Bharani Deepam was lit in Om Arunachaleswarar Temple

Bharani Deepam was lit inside the temple at 4 am in the morning on the occasion of Karthigai Deepam, festival at Tiruvannamalai. Today evening the Maha Deepam would be lit atop the holy hill at 6 pm. Around 4pm, deities of panchamoorthy (Vinayagar, Murugar with Valli and Deivanai, Unnamulai Amman, Parasakthi and Sandeeswarar) will be taken in palanquins and placed opposite to the sanctum sanctorum. The deity Ardhanareeswarar will be taken out at 6pm when the mahadeepam in the hill was lit

Several police and fire personnel are pressed into service for the smooth conduct of the festival. Police erected surveillance cameras at vantage points besides the girivalam path in the temple town to strengthen the vigil and prevent any untoward incident.

The state government operated special buses form various parts of the state to Tiruvannamalai to clear the festive rush. Southern Railway ran special trains to Tiruvannamalai from Katpadi, Villupuram and Chennai.