Date:03/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/03/stories/2008120350930300.htm

Tamil Nadu

Deepam festival begins in Tiruvannamalai

Staff Reporter

Traditional flag was hoisted amidst chanting of hymns

Tiruvannamalai: The 10-day Deepam festival at Sri Arunachaleswarar temple here began on Tuesday with the traditional flag hoisting.

Amid chanting of hymns, the presiding deity, Arunachaleswarar, and his consort were taken to the flag mast before Sivachariyars hoisted the flag at dawn.

Later, the Panchamurthys were taken in procession around the Mada Streets. Collector M. Rajendran, Superintendent of Police V. Balakrishnan, temple trust board chairman Dhanusu, Joint Director of HR&CE in charge of temple M. Pugazhendiran, and Municipal Chairman R. Sridharan were present on the occasion.