THANJAVUR, INDIA, April 10, 2015 (The Hindu): All is set for the trial run of the brand new temple car crafted for the internationally famed Sri Brihadeeswarar temple (“Big Temple”) here on April 20. The actual car festival is slated for April 29, an event Thanjavur is poised to witness after nearly a century. Besides the new temple car, the roads of the four main thoroughfares on which the car is to be drawn have been paved afresh to facilitate a smooth run.
More than 30 sthapathis have been handcrafting the towering car for close to 15 months now. Around 25 tons of Iluppai and country teakwood are being used to make the 18-foot tall temple car. The new temple car would be a three-tiered wooden structure atop which rests the devasanam on which the simhasanam is perched. On that simhasanam, the processional Deity would be ensconced. “The specialty of the car work is that we have incorporated the global image of the Big Temple, the steep tower, and the maha Nandi as icons on the car. Besides, the sthapathis are taking particular care to ensure that the work reflects the Big Temple’s grandeur in every possible sphere,” say C. Varadaraja Sthapathy and C. Sivadurai Sthapathy, entrusted with the task of crafting the temple car.