Chennai, Dec 1 (LatestNewsX) – With hundreds of thousands of worshippers heading in every day to partake in the Karthigai Deepam celebrations, the authorities in Tiruvannamalai district, Tamil Nadu, have rolled out one of their biggest security and logistics plans ever to keep the event moving smoothly.
The festival, which kicked off on Nov 24, will reach its climax with the grand Maha Deepam on Dec 3, drawing devotees from all over Tamil Nadu and the neighbouring states. To handle the massive influx on that day, the police will mobilise over 15,000 officers throughout the temple town, manning a network of 24 watchtowers positioned at the most crucial points.
District Collector K. Tharpagaraj and Superintendent of Police M. Sudhakar toured the civic facilities surrounding the Arunachaleswarar Temple and the 14‑km Girivalam path, checking the crowd‑control measures in place before the festival peaks.
An estimated 4‑5 million pilgrims are anticipated to visit Tiruvannamalai on Maha Deepam alone. A sneak peek of the expected turnout came during the temple car procession on Sunday, Nov 30, which attracted roughly six lakh devotees.
Levying 1,060 CCTV cameras across town, with 303 dedicated to the temple grounds, has bolstered surveillance. Authorities have also identified 26 vulnerable spots where extra safeguards such as watchtowers and police patrols are being added.
To accommodate the traffic, the district will run 24 temporary bus stops around the town’s perimeter, capable of holding 2,325 buses. In total, 4,764 special buses – making 11,293 trips – will ferry pilgrims from various districts, especially on Dec 3 and 4.
Private cars will be barred from entering the town on Maha Deepam day to avoid congestion, and 180 shuttle buses will shuttle people between the temporary stops and the Girivalam path or the temple for a Rs 10 fare each. Outside the town, 130 parking lots have been set up, holding about 19,815 cars.
To make walking easier, jute mats will cover two kilometres of footpaths, and children will be given safety wristbands to keep them from straying away from their families. The health team will establish 85 mobile medical desks and deploy 45 ambulances, including five bike ambulances, for any emergencies.
Festival infrastructure also features 136 drinking‑water stations, 836 washrooms (483 along the Girivalam route), and 1,258 streetlights on key stretches. A sanitation crew of 3,600 workers will be stationed throughout the festival period to maintain cleanliness.
Daily deity processions along the Mada streets continue to draw huge crowds, reflecting the growing spiritual fervour.
Lighting the Maha Deepam on the 2,668‑ft Arunachala hill on Dec 3 will be the most sacred highlight of the festival. After that, the celebrations will transition into a colourful three‑day Theppa Thiruvizha, the float festival, carrying the revelry forward.
aal/dpb
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