The aesthetically decorated temple car of the presiding deity Arunachaleswarar is being taken in procession on the Mada streets of Tiruvannamalai on Sunday.
| Photo Credit: C. VENKATACHALAPATHY
More than 15,000 police personnel, including those manning 24 watch towers, will be deployed as part of security measures on Maha Deepam day (December 3) as part of Karthigai Deepam festival, which is being held from November 24 to December 7, at Arunachaleswarar temple in Tiruvannamalai town.
Along with SP M. Sudhakar, Collector K. Tharpagaraj inspected the civic amenities around the temple and the 14-km-long Girivalam path in the town as part of preparation for the festival. Around 40-45 lakh visitors are expected to participate in Maha Deepam (December 3) in the town. The temple car pulling event was held on Sunday (November 30) in the town, especially on Mada Street. It attracted around six lakh visitors. “A total of 1,060 CCTV cameras, including 303 cameras within temple premises alone installed to ensure the safety of devotees. Around 26 vulnerable spots in the town have been identified where additional safety measures like watch towers are in place,” Mr. Tharpagaraj told The Hindu.
The district administration will set up 24 temporary bus termini on the outskirts of the town with a parking capacity of 2,325 buses. A total of 4,764 special buses with 11,293 trips will be operated from various districts to the town, especially on December 3 and 4 during the festival.
An ambulance was pressed into service to attend medical emergency of a fainted devotee during the car festival in Tiruvannamalai on Sunday.
| Photo Credit:
C. VENKATACHALAPATHY
As most vehicles, including two-wheelers and cars, will not be allowed to enter the town, especially during Maha Deepam day, to avoid congestion, the Transport Department will operate 180 shuttle services between the temporary bus terminus and Girivalam path and Arunachaleswarar temple, around four km away. Each commuter will be charged Rs 10 for shuttle services.
Vehicles will be allowed to park at 130 car parking lots that are away from the town. The parking space can accommodate 19,815 cars. Jute mats will be laid for at least a distance of two km on the footpaths in the town for visitors to beat the heat. Children at the festival will be tied wrist bands to ensure their safety.
The health department will set up 85 mobile health desks, mostly on the Girivalam path and bus terminuses, during the festival. Around 45 ambulances, including five bike ambulances, will also be roped. Adequate water taps (136 spots), washrooms (836 spots), including 483 washrooms on the Girivalam path, and 1,258 streetlights (698 lights on the Girivalam path alone) will be set up for the festival. Around 3,600 sanitary workers will be engaged in the town to remove trash during the festival.
The fortnight-long festival includes hoisting of the holy flag at the Arunachaleswarar temple on November 24. The holy flag would be hoisted on a golden mast on the precincts of the temple. Every day, deities will be taken on processions in different chariots and mounted on the Mada Streets around the temple. The highlight of the celebrations is the lighting of the Maha Deepam atop the 2,668-ft. hillock. This will be followed by the three-day float festival (Theppa Thiruvizha).
Published – December 01, 2025 05:00 am IST
