Three hundred and fifty objects depicting Chola history, art and culture, sculpture, epigraphy and paintings would be on display at the exhibition to be held in connection with the millennium celebrations of the Big Temple here on September 25 and 26, said T. S. Sridhar, Principal Secretary and Commissioner, State archaeology department, here on Tuesday.
He inspected Sangeetha Mahal and the palace ground adjacent to it where the exhibition would kick off. Later, he told reporters that six types of objects would be showcased including photographs, models, paintings and copper plates of Chola period comprising ones found at Indalur recently and manuscripts. Charts and labels would also be on display. Rare objects like icons and bronze articles would be displayed in Sangeetha Mahal while other objects at 15 stalls to be put up on the palace ground. Four books on Raja Raja Chola (reprints of already published books) would be released on the occasion.
J. P. Krishnan, art director, who explained to Mr.Sridhar about the arrangements of stalls and arch at the entrance, said an artistic stage in the form of the Big Temple was being put up on the armed police ground where meetings would be held during the festival.
A sixty-feet high Big Temple vimana has been created for this purpose. The entrance arch for the exhibition on the palace ground would be in the form of a fort. M. S. Shanmugham, District Collector, K. A. Senthilvelan, Superintendent of Police and Selvaraj, District Archaeological Officer accompanied Mr. Sridhar .
