The work to set up bamboo barricades around the lighthouse at the top of the Tirupparankundram hill began yesterday. The Karthigai Deepam festival at the Tirupparankundram Subramaniya Swami Temple will commence with the flag hoisting ceremony on December 5, and the Karthigai Maha Deepam will be lit on the 13th. As part of the annual tradition, the temple authorities light the Maha Deepam at the lighthouse near the Uppillaiyar Temple at the hilltop.
The request to light the Karthigai Maha Deepam at the lighthouse on the hilltop has been made by several Hindu organizations over the years, and efforts have been underway for the past few years to resolve the issue. In recent months, there have been more public protests demanding the lighting of the lamp.
In the early hours of the day before yesterday, Hindu leaders, without proper permission, lit a lamp at the lighthouse. Following this, as is customary during the Karthigai Deepam festival, bamboo barricades will be set up around the lighthouse a few days after the flag hoisting ceremony, and police will be deployed for security. It is essential to follow these regulations to prevent any untoward incidents or large crowds on the road.
Under police protection, 16 officers will be stationed at the hilltop in rotation for security duties. The primary goal of these measures is to ensure that the Karthigai Maha Deepam and the festival are carried out in an orderly and safe manner.
