29 October 2007

Getting Ready

Deepam 2007

A giant screen will be installed near the ‘Periya Nandhi’ inside Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple to help devotees watch the ‘Karthigai Deepam’ celebrations on November 24, 2007.

After a meeting of officials conducted to review arrangements for the Karthigai Festival, it was announced that the Temple Administration has provided four additional electricity connections at a cost of Rs. 9 lakh. The Subramania Swamy Temple Car has been renovated at a cost of Rs.7.5 lakh and a shelter built near the ‘Kili Gopuram’



at a cost of Rs. 2 lakh. Renovation of the ‘Theerthavari Mandapam’ and the ‘Kalyana Sundareswarar Mandapam’ is under way at a cost of Rs.20 lakh.



The Transport Department has been asked to ensure that there are no problems between drivers of Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation and those of private buses in commencing services after the lighting of the ‘Deepam’ on November 24th, 2007. The Transport Department and the TNSTC have been urged to relax regulations on departure timings. The Department of Fire and Rescue Services are to station a fire engine near the temporary ‘pandals’ and shops in front of the eastern ‘Rajagopuram.’

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good idea they are putting up a
giant screen, but I have heard that
they are only letting people in with special passes (like VIPs) for Deepam Day. Is that true?

Anonymous said...

You're right Frank. Last year I believe it was almost impossible to get into the Temple during the day - and for the evening and watching the lighting of the Deepam - only people with passes could get in.

Anonymous said...

I notice that the constuction in front of the gopuram will conceal the famous Arunagirinatha parrot - don't the Temple authorities care?

Meenakshi Ammal said...

Sometimes the decisions taken by the Temple authorities baffle me. Yes, sight of the parrot will be obscured by the new construction - just hope that the new structure is only temporary!