10-day Karthigai fest enthuses Tiruvannamalai residents

To begin with, the temple officials decided to conduct the daily procession of the deities in the huge temple cars in the fifth prakaram were busy making last minute touches to ensure that the route was obstruction free.

On Wednesday, the temple received the traditional colourful umbrellas, three in numbers, from the Jalaganteswarar temple in Vellore. A total of 17 umbrellas are handed over annually for the deities.

Meanwhile, a ghee donation booth was also opened on the temple premises to procure ghee from devotees for use in the cauldron when the Maha Deepam was lit atop the 2,668 feet high Annamalai Hill on November 29, the last day of the festival.

Official sources revealed that the temple had procured two days ago 3.50 tonnes of ghee for the same purpose from Tiruvannamalai Aavin which would be the main fuel to ensure that the holy flame remained bright for another ten days. The 1,000 metres long gadda cloth which is the wick for the cauldron is expected to be provided by traditional sources from within the town shortly, officials added.