The ‘Mahadeepam’ atop the hillock near Subramaniaswamy Temple in Tirupparankundram which was lit on Sunday evening was witnessed by a large number of devotees who had gathered around the temple and thronged the streets leading to the temple to get a glimpse of the spectacle.
Special abhishekams and pujas were performed at the temple to mark the Karthigai festival.
The ‘Mahadeepam’ was fuelled by more than 100 kg of ghee and the wick prepared with 120 metres of cloth, soaked in oil and ghee. The wick was prepared by a group of people, including three men who were brought from Tiruvannamalai for the purpose.
The priests assembled around the altar where the ‘deepam’ was being prepared at 5.30 p.m. and chanted mantras after which the ‘Mahadeepam’ was lit at 6 p.m. People residing in the streets around the temple then lit lamps outside their houses.
Superintendent of Police V. Balakrishnan and temple officials were present.
At Meenakshi temple
Devotees thronged the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple also on Sunday evening for the ‘Karthigai Dheepam’ celebrations. Nearly one lakh small clay lamp deepams (‘Kilianchatti’) were lit along the steps surrounding the Golden Lotus Tank, the Amman Sannidhi corridors and the terrace, adding an illuminated grandeur to the ancient temple.
Many devotees gathered near the tank. The tank is full of water for nearly a year after efforts were taken by the temple administration to ensure permanent water storage in the tank, said Karumuttu T. Kannan, Thakkar of the Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple.
