After the landslide in Tiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu claimed seven lives, an expert committee's report is awaited on whether devotees will be allowed to climb the Annamalai Hills for the Karthigai Mahadeepam festival, which is scheduled to be held on December 13. Karthigai Mahadeepam is a Hindu festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu, marking the culmination of the Karthigai Deepam festival. It involves lighting a grand lamp on the Arunachala hill at Tiruvannamalai.
The landslide occurred on December 1 in the Annamalaiyar hill, after heavy rain triggered by Cyclone Fengal. Rocks slid down the 2,668-foot-high hill, resulting in the tragic deaths. A nine-member expert team, led by Saravana Vel Raj, Commissioner of the Directorate of Mines, and including geotechnical and mining experts, has commenced a detailed investigation to assess the safety of the mountain terrain, focusing on soil composition and other geological factors. Their findings will determine whether pilgrims can safely climb the hills.
Meanwhile, the 10-day Karthigai Deepam festival at the revered Annamalaiyar Temple in Tiruvannamalai has begun. The festival draws large numbers of devotees annually. In 2023, around 40 devotees climbed the hills chanting 'Arunachaleshwara'. However, police restricted the entry of large vehicles to the town, and 14,000 personnel were deployed for crowd management.
The festival's highlight is the lighting of the Mahadeepam atop the 2,668-foot Annamalai Hill, a ritual practised for generations. According to the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department (HR&CE), the cauldron for the 'Mahadeepam' is carried along a seven-kilometre route on the rear side of the temple by a team of 20.
