Chithirai Car Festival at SRIRANGAM

Srirangam is a city near Tiruchirapalli (Trichy) known for its famous Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple. This vast temple is believed to be the largest functional Hindu temple in the world, spread over an area of 156 acres. The massive temple complex is made up of 48 different temples. The chief deity of the temple is Lord Vishnu. The temple complex is located on an island created by the Kaveri and the Coleroon rivers.Visiting the Srirangam temple anytime is an experience in itself, visiting during the Chithirai Car Festival has a magic of its own. The Chithirai Car Festival is also known as Srirangam Chithirai Ther and is an important annual event of the temple. The festival is spread over 11 days and occurs in the Chithiral month of the Tamil Calendar.The origins of the Chithirai Car Festival are traced to the Vijayanagara dynasty. The idols of the deities, Sri Namperumal and his consorts Sri Sridevi, and Sri Bhoodevi, had been brought back to Srirangam, after many decades. They had been in Madurai, Tirupati, and other places, under the protection of the Vijayanagara Kingdom. Srirangam had been attacked and plundered by Muslim invaders, and the idols had been taken away for safekeeping.That tradition of celebrating the car festival continues to this day and is also called Viruppan Thirunal in honour of Virupanna Udayar. On the first day of the festival, the contribution of Virupanna Udayar is mentioned. The festival is celebrated with great devotional fervour and is a very important festival of the Vaishnavite community.The 11-day festival starts with the temple flag hoisting or Dhwajarrohanam on the first day. The highlight of the festival is the procession of the deity through the streets of Srirangam mounted on a chariot decorated as different Vahanams (Vehicles). These Vahanas include Sesha Vahanam, Hanumantha Vahanam, Simha Vahanam, Yali Vahanam, and silver and gold horse Vahanam, among others.