Arunachaleswara temple gears up for Chitrapournami fest

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Arunachaleswara temple here is gearing up for the annual Chitrapournami Girivalam which attracts large number of devotees as the District Collector held a meeting here today of senior officials to review arrangements for the annual event.
District Collector A Gnanasekaran, Superintendent of Police R Ponni, District Revenue Officer Sa Pazhani, Joint Commissioner of Sri Arunachaleswara temple P Vasunathan and other district officials participated in the meeting held at Collectorate here.
Temple authorities said as part of measures to manage heavy rush of devotees, entry based on recommendation letters will be scrapped on Chitra Pournami day that falls on April 21 and 22. They said the time for Girivalam will be from 9.54 am on April 21 till 11.53 am the next day.

"Chitra Pournami Girivalam" refers to circumambulation of the Arunachala hill in a 14-kilometer pathway on full moon day in the Tamil month of Chitirai.
Devotees revere the hill as an abode of Lord Siva. They believe that Siddhars -mystic followers of Siva - also live in the hill and its surroundings.
Temple officials said all arrangements and amenities have been made for facilitating hassle-free darshan in the shrine for devotees which includes shades and coir mats in view of summer.
Health officials were requested to provide a 24-hour medical care outpost near the Sri Sammantha Vinayagar shrine and around the hill pathway. Power authorites were asked to ensure that street lights continued to illuminate the Girivalam road and pathways.

Similarly, municipal, rural development, fire and rescue and police authorities were requested to provide all necessary services during the annual festival.