Coronavirus echo: Thanjavur temple Chithirai festival cancelled!
Posted on: 17/Apr/2020 2:02:46 PM
It is an annual tradition to perform the special Chithirai Festival in a grand manner at the world-famous Thanjavur Big Temple.
Accordingly, it had been scheduled for this year`s Chithirai festival to commence with the divine Flag Hoisting Ceremony on 18th April and conclude on 5th May with the most prominent event of Chariot procession on 2nd May.
The ‘Pandhakkaal Muhurtham’ (a special event marking the festival celebration later) was performed on 3rd March.
In this situation, as lockdown has been imposed as a preventive action against the spreading of the raging coronavirus pandemic, on behalf of the Palace Devasthanam administration endowment has announced that the Chithirai festival is being canceled.
The temple Gurkkal Gnanamani observed in this regard: The divine flag hoisting ceremony for the Chithirai festival must be performed on the day of Sadhaya nakshatram (as per Hindu calendar) in the month of Chithirai and the flag dismantling day must be on the day of the star Chithirai star. As per the ‘Agama’ Rules, it cannot be performed on any other say!
