The launching of the work on making a large sized wooden car for the famous Arulmigu Sugavaneswarar Temple in the city has delighted the devotees across the district.
The 500-year-old Sugavaneswarar Temple in the heart of Salem city is dedicated to Lord Shiva, in the Lingam form. This temple, with its imposing towers sitting on a sprawling two-acre site, carries the historical traces of the rulers of Cheras, Cholas and Pandiyas and the Mysore dynasty.
The presiding deity of Sri Somaskandar will be taken out during the annual car festival falling in the month of Vaikasi of Tamil almanac. The temple car which existed so far was more than 300 years old.
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It was used in the Vaikasi Visakam festival every year for decades together without any break. Now, the ancient temple car has worn out and is in an un-usable condition, due to which car festival was not held for the last two years.
The temple authorities decided to construct a new car and the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR and CE) Department too gave its nod for the project.
The temple authorities are particular that the new car should be a replica of the old car in grandeur and in all other aspects. The tender was floated and finalised a few months ago and the project is being implemented at an outlay of Rs. 45 lakh.
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A team of experienced crafts persons from Thammampatti, Namakkal and Cuddalore are involved in the work of making the basement of the car with iluppai wood. On completion of the basement, the work on peedam together with panels will be taken up.
S. Palraj (45), a well known Stapathi of Thammampatti, who is leading the team of craftsmen, said that the wooden car would be to a height of a little over 18 feet. However, the height of the car would go up to 41 feet after decoration with ornamental clothes. All initiatives would be taken to get the wooden car ready for the Vaikasi Visakam festival scheduled in June 2017, he said.
The car will have a large number of wooden plaques with intricately carved images of the God and Goddesses in tune with Agama Sasthra. The plaques will also reflect the anecdotes connected to the temple.
The stapathi says that they have inherited the art of making the temple cars from their forefathers for generations together.
On his achievement, Mr. Palraj says that he had so far designed about 15 cars of different temples in Theerthamalai and Pappireddipatti and in different parts of the State.