New fibreglass model of Big Temple for Sathaya Vizha

During the Sathaya Vizha of Raja Raja Chola I, celebrated to coincide with his birth star, palm leaf manuscripts of saivite hymns would be taken out in a procession.

The procession would also have a decorated miniature float of the Big Temple. Since the old float got damaged, Ramalingam, a native of Vallam, came forward to donate a model of the Big Temple as replacement for the float. This model, which has been designed at a cost of Rs 10 lakh, comprises of main Vimana of the temple and Nandhi mandapam.

According to sources, Ramalingam, an art director for more than 500 films, said that he noticed the float made of card board during the 2017 Sathaya Vizha and decided to present a fibre glass model measuring 18.5 feet in length, 12 feet in height and 7 feet in width. 

Ramalingam designed the conference stage of the Big Temple’s millennium celebrations in 2010. He was accompanied by Ramasamy, president and B Govindaraj, secretary of sugarcane farmers’ association.