The famous Float Festival (Teppam) of Tamil Nadu is held in connection with which temple?

The Float Festival (Teppa Thiruvizha) is a famous festival of the Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. It is held on the full moon day of the Tamil month of Thai (January-February), and it attracts large numbers of devotees and tourists.

During the Float Festival, the decorated processional images (utsava murtis) of Goddess Meenakshi and her consort Lord Sundareswarar are brought in a grand procession from the temple to the Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam, a huge temple tank about 5 km away. There, the images are placed on a large, beautifully decorated float (teppam), lit with lights and flowers, and taken around the tank several times, while devotees on the banks watch and offer prayers. In the evening, the float, the tank and the central island pavilion are illuminated with thousands of lights, creating a spectacular sight.

The Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam is one of the largest temple tanks in South India, covering an area of about 16 acres. It was built in the 17th century by King Thirumalai Nayak of the Madurai Nayak dynasty, who also built the Thirumalai Nayak Palace. The festival is also celebrated as the birth anniversary of Thirumalai Nayak. In the centre of the tank is a pavilion (mandapam) with a garden and a small temple dedicated to Lord Vinayaka. The tank is connected to the Vaigai river by underground channels.

The Meenakshi Amman Temple is one of the most famous temples of India, known for its 14 towering gopurams covered with thousands of colourful sculptures, its Hall of a Thousand Pillars and the Golden Lotus Tank. Its biggest festival is the Chithirai festival, which celebrates the wedding of Meenakshi and Sundareswarar.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Brihadeeswarar Temple, Thanjavur was built by the Chola king Rajaraja I.
• ✗Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Chennai is famous for the Arubathu Moovar festival.
• ✗Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam is famous for the Vaikunta Ekadashi festival.