Lamp Row at Tirupparankundram: Court Orders Deepam at Pillar Amid Protests

Madurai's Tirupparankundram hill became the flashpoint in a heated dispute over where the Karthigai Deepam lamp should be lit during the festival. A Madurai bench of the Madras High Court directed that the sacred lamp be lit at the Deepathoon pillar atop the hill, a move that sparked clashes between right-wing activists and police as processions moved toward the site.

Earlier, a single-judge order had directed lighting at the Deepathoon near a dargah, while the Division Bench's 2014 order allowed lighting at the traditional place where it had been carried out for years. The divergence between orders deepened tensions and prompted security measures as the night wore on.

In the latest developments, security forces were deployed to maintain order while government officials argued that respecting the 2014 Division Bench order was essential to public peace. The state said the police and Central forces were acting under judicial directions, and stressed its commitment to law and order.

By Thursday evening, the lamp lit at the usual place drew praise from those who view the festival as a long-standing local tradition, even as other groups pressed to have the lamp lit at the pillar. The court later rejected a contempt challenge and reiterated its directive, underscoring the legal complexity of managing religious rites in a highly sensitive space.

Community leaders urged calm, noting that Tirupparankundram hosts multiple faiths and that peace has sustained intercommunal ties for decades. As Tamil Nadu watches, organizers and authorities say the focus remains on safety and the celebration of light over darkness, even as questions about jurisdiction and precedence linger.

Cover image source: Row over lighting of lamp at Madurai temple in Tamil Nadu explained 🔗

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