There are three celebratory days before the start of the 10 Day Deepam Festival.
On the first of these three days, Durga Amman is worshipped at the Durga Amman Temple.
On the second day the Goddess Pidari is worshipped at the 3rd Prakaram, Arunachaleswarar Temple.
On the third day Lord Ganesha is worshipped at the 3rd Prakaram, Arunachaleswarar Temple.
This year a very limited version of the Deepam Festival is being observed at Tiruvannamalai. I am receiving photographs of the various functions, but plan to post only the more natural ones that do not show devotees wearing masks. In this respect devotees carrying the Gods on palanquins are all wearing masks.
However priests performing Ursavam on the Gods and accompanying them upon processional chariots around the Temple Compound are not wearing masks.
Durgai Amman Alangaram, 2020 Deepam Festival |
Pidari Amman Alangaram, 2020 Deepam Festival |
Lord Vinayakar Alangaram, 2020 Deepam Festival |
Lord Vinayakar procession Temple compound, 2020 Deepam Festival |
There is an excellent write up and explanation of the above functions held on the three consecutive days prior to the commencement of the 10-day Deepam Festival, at this link here.