THANJAVUR: One-and-a-half year preparations for the mega event culminated in a prize, this was how Dr N Subbaiyan, Director of Employment and Training, who was the Thanjavur Collector until recently, expressed his joy after receiving the Chief Minister’s Best Practices award for Mahamaham 2016 arrangements. The award was shared with Superintendent of Police N M Maylvahanan. It should be recalled that Subbaiyan, a veterinarian by training, went beyond the call of duty and initiated laying a pathway around the Big Temple and inaugurated the Girivalam.