Five-day cultural festival to mark Big Temple's millennium

Chennai: The Government will organize a five-day cultural festival from September 22 to 26 involving thousands of artists to mark the millennium celebrations of Big Temple in Thanjavur. A confluence of thousand folk artists from 75 troupes in Thanjavur will participate in cultural events to be held in the evenings from September 22 to 24 in the venues on Big Temple premises, Rajarajan Manimandapam, Tholkappiar Sathukkam, Old TNHB quarters and Karandhai. Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin will inaugurate a special exhibition in Thanjavur palace on September 24 showcasing Chola paintings, inscriptions, sculptures, musical instruments, archaeological evidences and 100 paintings by students of Government Arts College, Kumbakonam. On the same day, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi will preside over a symposium on ‘Thanjavur's contribution to Indian pride' and release a book titled ‘Chola paintings' at Thanjavur Tamil University. A special stamp will be released by Union Minister for Information and Communication Technology A. Raja on September 26 and Union Minister for Shipping G.K. Vasan will receive it. Union Minister of State for Finance S.S. Palanimanickam will release a special coin. On the inaugural day, the celebrations will be marked by cultural programmes of Thenmozhi Rajendran, Tamil Isai music by Sirkazhi Sivachidambaram, dance by Narthagi Nataraj and a programme by Carnatic vocalist Sudha Ragunathan. The events will be held in the evenings between 5.30 pm to 9.30 pm on the Big Temple premises, said an official release.