The Chithirai Brahmotsavam of the Thanjavur Brihadeeswara Temple reached its grand crescendo today, April 27, 2026, with the magnificent Therottam (Chariot Procession). As the sun rose over the "Big Temple," thousands of devotees gathered at the West Raja Veedhi to witness the spiritual energy of the Chola-era Vimana transfer to the massive wooden "Temple on Wheels."The festival began on April 13 with temple flag hoisting ritual in the morning on the temple premises and the 18 day long festival will conclude on April 30.
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| Big temple, Thanjavur 13th April 2026 temple flag-hoisting dailythanthi.com |
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| Outer covered parkara Big temple Thanjavur wirally.com |
The day began in the early pre-dawn hours with specialized pujas performed for the processional deities, Lord Thyagaraja and Consort Kamalambal who will adorn the main Chariot . Amidst the chanting of Vedic hymns and Thirumurai and the resonant notes of the traditional Nadaswaram, the deities were mounted upon the platform of the ornate chariot at the Ther Mandapam, West Main Street.
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| Thermutti ,West Main street, Thanjavur.en.wikipedia.org |
Above image: The temple ther (Chariot) is parked permanently in the space in front of Thermutti right across Sri Kanchi Sankara Mandapam on the West Main street. Ther mandapam is used to transfer the deities to the Maintemple chariot during the annual Therottam. image: C. Jambulingam
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| Wooden base, Chariot with Vadam (huge rope) en.wikipedia.org image: C. Jambulingam
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| Thanjavur Big temple Chariot, en.wikipedia.org |
Above image: Old image. The wooden base of the chariot getting ready (to be decorated with canopy) for trial run way back in 2015 far before the festival event. On the right side is sri Kamakshi Amman temple, rear Gopuram Sri Ramar temple. image credit: C. Jambulingam........
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| Brihadishwara temple, chariot, TN en.wikipedia.org |
The "pulling" of the chariot was initiated only after the ceremonial breaking of coconuts and the offering of Deepa Aradhana. As the thick, heavy ropes were grasped by thousands of hands, the air was filled with cries of "Arohara!" The chariot, weighing over 25 tons and adorned with hundreds of hand-carved icons of Shiva’s Leelas, began its rhythmic journey through the four Raja Veedhis (Main Streets).
The chariot stopped briefly only at selected spots for the convenience of devotees -like Santhu Mariamman kovil, Konganeshwarer temple, Moolai Anjaneyar temple,etc on West Main street; Ratnapureeswarer temple, Gurukula Sanjeevi temple, etc on North Main Street; Vittoba kovil, Varadaraja Perumal temple, etc on East Main street; Kaliyuga Venkatesa Perumal temple, Pillaiyar temple at the entrance of Manoj Appa street, Kasi Viswanathar temple,etc on the South Main Street. In the evening at the Thermutti,the idols of Thiagarajar and Kamalambal will be reverentially taken back to the big temple.
Social and Historical Revival
This festival carries deep historical weight. While records indicate the chariot tradition flourished during the Maratha era under King Serfoji II, it suffered a century-long hiatus. Its triumphant revival in 2015 restored a vital cultural artery to Thanjavur. Today's run signifies not just a religious event, but a triumph of heritage conservation and social equality, as people from all walks of life pull together to move the divine vehicle.
The 2026 procession concludes a nearly three-week spiritual journey, with the Theerthavari and flag lowering scheduled for April 30. For those present today, the sight of the towering canopy swaying against the Thanjavur skyline remains a profound testament to the living continuity of Chola glory.
On account of Big temple therottam, Educational institutions and state government departments are on a holiday schedule.
https://navrangindia.blogspot.com/2026/04/the-ensuing-chithirai-therottam.html
https://navrangindia.blogspot.com/2015/05/temple-car-festival-thanjavur-big.html
Author: K. N. Jayaraman (navrangindia.blogspot.com)
