INDIA, April 30, 2015 (The Hindu): Thousands of devotees participated in the inaugural run of the new chariot chiseled for the famous Sri Brihadeeswarar temple (Big Temple) here on Wednesday. This is the first time in a hundred years that the chariot festival of the Big Temple, constructed by Chola King Rajaraja I over 1,000 years ago, is being held.
Special poojas commenced early in the morning after which the processional deities were brought to the newly constructed chariot base on the West Main Street. Amid Vedic chanting, the people pulled the decorated chariot, which stood the height of around 50 feet. The well-crafted chariot, all of 40 tons and sporting 360 wooden icons depicting various important religious events on all its facets, rolled on with a majestic gait.