is a huge temple tank about 5 kms east of the Meenakshi
temple. The mandapam in the centre has an idol of Vigneshwara
(Vinayaka). This tank was said to have been dug by Tirumala
Nayaka. It is the biggest tank of its kind in Tamil Nadu
and one of the most imposing sights of Madurai when it
is full of water.The vinayaka idol was found when the
earth was being dug out from here to build the Thirumalai
Nayakkar Mahal. So, the place attained sanctity and was
converted into a teppakulam (tank).
This enormous temple tank is fed by water brought from
the Vagai through an ingenious system of underground Channels.
King Thirumalai Nayak born in 'Poosa' Star. so in commemorating
the birth of the king, Float festival is conducted in
Tamil Month 'Thai' (Jan/Feb) in the tank in a colourful
way, which attracts thousands of tourists.
Madurai, in Tamilnadu, is known popularly as the 'City
of Festivals' and among the many festivals big and small
which take place there throughout the year, one of the
most picturesque is the float Festival or 'Teppothsavam'.
On that day, the idols of Goddess Meenakshi and her consort
Lord Sundareshwarar are taken in grand procession to the
big lake called Teppakolam, and drawn round and round
a shrine built in the middle of the small island in the
centre of the lake, seated on a decorated float called
'Teppa'. The float festival was originated in the 17th
century by king Thirumala Nayaka who reigned inThe local
story is that the king had a new palace built and to make
bricks for it, a great excavation was made. Later, he
converted the excavated depression "into a sixteen
acre lake, fed the same by the Vaigai river through underground
channels and built the temple of Ganesha on the artificial
island in the middle. Then he started the custom of taking
the divine idols for a boat ride on the waters of the
lake on his birthday. Generally, this festival is celebrated
during January of the year beginning with Sankranthi (pongal)
At dawn, the processional idols of Meenakshi and Sudareshwarar
start out from the main temple in great pomp. The deities
are carried in golden palanquins escorted by elephants,
horses, musicians and thousands of devotees. After reaching
the Teppakolam, about three kilometres away, the deities
are placed in a prepared 'mandapam' on the banks of the
lake, where the devotees are allowed to worship them.
The idols are then taken in palanquins and placed on a
great raft-like structure, colourfully decorated with
varieties of flower garlands, silken buntings, paper lanterns
and masses of flowers.
Hundreds of devotees catch hold of the two big ropes by
which the float is drawn and they await the signal to
start. One rope is pulled by men standing on the central
island and second by those on the bank of the lake. After
the final ritual of worship the priests give the signal
and the men strain at the ropes.
the great float moves away from the shore and begins its
circuit. As the men on the rope run along the bank of
Teppakulam the thousands of spectators crowding there
enjoy by shouting the names of the deities in great joy.
The float itself moves around the lake at slow, steady
pace. After a couple of rounds, which take more than three
hours, the ornamental raft is mooved to the central island
and remains there till the evening. All through the day,
a number of boats ply to the island bringing thousands
of devotees to worship.
scene in the evening is even more wonderful and over
a lakh of people gather to watch the procession. As
dusk falls, all the five towers of the island temple
glow with coloured light illumination. And thousands
of little oil-lamps are lighted in the niches of the
walls overhanging the lake. All are brightly reflected
in the water and it looks as if the lake is aglow with
its own light. After the gun signal booms, the float
is also illuminated with strings of coloured electric
bulbs, banks of fluorescent tubes and a blaze of flood
lights turning the omarnental raft into a dazzling sight.
afterwards, a display of fireworks starts on the shore
and an answering boquet of red and green flares soars
up from the central island. Another gun signal booms
and the float begins to move. The water ripples and
the reflections of coloured lights form ever changing
patterns. As the raft makes its slow round of the lake,
the fireworks continue and the people cheer and fold
their hands in prayer to the deities. After completing
a full round, the float is brought to the shore and
the divine idols are taken out with great ceremony.
Then follows the enactment of scenes from the legend
relating to the deities. Finally, the idols are mounted
on a beautifully decorated golden horse and return to
the main temple in a great procession.
float festival attracts large number of tourists and
visitors and the entire city wears a festive appearance.
Tours & Travels
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