Residents staged a fast agitation in Thirupparankundram on Saturday, 13 December 2025, demanding that the Karthigai Deepam be lit at the ancient stone lamp pillar (Deepathoon) atop the Thirupparankundram hill.
The protest followed ongoing restrictions surrounding the lighting of the lamp at the historic site. After the Madras High Court limited the number of participants in the agitation to 50 people, several households across the temple town expressed solidarity by hoisting yellow flags associated with Lord Muruga. The flags bore the image of the Seval (rooster), a symbol traditionally associated with courage and the dispelling of darkness.
In a parallel show of support, traders near the Thirupparankundram bus stand lit lamps in front of their shops as a symbolic gesture, urging authorities to permit the lighting of the lamp at the hilltop pillar during the Karthigai Deepam festival.
Speaking to reporters, local residents emphasised that there was no dispute between the temple town residents and the nearby Dargah. “The Dargah side has no problem at all with us. There is no issue between us. We all live in unity,” one resident said.
Addressing concerns raised about the proximity of the Dargah, located about 15 metres from the lamp pillar, and the possibility of law and order issues, the resident rejected such fears. “Our houses and their houses are side by side, sharing the same common wall. We have never had any fights over the Dargah. Why would we come here now to create trouble?” he said.
He further stated that Thirupparankundram had no history of communal unrest. “Tell me, has there ever been a riot here all these years? There has never been any such incident. Some outsiders come here, make statements, and leave. Some Nawas Kani from somewhere comes here, says something, and leaves. The MP sitting in Thoothukudi is speaking – what are you doing? Venkatesan, who has no connection to Madurai, is speaking about this. MPs who have no connection to Madurai are speaking about this,” he alleged, adding that the matter involved the implementation of the judicial order rather than politics.
The resident urged authorities to act impartially, stating that relations between the local Hindu and Muslim communities had historically been harmonious. “We are like brothers, brothers-in-law, uncles and relatives. There is no issue between us and the Muslims here,” he said.
Warning of escalation if the authorities failed to implement the court order, the resident said villagers from 52 surrounding villages would be mobilised for a large-scale protest. “If this is not implemented and something happens, we will inform all 52 villages and gather everyone. The protest will intensify,” he said.
He also warned of a possible boycott of future elections if their demands continued to be ignored. “If this continues, we will boycott the Assembly elections. No one from the village will vote. This is the decision of the village council. Everyone here is united, across parties,” he added.
Hindus and Muslims are living together without any issues. How come problems arise only if Hindus light Deepam at the hilltop? Who the hell is the communist to speak on our behalf?, says the Thiruparankundram people
People are awake.
Power shift in TamilNadu is inevitable 🔥 pic.twitter.com/F7zxEPLDQj— Sanghi Prince 🚩 (@SanghiPrince) December 14, 2025
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