Deepam: special counter to issue passes to climb hill

Administration lists dos and don’ts that devotees need to follow during festival

Devotees will be permitted to climb the hill from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. only through the designated route near Pey Gopuram.

With the Madras High Court permitting 2,500 devotees to climb Annamalai Hill in Tiruvannamalai in view of ‘Karthigai Deepam’ festival, the district administration will set up a special counter to issue passes to devotees at 6 a.m. on December 2 on a first-come-first-serve basis.

The district administration, along with the police department and administration of Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple, will open a special counter near the Government Arts College at 6 a.m.

Devotees should produce a government photo identity card to obtain the passes. They will be permitted to climb the hill from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. only through the designated route near Pey Gopuram . They should return before 6 p.m.

Devotees will be allowed to carry only water bottles which they will have to bring back They will not be permitted to carry camphor, crackers or any other inflammable materials. Devotees will be allowed to pour ghee only in the cauldron and they should not light ‘deepam’ in any other place.

Collector K.S. Kandasamy has declared Saturday and Monday as local holidays.