Fri Dec 13 05:34:34 UTC 2024: ## Rajinikanth’s Birthday Celebrated with New, Larger Statue at Dedicated Temple
**Madurai, Tamil Nadu:** A former soldier, Karthik, has unveiled a new, larger statue of actor Rajinikanth at the “Arulmiku Sri Rajini Devalayam” temple he built in Thiru Mangalam, Madurai district. The unveiling coincides with Rajinikanth’s 74th birthday, which is being celebrated with fervor by fans across the country.
The new statue, sculpted from black stone, stands 3.5 feet tall and weighs 350 kg. It depicts Rajinikanth in his role from the film *Mappillai*, and replaces a smaller, 250 kg statue installed last year. Karthik, a devoted Rajinikanth fan, stated that he has been worshipping the actor since 2021 and organizes a yearly festival, “Rajini Chaturthi,” every December 12th to mark the actor’s birthday. The new statue cost approximately ₹70,000 and took six months to complete. Daily morning and evening prayers are conducted at the temple.
This is not an isolated incident; several temples and statues dedicated to actors and politicians exist across India, highlighting the intense devotion some fans hold for their idols.
First Piper 