PM to attend Chola emperor's birth anniversary celebrations

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in Tamil Nadu this Sunday to celebrate the birth anniversary of the Chola emperor Rajendra Chola and join the Aadi Thiruvathirai Festival, which is being held from July 23 to July 27, at Gangaikonda Cholapuram in Ariyalur district, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) said ina statement.

- Divya Chandrababu

“...our PM is set to visit the iconic Gangaikonda Cholapu-ram on July 27th and will release a commemorative coin honouring one of the greatest emperors of India, Rajendra Chola, marking 1,000 years since his Gangetic conquest, a milestone for Tamil culture & heritage,” former state BJP president K Annamalai posted on X.

“This is a historic moment that awaits Tamil Nadu & Bharat,” he further said, adding that this is in line with the PM's reverence for Tamil language and culture.

The 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 Cholapu-ram temple, a magnificent example of Chola architecture

This marks the latest political upmanship in the state between the ruling DMK which is organising a slew of events to mark the Chola king's birthday and the opposition BJP which is trying to expand in Tamil Nadu.

‘A day ago, chief minister and DMK president MK Stalin said that his government has undertaken works to embellish the Cholagangam tank in Ariyalur district. July 23 is the beginning of the Aadi Thiruvathirai festival celebrating the birth anniversary of Rajendra Chola I (1014-1044 CE), known for his maritime expedition