The 1030{+t}{+h}Sadhaya Vizha, the birth anniversary of King Raja Raja Cholan, began on the Big Temple premises here on Thursday.
The festival would help sensitise students and youths to understand the brave deeds and virtues of Raja Raja Chola. It is being organised to throw light on the great ruler’s outstanding contribution to the development of his subjects, said N. Subbaiyan, Collector.
Inaugurating the festival, organised by the Hindu Religious and Chartable Endowments Department and the Thanjavur Palace Devasthanam, he said the state government was implementing various programmes for the development of the town. Inclusion of Thanjavur in the smart city list, restoration of the temple car festival after a gap of about a century by building a new temple car were some of the major achievements in the last few years, he added.
Seminars and cultural programmes have been organised as part of the festival.
Senior Prince Babaji Rajah Bhonsle, Kumaradurai, Joint Commissioner of HR and CE were among those who participated.
Seminar
Later, K. Baskar, Vice-Chancellor of Tamil University, presided over a seminar on ‘Tirumurai and Raja Rajan’ in which scholars presented the link between the ruler and his love and devotion to Tirumurai.