No ‘girivalam’ on Chitra Pournami
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The Tiruvannamalai district administration has announced that devotees will not be allowed to go on Chitra Pournami ‘girivalam’ on April 26 and 27.
According to a press release, every Chitra Pournami (full moon day), more than 10 lakh devotees visit the Tiruvannamalai Arunachaleswara temple and circumambulate the hill.
To control the spread of COVID-19, the State government has introduced new restrictions, which would be in force till April 30. This includes night lockdown from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. and full lockdown on Sundays.
“Since ‘girivalam’ for Chitra Pournami will be held between 12.16 p.m. on April 26 to 9.59 a.m on April 27, devotees will not be allowed to circumambulate the hill,” said an official.
Coimbatore: The forest department, which has been allowing people to trek the Velliangiri Hills from March 1, is gearing up to receive more than 20,000 people on Maha Shivaratri on Thursday.
“Considering that 10,000 people climbed the seven hills on Sunday and 4,000 people on Saturday, we are expecting 20,000 to arrive from Wednesday morning,” said Boluvampatti range officer Saravanan.
The department has roped in 30 volunteers from NGOs and frontline staff from other ranges for crowd management and to ensure that no plastic or inflammable products enter the forest.
“We have stationed four rangers and 30 volunteers at the base of the mountains to check pilgrims. Six rangers and some volunteers have been stationed at the seventh hill to ensure that pilgrims are following rules and regulations and to provide them assistance. The devotees will be checked to ensure they do not carry any form of plastic or materials like matchstick, candle, wick,” the official said. “However,