PM Modi marked a significant cultural and political occasion by attending the famous Aadi Thiruvathirai festival celebrating the Chola dynasty, particularly the birth anniversary of the legendary Chola king Rajendra Chola I, at Gangaikonda Cholapuram in Tamil Nadu. The event also commemorated a thousand years since Rajendra Chola’s historic naval expeditions to Southeast Asia, where he conquered vast territories. The Prime Minister also visited the iconic Brihadeeswara Temple in Thanjavur, built by Rajendra Chola’s father Raja Raja Chola I. In many ways, this visit brought history and culture to life. Yet beyond the symbolic significance, the event carries a strong present-day political message, countering the DMK’s narrative that the BJP and PM Modi are opposed to Tamil people and Tamil Nadu.
The gathering at Gangaikonda Cholapuram featured 25 mutt heads and the legendary music director Ilaiyaraaja. A special panel discusses the contemporary political optics and legacy of the Chola dynasty.
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