subject: Float Festival/teppothsavam The Celebration Of A Historic Heritage [print this page] The city of Madurai is reputed for being the premier city for festivals in Tamil Nadu. Of all the festivals celebrated in Madurai annually, the Float Festival is one of the biggest. This vibrant event takes place with much grandeur and colour on the full moon day between the middle of January and the middle of February. Also known as Teppothsavam, the festival was instituted by King Thirumamalai Nayak in the 17th century. This historic celebration attracts streams of locals and tourists looking to experience the Float Festivals fun and festivities.
A man made tank was built by King Thirumalai Nayak in Madurai which is the place where the Float Festival is celebrated. In the middle of the body of water lies an island temple that was built by the King for reasons of worship. Ever year on his birthday, the King would take worship idols on a boat ride around the tank of water. This initiated the custom of celebrating the Float Festival. Today, the festival is celebrated in a similar fashion.
Every year during the Float Festival, worship idols are taken in a majestic procession from the main temple in Madurai to the water tank. Escorted by horses, elephants, musicians and crowds of people, the idols are placed in a raft-like structure that is decorated with silk, flowers, garlands and lanterns. The raft, which is managed by ropes, is sent into the water where it makes several rounds of the lake before settling at the brilliantly lit temple shrine in the midst of the tank for a whole day. After a spectacular display of fireworks, the idols are returned back to Madurais main temple with another grand procession.
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by: Pushpitha Wijesinghe
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