Brihadeeswarar Temple – Car Festival
The Temple
car was rolled out on its trial run from opposite
to Sri
Ramar temple on 20 April
2015 witnessed by a large number of people. Nine days later, the maiden
procession of the temple car was held, with the deity's idols on top on 29
April 2015. This was the first such procession in this temple held in the past
hundred years.
The car festival at Brihadeeswarar Temple was celebrated
after many decades in Thanjavur. The last such celebration took place in the
year 1776 AD wherein about 20,200 people took part in pulling the car. The
history of this festival dates back to the period when Serfoji reined the city
in the year 1813 AD. During this period over 27394 people took part in the
festival who was locals of various taluks of Thanjavur District.
The Taluks from people came in comprised of Papanasam (2800),
Mayuram (modern name Mayiladuthurai) (3484), Tiruvaiyaru (1900), Nannilam
(3200), Tiruvarur (2920), Kumbakonam (3494), Mannargudi (4200) and Keevalur
(4500). The festival also included over 900 people taking part by way of
carrying the Vahanas and other 26494 people pulling the car. At the dawn of
19th century in 1801, about 500 Chakram was spent in renovation activities of
the wheels. As per latest documents, an amount of 30150 chakrams were spent for
the car pulling festival in 1801 AD and 1811 AD.
Getting Ready for Trial Run:
The Iluppai wood collected from the Konganeswar Temple
was used in the renovation activities of five storey structure of the car,
which will be used in the procession. The sculptural works include making
ready the wooden idols of Yaazhi- the combined form of Lion and elephant,
Gajasamhara, Vinayaka, Siva with Parvathi and Nandi, Tripurantaka and Muruga.
All the main streets of Thanjavur are readied with
thoroughfares where the car would be taken in a procession. The temple car is
about 18 foot tall and its preparation requires 25 tonnes of Iluppai
and local teakwood. The architecture of the car includes a three tier wood
structure on which the devasanam is carved. A top of this, the processional
deity is carved.
The whole car would have a combination of various Gods
specifically the big temple, Vimana and Holy Bull (Nandi). The efforts of more
than 30 sculptors for one and half year were put in for the car. Bharat Heavy
Electricals Limited of Trichy is fabricating the seven feet high wheels of the
car.
Trial Run:
The trial run of this huge car was initiated on 20th
April 2015. The special poojas were performed and the rituals were followed on
simhasana comprising of Lord. Also decorative umbrella was held on atop
the sculpture of Gods marking respect. Then the green flag was waved signaling
the trial run. All the devotees who had gathered at the venue took
charge of the rope with reverence and tugged at the car. The car slowly chugged
off and then stabilized signifying a perfect start to the car that begun its
trial run from the place of Sri Ramar temple in West Main Street. The car also
travelled the main streets where people of all age had a good view.
Car Festival:
On 29th April 2015, the first car festival was held at Thanjavur
after a long gap of 1000 years. In the past the last such festival was
celebrated in presence of Chola King Rajaraja – I. on 29th April, the poojas
were performed at the Big Temple and the processional deities were taken amidst
chanting of Vedic mantras to the west street where the decorated car
was kept.
The car had sculptures of 360 sculptures of various
deities and well carved scriptures of important mythological events. The car
weighed about 40 tonnes and stood at a height of 50 feet. All the main streets
where the car was supposed to drive were cleared off for encroachments and
other hindrances, so as to ensure smooth movement of the procession.
The car was also halted at major junctions enabling the devotees to
offer their prayers. The devotees thronged in huge numbers to pull
the car that had a huge ropes tied to it. The devotees took hold of
the ropes and pulled it and the car chugged and wobbled initially. But soon
thereafter, it balanced to gain stability signaling the success of the car
festival after such a long gap.
