1,000 years later: PM Modi honours Chola conqueror in sacred Tamil celebration- In photos

Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the birth anniversary celebrations of Chola emperor Rajendra Chola I, coinciding with the Aadi Thiruvathirai festival at the Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple in Tamil Nadu's Tiruchirappalli- a tribute to one of India’s most influential monarchs and the cultural legacy of the Chola dynasty.

During his two-day Tamil Nadu visit, PM Modi offered prayers at the Lord Brihadeeswara Temple, an iconic Chola-era structure. Amid Vedic and Saivite chants, he brought a traditional ‘kalasam’—a metal pot containing water from the River Ganga—as a sacred offering.

The site, part of the Unesco-designated great living Chola Temples, witnessed PM Modi performing “deeparathanai” (a lamp offering), showcasing deep reverence for the spiritual and cultural legacy of the region.

​PM Modi also visited an exhibition organised by the archaeological survey of India (ASI), focusing on Chola-era Shaivism and architecture. The display highlighted the Cholas' remarkable contributions to temple design, devotion, and South Indian cultural identity.

Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister held a roadshow in Gangaikonda Cholapuram to mark Rajendra Chola I’s birth anniversary. Locals lined the streets to welcome him as he honoured the emperor’s historic legacy in the city built to celebrate Chola maritime conquests.

Gangaikonda Cholapuram, meaning 'the city of the Chola who brought the Ganga', was founded by Rajendra Chola I after his victorious naval expedition to Southeast Asia. The temple he built there stands as a symbol of Chola power and vision.

Rajendra Chola I’s temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram stood as a symbol of Shaiva devotion and Chola power, serving as a cultural and spiritual hub for over 250 years.His empire spanned from India to Southeast Asia, including parts of Burma, the Maldives, and Sumatra, marking a remarkable maritime legacy.