‘Mahadeepam’ lit at Tirupparankundram hillock for Karthigai Deepam

At Tirupparankundram, Mahadeepam lit atop hillock for Karthigai Deepam fest. Devotees chanted 'Arogara' & circled hill. City illuminated with lamps lit at homes & commercial establishments. Mahadeepam fuelled by copper cauldron of ghee & camphor. Chokkapanai lit near temple. Safety ensured by Commissioner of Police. Special procession at Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple. Houses & buildings lit with colourful lighting.

‘Mahadeepam’ was lit atop the hillock near Subramaniaswamy Temple at Tirupparankundram for the ‘Karthigai Deepam’ festival on Sunday. 

Hundreds of devotees witnessed the event. Devotees chanting ‘Arogara’ circled the hill before the lamp was lit.  Coinciding with the event, people at their houses and commercial establishments lit lamps which gave an illuminated look to the city.  

The ‘Mahadeepam’ was fuelled by a copper cauldron holding more than 160 kg of ghee and five kg of camphor. The wick was made with around 100 metres of cloth soaked in ghee overnight.  

Following the event, devotees witnessed the ‘Chokkapanai’ (palm tree) lit near the temple.  

Commissioner of Police J. Loganathan was present to ensure safety arrangements.  

Several lakhs of small clay lamps, ‘kilianchatti’ or ‘agal vilakku’ were placed around the Golden Lotus Tank at Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple. Devotees in huge numbers visited the temple for the special procession carried out in the evening. 

Residents had also lit lamps in front of their houses. Commercial establishments had illuminated the buildings with colourful lighting arrangements.