Latest news with #GangaikondacholapuramDevelopmentCouncilTrust
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
PM Modi in Tamil Nadu LIVE: Security tightened ahead of PM's Gangaikonda Cholapuram visit
Gangaikonda Cholapuram in Ariyalur district in Tamil Nadu wore a festive look 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, have 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. Watch: Gangaikonda Cholapuram: PM Modi to visit Rajendra Chola's lost capital 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.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
PM Modi in Tamil Nadu: Gangaikonda Cholapuram decked up to welcome PM Modi; police tighten security ahead of visit
Gangaikonda Cholapuram in Ariyalur district in Tamil Nadu wore a festive look 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, have 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. 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 (July 26, 2025), Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat visited the temple and reviewed the arrangements.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Gangaikonda Cholapuram decked up to welcome PM; police tighten security ahead of visit
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.
The Hindu
18-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
PM Modi to release commemorative coin of King Rajendra Chola, Ilaiyaraaja to perform at Gangaikonda Cholapuram on July 27
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to participate in a function in Tamil Nadu on July 27, 2025 being organised to commemorate the 1000th anniversary (millenary) of the conquest of the Gangetic plains by King Rajendra Chola I, who established the city of Gangaikonda Cholapuram and constructed the Brihadisvara Temple, in Ariyalur district. Mr. Modi will also release a commemorative coin on the occasion, accepting a request made by R. Komagan, Chairman of the Gangaikondacholapuram Development Council Trust. The temple town and its premises are being spruced up for the Prime Minister's visit. An exhibition showcasing the conquest, trophies and miniature sculptures of Saivite saints will be held at the temple premises between July 23 and 27. Music composer Ilaiyaraaja will perform a 20-minute concert in the presence of Mr. Modi. A capital of the Cholas for 250 years, Gangaikonda Cholapuram, located on the banks of the Kollidam River in Ariyalur district, lost its glory with the fall of the Chola dynasty. A report in the Gazetteer of South India in 1855 — later included in the book 'The Colas' by K.A. Nilakanta Sastri — compared Gangaikonda Cholapuram to ancient Babylon. 'Immediately in its vicinity is a pagoda of a very large size and costly workmanship; and close by, surrounded by jungle, are some remains of ancient buildings, now much resembling the mounds and heaps which indicate the site of ancient Babylon, but in which the village elders point out the various parts of an extensive and magnificent palace,' the report states. It also refers to the complete dismantling of the outer wall and the partial demolition of the inner wall by the British in 1832, during the construction of the Lower Kollidam Anaicut. 'When the Lower Kollidam Anaicut was built, the structure was dismantled of a large part of the splendid granite sculptures which adorned it, and the enclosing wall was almost wholly destroyed in order to obtain materials for the work,' the report points out. Although local people did their best to prevent the 'destruction and spoliation of a venerated edifice,' they were punished for contempt. 'A promise was made, indeed, that a wall of brick would be built in place of the stone wall that was pulled down, but unhappily it must be recorded that this promise has never been redeemed,' the report adds.
The Hindu
07-07-2025
- The Hindu
Citizens council suggests Tiruchi airport be named after Rajendra Chola
The Gangaikondacholapuram Development Council Trust has called upon the Centre to name the Tiruchi International Airport after Rajendra Chola. The Council, comprising heritage enthusiasts and local residents, has sought the issue of a coin in his name 'as a tribute to the achievements of the great Chola Emperor.' In a statement, R. Komagan, chairman of the trust, said the Esalam copper plates are the primary and earliest evidence that Gangaikondacholisvaram temple was built by Rajendra Chola. However, there is no direct evidence about when the construction of the Gangaikondacholisvaram Temple was started and completed. It is believed that Rajendra Chola might have started building the temple after his Gangetic expedition as a memorial to his victory and name his capital city Gangaikondacholapuram. Various inscriptions indicate that the expedition was completed in his 11th Regnal year, 1023 CE and brought the holy Ganges water to sanctify the capital city and Gangaikondacholisvaram. 'It is known from the Thiruvalangadu copper plates that he dug a large lake named Chola Ganga in his capital and poured Ganges water into it. The large lake is known as Ponneri. Therefore, one thousand years have passed since the sacred Ganges water was brought to this city, a 16-mile large lake was dug and the water was mixed into it,' Mr. Komagan said. The occasion should be suitably commemorated by the release of a coin and naming the Tiruchi Airport after the king, who was a prominent figure in India history, Mr. Komagan added.
