With euphoria over the millennium celebrations of the Big Temple continues unabated, a golu (doll) exhibition is all set to kick off with pomp and glory at the temple to coincide with Navarathiri on October 8. However, wooden dolls with an array of colours will deck up the temple premises after a huge gap of 20 years.
The dolls, including that of Thavayogi Vinayagar, Sivaparvathi Kayilaya Katchi, flow of Ganges River, Durbar of King Rajaraja Cholan who had built the temple with his queen, Bharata Natyam poses of dancers and playing of musical instruments by artists, have been refurbished by sthapathis at the temple.
"We are going to paint them with oil so that they may not disintegrate as they are made of wood and have been there for very long time . They will be showcased in the exhibition," said a sthapathi who is refurbishing the dolls.
The show stealer of Navaratrhiri at the Big Temple every year is the alankaram done to the Goddess, Periyanayagi. The alankaram is done in various forms of the Goddess, Parvathi, such as Lakshmi, Saraswathi, Annapoorani, Makishasuramardini and Madurai Meenakshi .
The idol exhibition will also be organised at Bangaru Kamakshi Amman Temple and Navaneethakrishnan Temple on the west main street of Thanjavur. South Zone Cultural Centre is organising cultural programmes for Navarathiri festival at the Big Temple. These programmes will be held every evening from 6.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. at the temple from October 8 to October 17.
