The iconic Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur — a UNESCO World Heritage Site built by Raja Raja Chola I in 1010 CE — conducted its sacred Kumbhabhishekam consecration ceremony on Tuesday after a comprehensive 12-year restoration project.
Over 10 lakh devotees from across India and the Tamil diaspora attended the three-day event, with special trains laid on from Chennai, Coimbatore, and Madurai.
The restoration, conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India, involved using traditional Agama Sastra techniques and Chola-era materials including special lime plaster (chunambu), preserving the temple's 1,000-year-old structural integrity.