Govt rejects historical backing for hilltop lamp

Tamil Nadu government told the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court that the Karthigai Deepam ritual at Thirupparankundram hill followed a practice observed for more than 150 years, with the ceremonial lamp lit at the Uchipillaiyar temple mandapam, and not on a stone pillar identified in a judicial direction earlier this month.

- HD Bureau

The submission was made during proceedings arising from petitions over the location of the deepam lighting at the hill, a site that holds layered religious significance with the Subramaniya Swamy temple, also known as Thiruparankundram Murugan temple, and the Sikandar Badusha dargah situ