Chitra Pournami Fest: Arunachala Hills is out of the scope of devotees

To prevent unfortunate events, devotees will not be allowed to climb the Arunachala Hills in Tiruvannamalai Town during the Chitra Pournami Festival – to be celebrated on Sunday and Monday.

It is estimated that 250,000 to 300,000 tourists are expected to visit the temple in view of the festival. Invasions are prohibited at seven vulnerable locations on the hill, officials from the forest department said.

“The ban will be strictly enforced. Forest teams have been deployed to prevent invasion…” Yogesh Kumar Darg, Forest Officer (DFO) of Tiruvannamalai District, told Hindus. Forest officials said that besides the ban on climbing, pilgrims will not be allowed to enter the 14-kilometer-long Girls’ Trail on the hills, home to more than 5,000 spotted deer, given the safety of wildlife in the surrounding forest reserves. Such a move will also prevent accidental forest fires, they said.

Currently, the hills are divided into the east and west, covering more than 900 hectares. The span on the west side is 699 hectares, which is a reserve forest, and the east side covers an area of ​​2.99 hectares. It is a reserve land under the Forest Act of 1882 (Tamil Nadu). The reserved land is mainly used for tree planting drives carried out by the tax department.

Schedule an inspection

Collector K. Tharpagaraj checked the festival arrangements with principal Tiruvannamalai of police officer M. Sudhakar. Among the civic facilities, 20 temporary bus terminals have been established in the suburbs of the town, which can operate 4,533 buses. About 165 shuttle services will be available between Termini and the town.

Transportation consultation has been issued to local residents. Those who get special passes from police can use cars and other vehicles in town at 5 p.m. Sunday. Normal vehicle movement will resume at 6 a.m. on May 13.

Helpline numbers – 9363622330, 9159616263 and 9498100431 – have announced contact with people in an emergency. Two on-site hospitals, 56 medical teams and 50 ambulances, including 15 bicycle ambulances, are ready. A total of 5,197 police officers will be deployed during the festival.