Modi likely to visit TN for ‘Aadi Thiruvaathirai’ fest commemorating emperor Rajendra Chola’s birth anniversary

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to undertake a two-day visit to Tamil Nadu from July 27 to 28, during which he is expected to participate in the ‘Aadi Thiruvaathirai’ festival, commemorating the birth anniversary of emperor Rajendra Chola at Gangaikonda Cholapuram in Ariyalur district, according to sources.

In view of the visit, security arrangements are being coordinated by the NSG and the State Police at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, about 250 km south of Chennai.

Advertisement

The historic town was once a flourishing capital of the emperor, who had erected a replica of the Thanjavur Big temple, a marvel in granite and a world heritage monument. The temple is named ‘Peruvudaiyar temple’ after lord Shiva as in Thanjavur.

It is also said that he had brought the water from the Ganges during his military expedition of Bengal and poured it in the lake he had constructed and hence the nomenclature – Chola City with Ganga water (Gangaikonda Cholapuram).

The festival is held in the Tamil month of Aadi on the star Thiruvaathirai. Besides locals, history buffs converge at the festival held at the temple. The PM’s participation in the festival is seen as an attempt to appropriate the Tamil heritage and dispel the image as a north India party.

This is the first time that Modi would be visiting the state after the AIADMK’s re-entry into the NDA fold to face the upcoming 2026 assembly election. With just 10 months left for the election, AIADMK general secretary is on his first phase of state-wide campaign. The Prime Minister is likely to address a public meeting with all other NDA partners on stage. His visit is expected to boost the morale of the NDA ahead of the election.