Trichy: The Hindu religious and charitable endowments (HR&CE) department has designed an environment-friendly float for the Theppa Thiruvizha of Arulmigu Thayumanaswamy temple in Rockfort complex to be held on Wednesday. The float, which will make rounds in the Teppakulam has been designed traditionally using palm leaves instead of plastic.The annual float festival, which is being celebrated since 1546 during the Tamil month of Panguni (March-April) commenced this year on March 11 and will go on till March 21. On the final day, the auspicious Theerthavari will be conducted.The iconic event of the festival, an illuminated float bearing the processional idols of deities Thayumanaswamy and Mattuvar Kuzhalammai navigating the tank will be held on Wednesday. In the past 10-15 years the float was made with plastics, but this year, it has been made completely free of plastics, HR&CE officials said.“A traditional style of the float was designed through experts from Thiruvidaimaruthur in Thanjavur district. Palm leaves and bamboo were used instead of flex banners and empty iron barrels were used to make the structure float instead of plastic barrels,” R Manikandan, a temple worker said.The illuminated float carrying the procession deities and temple priests, helpers on board will navigate as many as five times around the central mandapam in the Teppakulam.The massive tank, being maintained by the Trichy Corporation has been filled with groundwater sourced from the Kambarasanpettai head works for eight feet deep. “Such a traditional model of the float was in use about 15 years ago,” an official source with the HR&CE managing the Rockfort temple complex added.Teppakulam belonging to the Rockfort temple complex is leased to the Trichy Corporation for 99 years from 1949.

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