Chennai, Tamil Nadu Raj Bhavan on Friday celebrated the legacy of Tamil saint poet Thiruvalluvar in what is called "Vaikasi Anusham Valluva Thirunal", in short, Thiruvalluvar Day celebration, as well as showed him in saffron attire, things that drew ire. Of the ruling DMK.
Vaikasi is one of the months of the Tamil calendar that falls between May and June and Anusham is a star believed to be associated with the saint poet. Thiruna is a special day and marks the Vizha festival.
While Thiruvalluvar Day has been officially celebrated in January for more than 50 years, the Raj Bhavan has organized an event in the honor of the saint poet O' Vaikasi Anusham in May and this is the first such event.
The event had a photograph of Thiruvalluvar in saffron attire with Hindu religious symbols in the background and it was also displayed in front of the stage and the invitation to the event was also in the same style, which did not please the DMK.
Senior DMK leader TKS Elangovan said that by showing Thiruvalluvar in saffron colours, the Governor was trying to insult Tamils and hit out at him for choosing a special star (Vaikasi Anusham) to celebrate Thiruvalluvar Day.Law Minister S Raghupathi said there was "no cure" for being adamant, apparently pointing to Ravi's past disputes with the DMK government on several issues.
Party spokesperson J Constantin Raveendran said that this was nothing but an attempt by Ravi to humiliate both Thiruvalluvar and the Tamil people. While Thiruvalluva is common to all people and religions, Ravi has portrayed him in saffron color and it insults the values espoused by the revered saint, Thirukkural and the people.
BJP Tamil Nadu vice president Narayanan Tirupati asked what was wrong in showing Thiruvalluvar in saffron colour. He asked if the saintly poet was shown in white, “would it represent Christianity.,
Furthermore, he said that Thiruvalluvar has traditionally been depicted with Hindu religious icons because he was a Hindu saint.
TNCC President K Selvaperunthagai also criticized Ravi for showing Thiruvalluvar in saffron clothes.
The backdrop of the Raj Bhavan for the event and the invitation to the ceremony read "Thiruvalluvar Thirunal Vizha", along with "Vaikasi Anusham Valluvar Thirunal".
On the background of 'Vaikasi Anusham', archaeologist and historian S. Holiday was declared.
He said, "That day falls in the Tamil month of Vaikasi and the associated star was Anusha and this explains Vaikasi Anusham."
Vaikasi Anusham was celebrated as Thiruvalluvar Day on June 2, 1966 and to mark the occasion, Thiruvalluvar was inaugurated by then President Radhakrishnan in the presence of then Chief Minister M Bhaktavatsalam and Chennai Mayor M Minor Moses, who was from the DMK. A statue was unveiled.,
"For a long time, Thiruvalluvar has been honored at the Vaikasi Anusham in the Mylapore temple."
Later, in 1971 the DMK regime designated the second day of the Tamil month Thai (January) as Thiruvalluvar Day. The Thiruvalluvar temple in Mylapore, Chenna, where Governor Ravi worshiped on Friday, dates back to the 14th century C (Common Era), he said.
Meanwhile, the Governor also visited the temple dedicated to Thiruvalluvar in the city.
Raj Bhavan in a post on,
Later, he paid floral tributes to Thiruvalluvar at the Raj Bhavan.
Incidentally, in January this year, Ravi in saffron attire had paid floral tributes to the photograph of Thiruvalluvar and then Chief Minister MK Stalin had said that no one could 'taint' the poet.
In the picture, Thiruvalluvar was shown in saffron dhoti and upper clothes with sacred ashes (Vibhuti), kumkum and Rudraksha. The official 'X handle' of Raj Bhavan had then also shared a picture of the saint poet in saffron colour.
Vaikasi is one of the months of the Tamil calendar that falls between May and June and Anusham is a star believed to be associated with the saint poet. Thiruna is a special day and marks the Vizha festival.
While Thiruvalluvar Day has been officially celebrated in January for more than 50 years, the Raj Bhavan has organized an event in the honor of the saint poet O' Vaikasi Anusham in May and this is the first such event.
The event had a photograph of Thiruvalluvar in saffron attire with Hindu religious symbols in the background and it was also displayed in front of the stage and the invitation to the event was also in the same style, which did not please the DMK.
Senior DMK leader TKS Elangovan said that by showing Thiruvalluvar in saffron colours, the Governor was trying to insult Tamils and hit out at him for choosing a special star (Vaikasi Anusham) to celebrate Thiruvalluvar Day.Law Minister S Raghupathi said there was "no cure" for being adamant, apparently pointing to Ravi's past disputes with the DMK government on several issues.
Party spokesperson J Constantin Raveendran said that this was nothing but an attempt by Ravi to humiliate both Thiruvalluvar and the Tamil people. While Thiruvalluva is common to all people and religions, Ravi has portrayed him in saffron color and it insults the values espoused by the revered saint, Thirukkural and the people.
BJP Tamil Nadu vice president Narayanan Tirupati asked what was wrong in showing Thiruvalluvar in saffron colour. He asked if the saintly poet was shown in white, “would it represent Christianity.,
Furthermore, he said that Thiruvalluvar has traditionally been depicted with Hindu religious icons because he was a Hindu saint.
TNCC President K Selvaperunthagai also criticized Ravi for showing Thiruvalluvar in saffron clothes.
The backdrop of the Raj Bhavan for the event and the invitation to the ceremony read "Thiruvalluvar Thirunal Vizha", along with "Vaikasi Anusham Valluvar Thirunal".
On the background of 'Vaikasi Anusham', archaeologist and historian S. Holiday was declared.
He said, "That day falls in the Tamil month of Vaikasi and the associated star was Anusha and this explains Vaikasi Anusham."
Vaikasi Anusham was celebrated as Thiruvalluvar Day on June 2, 1966 and to mark the occasion, Thiruvalluvar was inaugurated by then President Radhakrishnan in the presence of then Chief Minister M Bhaktavatsalam and Chennai Mayor M Minor Moses, who was from the DMK. A statue was unveiled.,
"For a long time, Thiruvalluvar has been honored at the Vaikasi Anusham in the Mylapore temple."
Later, in 1971 the DMK regime designated the second day of the Tamil month Thai (January) as Thiruvalluvar Day. The Thiruvalluvar temple in Mylapore, Chenna, where Governor Ravi worshiped on Friday, dates back to the 14th century C (Common Era), he said.
Meanwhile, the Governor also visited the temple dedicated to Thiruvalluvar in the city.
Raj Bhavan in a post on,
Later, he paid floral tributes to Thiruvalluvar at the Raj Bhavan.
Incidentally, in January this year, Ravi in saffron attire had paid floral tributes to the photograph of Thiruvalluvar and then Chief Minister MK Stalin had said that no one could 'taint' the poet.
In the picture, Thiruvalluvar was shown in saffron dhoti and upper clothes with sacred ashes (Vibhuti), kumkum and Rudraksha. The official 'X handle' of Raj Bhavan had then also shared a picture of the saint poet in saffron colour.