The non-stop rains and waterlogging in Chennai seems to have put a spanner in people’s plans to attend the festival.
The important festival of Karthigai Deepam is being celebrated in Tiruvanamalai today. In lieu of the number of the thousands of people expected to attend the festival, the Southern Railways is operating special trains on November 24 and 25 between Chennai and Tiruvanamalai.
The non-stop rains and waterlogging in Chennai seems to have put a spanner in people’s plans to attend the festival though. There were fewer people taking the special trains on November 24. The Southern Railways PRO told the media, “The number is comparatively less than last year. But it is very early to say how many people travelled as more people might take the special train tomorrow.”
Around 20 lakh people are expected to be in Tiruvanamalai on Wednesday to attend the Karthigai Deepam. Tiruvannamalai Collector Gnanasekaran told the media at a press conference that security has been beefed up. He stated, “CCTV cameras have been set up in 56 arterial places with watch towers placed in 23 places. Eleven temporary bus terminuses have been created to cater the 2,400 special buses that will reach the town by tomorrow.”
What is Karthigai Deepam?
This is a festival observed during the month of Karthigai according to the Tamil calendar. When the moon is in conjunction with the constellation Karthigai or Pleiades and pournami, this festival is celebrated. The constellation appears as a group of six stars which according to Indian mythology are the six nymphs that reared six babies that formed the six-faced Muruga. He is thus called Karthikeya in this form and Karthiga Deepam is celebrated as his birthday.
Lighting of the Tiruvanamalai Maha Deepam
The Maha Deepam is usually lit after 6 pm. A copper cauldron which is about 6.5 feet in height is carried by men to the top of the Annamalai hill. The wick is made of gada material while ghee mixed with camphor is used for the lamp. This Maha Deepam is visible to people in a 30 km radius. As soon as the deepam is lit, the Tiruvanamalai temple is shut till the next morning.
Special Trains:
No 06033 Chennai Central-Tiruvannamalai: November 25 - leaves Chennai Central at 9.15am and reaches Tiruvannamalai at 3.15pm
No 06034 Tiruvannamalai-Chennai Central: November 25 - Leaves Tiruvannamalai at 11pm and reaches Chennai Central at 3.30 am oN November 26.
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