Chennai, November 30 (NationPress) The administration of the Tiruvannamalai district in Tamil Nadu has officially banned devotees from ascending the Arunachaleswarar hill during this year’s Karthigai Deepam festival, due to warnings of heavy rainfall and persistent safety hazards along the trekking route.

This decision follows an orange alert issued for the district, in light of severe rain predictions associated with Cyclone Ditwah.

As per an official statement, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) has indicated that the hill’s pathway remains precarious. Loose rocks pose a significant danger, especially in areas previously affected by landslides. Officials noted that these conditions render the customary climb perilous for the numerous devotees who typically make their way to the hilltop for the lighting of the Maha Deepam.

“In accordance with the cyclone warning and the expert committee's recommendations, we are enforcing a temporary ban on the hill climb for devotees this year in the interest of public safety,” the administration stated.

Authorities have also called upon devotees to fully comply with the safety measures and refrain from attempting the climb under any circumstances. The police, along with the forest and revenue departments, have been instructed to maintain vigilant oversight of the climbing path to deter unauthorized access and uphold the ban.

During peak festival hours, additional personnel will be deployed to manage crowd control in and around the temple town.

This year's Karthigai Deepam festival commenced on November 24, with the key rituals slated for December 3. The Bharani Deepam is to be lit early on December 3 within the Arunachaleswarar temple, followed by the Maha Deepam lighting atop the hill that evening.

Although the hilltop lighting will proceed as per tradition, devotees will only be permitted to view it from the ground level. Last year’s tragic events remain vivid in the memory of both officials and devotees. Heavy rainfall from Cyclone Michaung in 2024 resulted in multiple landslides, claiming the lives of seven individuals. Consequently, authorities banned climbing for the rest of the season, with expert teams later determining that the trail required significant stabilization.

Given that the path remains inadequately restored and conditions are deteriorating, officials have again opted to implement a complete ban for the 2025 festival. The administration emphasized that these precautions are in place solely to safeguard lives and ensure that the revered festival can progress without incident, albeit with modified arrangements.