Tamil Nadu | July 27, 2025 — Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday participated in the Aadi Thiruvathirai Festival at the historic Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple in Tamil Nadu’s Ariyalur district, where he paid homage to the cultural and spiritual legacy of the Chola dynasty.
Addressing the large gathering of devotees and dignitaries, the Prime Minister reflected on the rich spiritual atmosphere of the event. “I was observing that whenever the name of Nagendran was mentioned, there was a wave of excitement,” PM Modi said. “In many ways, this is a land of faith dedicated to Rajaraja Chola. There is an amazing spiritual energy here.”
The Prime Minister also drew parallels with his own constituency of Varanasi, underlining the shared reverence for Lord Shiva. “I am an MP from Kashi, and whenever I hear the sacred chant ‘Om Namah Shivaya’, I get goosebumps,” he added.
