Construction of Chariots
With the grace of Lord Sri Mahalingaswami, the blessings of Pujya Sri Swami Dayananda Saraswati, and the unstinting and continuous support of all our donors,
The Pancha-Ratha Project at Thiruvidaimaruthur has been successfully completed with the construction of all five chariots for Sri Mahalingaswami, Sri Ambal, Sri Subrahmanya, Sri Vigneswara, and Sri Chandikeswara.
The Rathotsava took place on the 23rd of January, 2016, when all five rathas were taken in procession during the Thai Poosam Brahmotsavam after a long gap of 77 years.
The project helped in reviving the ancient fine arts of Tamil Nadu, including sculpting in stone, mortar (Sudhai), and wood, folk music, puppetry, and traditional painting. The construction of the wooden chariots involves wooden structural engineering, wood carving, and sculpting, which are traditionally passed on and handed over to the present generation of artists called sthapatis. These chariots at Thiruvidaimaruthur were constructed with vengai and iluppai wooden logs and planks. A well-constructed and maintained chariot has a lifespan of not less than 200 years.
The chariot festival is an occasion where people in the surrounding areas, irrespective of their social status, come together to participate in the festival, which promotes harmony and goodwill in the community.