THIRUVARUR CHARIOT FESTIVAL

 

Kulothunga chola II (1133-50)CE enlarged the temple critual to have fifty six festival , some of which are thygarajaswamy temple is celebrated during April-may , corresponding to the tamil month of chitrai .the chariot is the largest of its kind in asia and india weighting 300 tonne with a height of 90 feet . the chariot comes around the main street surrounding the temple the festival the event is attended by lakshs of people form all over tamilnadu  .the chariot festival is followed by the “theppam” meaning flot festival.truly is steeped in history and it identified as one of the five ancient capital cities of the mighty chola king when sekkizhau had to choose one sacred city to sing the prasies of as a part of his magnum opus, periya puranam ,he did not choose Chidambaram or thanjavur but decided to Thiruvarur is not just another historic town from the kaveri delta it celebrate the greatness and divinity of thiruvarur . and it was from here that a legendacy cholaking.Identify as manuneeti chozhan ruled , upheld justice in a manner that is supposed to have had even the celestials his capabilities .his son accidently drove his chariot over a calf and killed it. This grieved mother cow pleaded for justice by ringing the bell tired at the palace entrance.