Visuals from the temple showed large crowds, police protection, devotees singing Lord Shiva hymns, and organised crowd management ensuring smooth movement for worshippers.
With vehicle entry sharply curtailed on Maha Deepam day, authorities have planned extensive traffic diversions. The general public will be directed to designated parking areas and temporary bus terminals on the outskirts.
As part of Tamil Nadu's oldest festival, Karthigai Deepam celebrations, the Maha Deepam was lighted at Arunachala Hills, Tiruvannamalai district in the presence of a large number of devotes on Friday evening.