. However, EPS later countered that the AIADMK would form the government on its own with a clear majority, triggering confusion among the cadre of both parties. The proposed meeting is also expected to cover other strategic issues, including EPS's reported request for the Union government to fast-track Central agency investigations against DMK leaders. If confirmed, this would mark the first personal interaction between PM Modi and Palaniswami since the former began his third consecutive term as the Prime Minister.
New Indian Express
9 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Rajendra Chola birth anniversary fete begins at Ariyalur; PM to attend finale on July 27
ARIYALUR/CHENNAI: The birth anniversary celebrations of Chola emperor Rajendra I (Aadi Thiruvathirai festival) commenced on Wednesday at the historic Brihadeeswarar temple in Gangaikondacholapuram in Ariyalur. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the chief guest for the grand finale of the festival scheduled for July 27, announced the union government. At an event to mark the commencement of the festival, Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu, who also holds the archaeology portfolio, said the DMK government in 2021 declared Aadi Thiruvathirai as Rajendra Chola's official birth anniversary based on historical research. He credited historian Kudavayil Balasubramanian for identifying, through detailed epigraphic studies, that Rajendra Chola was born in the Thiruvathirai star of the Tamil month of Aadi, and not in Margazhi as previously believed. Transport Minister SS Sivasankar, who was present on the occasion, said, 'When Rajendra Chola designed the temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, he intentionally built the tower shorter than that of Thanjavur's Brihadeeswarar temple, out of respect for his father Rajaraja Chola. He didn't want to be seen as a son who surpassed his father. In today's political scenario, many must reflect on this Chola message.' Tourism Minister K Ramachandran, Information and Publicity Minister MP Saminathan, and VCK leader Thirumavalavan also took part in the event. Meanwhile, a release said Kalakshetra Foundation will stage a special Bharatanatyam group recital, followed by Devaram Thirumurai chanting by traditional Othuvars during the festival. A booklet on Devaram hymns, published by the Sahitya Akademi, will be formally released. The festival will conclude with a musical presentation by music maestro Ilaiyaraaja and his troupe. The release said objectives of the festival include highlighting the profound philosophical roots of Shaiva Siddhanta and the role of Tamil in its dissemination, honouring the contributions of the Nayanmars to the spiritual fabric of Tamil culture, and celebrating the extraordinary legacy of Rajendra Chola I and the Chola dynasty.
Time of India
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
DMK using state funds for party activities: Nainar
Trichy: BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran has accused the DMK govt of misusing state funds to promote Ungaludan Stalin scheme as a party activity, and using senior bureaucrats as propaganda secretaries of DMK. He was speaking at the BJP urban party office in Trichy on Wednesday where he visited to discuss the reception for Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is scheduled to visit the state on July 26 and 27. "I oppose the Ungaludan Stalin programme. It's a party activity; I wonder how senior bureaucrats agree to run this scheme. This is not right, and we cannot allow it," Nagenthran said. He added that DMK's Oraniyil Tamil Nadu initiative is an unwanted and deceptive move since the state is within India. "We want to unseat DMK from power in 2026, and our alliance is intact. But nobody is questioning the chief minister about the unity of DMK's alliance," Nagenthran said. He said the PM would inaugurate the new Tuticorin airport terminal on July 26 evening and take part in Aadi Thiruvathirai festival at Gangaikonda Cholapuram in Ariyalur district on July 27.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
State yet to get details of PM's visit to Ariyalur: Minister
Trichy: State minister for transport and electricity S S Sivasankar on Monday said that the state govt is yet to get official communication about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's proposed visit to Ariyalur district on July 27 to participate in the Aadi Thiruvathirai festival at the Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple near Jayankondam. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The minister while reviewing the arrangements made for the conduct of the festival, however, acknowledged that the district administration has been informed about the PM's visit. "We have not got any govt level information, but district administration has been informed about the PM's visit," the minister said in response to a question. Meanwhile, the district administration has declared a local holiday on July 23, as the state tourism, culture and religious endowments department is scheduled to celebrate the birth anniversary (Aadi Thiruvathirai) of Rajendra Chola I, a prominent emperor of Chola dynasty as a govt festival. The minister said that music and cultural events will be organised near the Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple to promote the Chola king's achievements.
Time of India
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
PM's VVIP aircraft makes trial landing at Trichy airport
Trichy: VVIP-3, the official aircraft used by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, conducted a trial landing and take-off at Trichy International Airport on Tuesday as part of a safety exercise ahead of the PM's likely visit to Tamil Nadu on July 27. Modi is expected to attend the Aadi Thiruvathirai festival at the Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple near Jayankondam in Ariyalur district. Sources said the VVIP aircraft landed at Trichy around 12.10 pm and took off at 1.30 pm. As Trichy airport's runway is relatively short at 8,136 feet, it typically handles only narrow-body aircraft even for international flights. Since VVIP-3 is a wide-body aircraft with a larger size and higher carrying capacity, the trial was held to ensure safe operations. "VVIP-3 is the longest wide-body aircraft ever to land at Trichy airport. This is also the first time the airport has handled the Prime Minister's custom-made aircraft," said S Gnaneswara Rao, director of Trichy airport. He noted that during the trial, the aircraft managed to take off using just 50% of the runway length. Rao added that the space behind the old integrated terminal building could be used to receive the Prime Minister if authorities opt to land him in Trichy. Two years ago, the airport's taxiway was upgraded to accommodate wide-body aircraft.
