[7] During the reign of the Cholas and the Pandyas, it was celebrated as a state festival, recognised and conducted by these royal regimes.
The commencement of the festival, called the Vila Kalkol, was proclaimed by the beat of drums, placed on the back on an elephant.
[10] According to Manimekalai, the legendary sage, Agastya, helped the people of Kaveripattinam during a period of drought.
He advised the Chola king, Todittol Sembian, to celebrate a festival for Indra to please him, so that the deity may bring rain to this city.
In return, they received rainfall in the city, and the prosperity associated with it, and hence his successors continued to celebrate this festival every year, for 27 days during the month of Chaitra.