Thiruvannamalai: In a low key affair due to prevailing Covid-19 pandemic the ‘Karthigai Maha Deepam’ was lit atop the 2,668-feet Annamalai Hills in this temple town, on Sunday evening.
At the stroke of 6 pm, soon after the Ardhanareeswarar deity was taken round the `Dwajasthambam’ of the famous Lord Arunachaleswarar temple, the Maha Deepam was lit atop the hills, amidst chanting of ‘Annamalayarukku Arohara’ by a sparse gathering.
On the hill top, the Maha Deepam was lit in a giant ‘copra’ (copper utensil), filled with more than 3,000 kg of ghee and two kg of camphor. A wick measuring more than 1000 m was made using special cloth and inserted in the cauldron to lit the Deepam, which could be seen from miles around for nearly ten days.
The day also marked the auspicious Pournami (Full Moon Day). In view of the pandemic, devotees were not allowed to climb atop the hills to witness the deepam.
Normally more than 20 lakh people from various parts of India used to throng the town to witness the deepam fest, but this year none were allowed entry into the district in view of the pandemic.
Except a few people living within the vicinity of the temple and in the town, people from other parts of the district and from outside were denied entry into the town.
Karthigai Deepam festival was celebrated with fervour in many other temples too across Tamilnadu.