Most of the LED lights were directly focused on the idols, which are made up of a combination of five metals — copper, zinc, tin, gold, and silver
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department has said that continuous LED lighting, which could generate heat on idols of deities of Arunachaleswara Temple will not affect priceless ornaments, including gold jewellery, worn by deities during temple procession as part of the Karthigai Deepam festival.
It comes in the wake of a section of devotees and residents in the temple town fearing that LED lighting, which goes for hours, on the idols during procession could have an adverse effect on their ornaments. “Unlike conventional lights, LED lights are more environmentally friendly. It provides more brightness during procession, providing devotees a glimpse of deities. The fear of heat generated from such lights on deities ornaments is unfounded,” a HR&CE official told The Hindu.
In his petition to various stakeholders including Collector K. Tharpagaraj and Joint Commissioner, HR&CE (Tiruvannamalai) a week ago, R. Ellumalai, district secretary, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) claimed that many residents and devotees have complained about the adverse impact of LED lights on deities’ ornaments.
Such continuous heat could damage the quality of jewellery worn by deities over a period of time. Most of the LED lights were directly focused on the idols, which are made up of a combination of five metals — copper, zinc, tin, gold, and silver.
HR&CE officials said as per tradition, deities were taken on processions in different chariots and mounts on the Mada Streets around the temple during the fortnight-long festival, culminating into lighting of the Maha Deepam atop the 2,668-ft. hillock. It will be followed by the three-day float festival (Theppa Thiruvizha).
On an average, the processions will start around 10 p.m and get completed before sunrise. Temple officials said that prior to the pandemic (COVID-19), traditional bulbs on the bamboo arch above the idols were used during the procession. However, after resumption of such procession after the pandemic, temple authorities decided to replace sodium vapour bulbs with LED lights to provide more brightness.
Reaffirming HR&CE contention, veteran goldsmiths also said that continuous lighting on deities’ ornaments does not have any impact on the quality of the jewellery and metals including gold and silver used in it. “Hours of LED lights-induced heating on deities’ jewellery of various metals will not affect its quality. A slight colour change among gold jewellery could occur. However, just washing will restore its(ornaments) original splendour,” said V. Vishwanathan, President, Vellore District Goldsmith Association.
At present, Tiruvannamalai town gets around three lakh visitors on Chitra Pournami days and 1.5 lakh tourists on weekends. During Maha Deepam festival last December (2024), around 40 lakh visitors came to the town. Most pilgrims are from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
Published – November 19, 2025 05:30 am IST
