Hindu devotees of Thirupparankundram on Monday, 22 December 2025, announced an escalation of protests, including a proposed fast unto death, against the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government’s decision to deny permission for lighting the Karthigai Deepam at the Deepathoon (stone lamp pillar) atop the hill.
Addressing a gathering in Madurai, the transgenders invoked the legendary story of Kannagi, portraying her as a symbol of resistance against injustice. They stated that Kannagi had raised her anklet to demand justice after being wronged and cited her act as an enduring example of asserting one’s rights.
Referring to the present dispute, the residents said they had assembled holding anklets as a symbolic protest, declaring that their demonstration was aimed at registering condemnation and demanding justice. They questioned the State government’s claim of secularism and alleged that different standards were being applied to different religious communities. One asked whether Hindus had ever consented to “one set of laws for Muslims and another for Hindus.”
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Calling for unity, the speakers urged Hindus across Tamil Nadu to mobilise for statewide protests, drawing parallels with the 2017 Jallikattu agitation. They said similar demonstrations should be organised in Madurai and other districts if their demands continued to be ignored.
The protestors warned that if the Madurai District Collector failed to act on the petitions submitted seeking permission to climb the hill and light the lamp, the agitation would enter its next phase. They announced that a hunger strike would be launched, adding that they were prepared to fast “until death” to press their demand.
They also asserted that Thirupparankundram was the first of the six abodes of Murugan and questioned the authority of any group or administration to prevent devotees from entering the hill or lighting lamps at the temple. “Who are they to say that we should not enter our own temple?” the speaker asked, reiterating the demand for justice.
They again referred to Kannagi’s legend, recalling that during the reign of Nedunchezhiyan Pandiyan, Madurai was said to have been burned after justice was denied to her. Drawing a parallel, the speaker said the present protest sought justice for Poornachandran and for Hindu devotees seeking to light the Deepam on the hill.
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