The annual ‘Chithirai Therottam’ (car festival) of Sri Brahadeeswarar Temple, popularly known as Big Temple was celebrated with religious fervour and gaiety in Thanjavur on Monday.

Decorated idols of Sri Thyagarajar along with His Consort were brought the wooden car stationed on the West Rajaveedhi in the old Thanjavur town by around 5 a.m. The 50-feet-high temple car was pulled out of its deck at 6.20 a.m. by the devotees led by the Tanjore Prince, Babji Rajah Bhonsle Chattrapathi, the Dharmapuram Aadheenam Kattalai Thambiran, the head, Ramakrishna Math, Thanjavur, Vimurthanandha, District Collector, B. Priyanka Pankajam and the Superintendent of Police Sundaravathanam.

The car was pulled along the four Rajaveedhis – West, North, East and South – before it was brought back to its deck by around 10.15 a.m. by thousands of devotees. Brief stoppages of the temple car were provided at around dozen places along the procession route to assist devotees perform ‘archanai’ / ‘mandagapadi’ to Lord Thyagarajar mounted on the wooden car.