Date:25/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/25/stories/2008112551520300.htm

Tamil Nadu

Hotels to be kept open 24/7 during Deepam

Staff Reporter

Meeting held to discuss arrangements

10 huge screens to be installed to telecast rituals
Demand to shift refugee camp turned down

TIRUVANNAMALAI: Hotels in Tiruvannamalai will be permitted to run round the clock to cater for the pilgrims during the 10-day Kaarthigai Deepam festival starting from December 2.

Food Minister E.V. Velu said this at the second consultative meeting convened to discuss the arrangements for Kaarthigai Deepam festival. He asked the temple authorities to arrange some cultural troupes who would perform arts like ‘Kolattam’ to pilot before the chariots of deities during their procession during the festival days.

He also insisted that 10 huge screens be installed outside the temple during the event of lighting Mahadeepam to telecast the rituals going on inside the temple.

The Minister also agreed to the demand from the representative of ‘Boyar’ community which is traditionally entrusted with the duty of pulling the holy cars during the Deepam car festival, to mark ideal track for the car with paint on the Maada Streets to help them align direction of the car on its move, so that the vehicle could smoothly negotiate the corners.

The Minister turned down the demand from former Municipal Chairman V. Pawankumar that Adi Annamalai Sri Lankan Refugee Camp situated on Girivalam Path be shifted temporarily.

Representatives of traders and civil societies took part. Temple trust board chairman Dhanusu, Joint Commissioner M. Pugazhendiran and other district officials attended the meeting.