Tamil Nadu celebrates Aadi Thiruvathirai Festival honouring legacy of Rajendra Chola I

Hyderabad: The Ministry of Culture is all set to celebrate the birth anniversary of the great Chola Emperor Rajendra Chola I with the Aadi Thiruvathirai Festival, to be held from July 23-27 at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Tamil Nadu.

What does the festival commemorate?

This special celebration also commemorates 1,000 years of Rajendra Chola’s legendary maritime expedition to South East Asia and the commencement of the construction of the iconic Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple, a magnificent example of Chola architecture.

The grand finale of the festival will be attended by prime minister Narendra Modi. He will be joined by the governor of Tamil Nadu, RN Ravi, Union minister for Culture and Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, and MoS in the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs Dr L Murugan, along with other dignitaries.

Special programmes in the lineup

On this day, Kalakshetra Foundation will present a special Bharatanatyam group recital, followed by Devaram Thirumurai chanting by traditional Othuvars.

A booklet on Devaram hymns, published by the Sahitya Akademi, will be formally released.

The festival will conclude with a musical presentation by the legendary maestro Padma Vibhushan Ilaiyaraaja and his troupe, offering a fitting tribute to the spiritual and cultural brilliance of the Chola era.

The five-day festival will feature vibrant cultural performances each evening, beginning July 23. Visitors will witness Bharatanatyam presentations by artists from Kalakshetra Foundation, and Devaram Thirumurai chanting by students trained under the South Zone Cultural Centre, Thanjavur—both reflecting the deep spiritual and artistic traditions that flourished under the Chola reign.

Exhibitions by ASI

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) will curate special exhibitions on Chola Shaivism and temple architecture, in addition to organising heritage walks and guided tours that offer rare insights into the cultural and architectural legacy of the period.

Rajendra Chola I (1014–1044 CE) was one of the most powerful and visionary rulers in Indian history. Under his leadership, the Chola Empire expanded its influence across South and Southeast Asia. He established Gangaikonda Cholapuram as the imperial capital after his victorious campaigns, and the temple he built there served as a beacon of Shaiva devotion, monumental architecture, and administrative prowess for over 250 years. Today, the temple stands as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, renowned for its intricate sculptures, Chola bronzes, and ancient inscriptions.

Celebrating Tamil Shaiva Bhakti tradition

The Aadi Thiruvathirai festival also celebrates the rich Tamil Shaiva Bhakti tradition, fervently supported by the Cholas and immortalised by the 63 Nayanmars—the saint-poets of Tamil Shaivism. Notably, Rajendra Chola’s birth star, Thiruvathirai (Ardra), makes this year’s festival all the more significant.

The key aims of the festival are to highlight the profound philosophical roots of Shaiva Siddhanta and the role of Tamil in its dissemination; to honour the contributions of the Nayanmars to the spiritual fabric of Tamil culture; and to celebrate the extraordinary legacy of Rajendra Chola I and the Chola dynasty in promoting Shaivism, temple architecture, literature, and classical arts.