Thiruvannamalai Maha Deepam | File photo
Chennai: On the day of Maha Deepam in Tiruvannamalai, devotees are not allowed to climb mountains. Only 300 people have been given permission to light the Bharani Deepam, said Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Endowments Minister Sekarbabu.
Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Endowments Minister Sekarbabu met reporters in Chennai today (Dec. 11). He said: On the 18th of last month, before the Deepam festival began, Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi inspected the Girivala path. District Minister E.V. Velu and I conducted field inspections three times. We also held a consultation meeting under the chairmanship of the District Collector.
Subsequently, inspection meetings were held under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary. An 8-member team headed by Professor Premalatha, appointed as the Director of Geology and Mines, conducted a field survey on the 7th, 8th and 9th and submitted a report on the matter yesterday. Based on that report, a meeting was held with the officials of the Hindu Religious Endowments Department under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary.
In the report, it has been stated that “too many people should not be carried on the mountain”. Therefore, no devotees will be allowed to climb the mountain this time. The District Collector will issue a formal notification in this regard. At the same time, the materials to be carried up to light the lamp on the mountain top, including a 350 kg wick, have to be carried up. The 40 tins of ghee required for the first day, that is, 600 kg of ghee at 15 kg per tin, have to be carried up.
The report states that only the number of people allowed to go up, including food for the people carrying it, guards, and the forest department, will be used. Already, 4500 kg of ghee has been purchased from Avin for this Deepath. Permission has been given to 300 people for the Bharani Deepath alone. He said this.
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