Festival
Historical background
Depictions of festivals and the various concomitant rituals provide an invaluable source of information. Many of the present-days festivals bear a strong resemblance to those depicted in the murals.
Date: First half of the 18th century
Description: The ‘King’s Bedroom’, east wall above the door to the terrace; Muthu Vijaya Raghunatha Setupati and ladies celebrate the Vasantotsava (Spring festival).
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Ramanathapuram
Positioning: Room 4, the ‘King’s Bedroom’
Date: First half of the 18th century
Description: Vasantotsava (Spring festival): Manmatha and Rati aiming flower arrows at one another; The same theme is repeated above the arch.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Ramanathapuram
Positioning: Room 3, arch
Date: Completely restored
Description: Top: Muthu Vijaya Raghunatha Setupati makes love to a queen (two separate scenes); Centre: The Setupati dallies with two of his queens, surrounded by a number of female attendants; Bottom: Vasantotsava (Spring festival) celebration; Manmatha and Rati shooting flower arrows at one another.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Ramanathapuram
Positioning: Room 4 ,The ‘King’s Bedroom’, south wall
Date: Completely restored
Description: Top; Muthu Vijaya Raghunatha Setupati dallying with his queens; Bottom: Vasantotsava (Spring festival) celebration, Manmatha and Rati shooting flower arrows at one another; On the wall projections: Left a fly whisk bearer, right a lady with a fan.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Ramanathapuram
Positioning: Room 4 ,The ‘King’s Bedroom’, south wall
Date: mid-19th century
Description: Nine bearers carry Shiva’s bow into King Janaka’s assembly hall.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palaces;Bodinayakkanur
Positioning: Lakshmi Vilasam
Date: mid-19th century
Description: Seven bearers carry Shiva’s bow into King Janaka’s assembly hall.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Bodinayakkanur
Positioning: Lakshmi Vilasam
Date: mid-19th century
Description: Rama and Lakshmana, Shiva’s bow at their feet, stand before Vishvamitra, Shatananda, King Janaka, and his minister.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Bodinayakkanur
Positioning: Lakshmi Vilasam
Date: mid-19th century
Description: Under the gaze of Lakshmana, Vishvamitra, Shatananda, King Janaka and the other princes invited to Sita’s svayamvara (ceremony in which the bride choses her husband), Rama breaks Shiva’s bow into three pieces.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Bodinayakkanur
Positioning: Lakshmi Vilasam
Date: mid-19th century
Description: Top row: King Dasharatha’s party on the way to Mithila; Second row: The arms of the
four princes and their brides to be are massaged with haldi (turmeric); Third row: The four princes on elephants leave Mithila with great pomp, fireworks and crackers.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Bodinayakkanur
Positioning: Lakshmi Vilasam
Date: mid-19th century
Description: Rama, Lakshmana and Bharata on elephants surrounded by the festive crowds; Apsaras watch the wedding procession from the sky and strew on it flower petals.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Bodinayakknur
Positioning: Lakshmi Vilasam
Date: mid-19th century
Description: The princes invited to Sita’s svayamvara (ceremony in which the bride choses her husband) are disappointed at Rama’s victory.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Bodinayakkanur
Positioning: Lakshmi Vilasam
Date: 17th century
Description: Markali (December/January)celebrations: The plan shows the important shrines of the complex where the rituals are celebrated during the festival.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Nataraja Temple complex;Chidambaram
Positioning: Shivakamasundari shrine; open mandapa, northernmost bay (W)
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