On December 1, 2025, a bench of the Madras High Court allowed devotees to light the Karthigai Deepam at Deepathoon — the stone pillar atop the Thiruparankundram hill, Madurai — restoring what petitioners said was the original custom. The Court quashed the executive officer’s decision to restrict lighting to the lower-hill mandapam near the Uchi Pillayar temple. The judgment found that the Deepathoon lies on unoccupied temple-owned land (not part of the nearby dargah), so the ritual would not infringe on the rights of the dargah or Muslim worshippers.
When temple authorities failed to comply and instead lit the lamp at the usual lower-hill mandapam, the Court treated that as contempt. In response, on December 3 the Court permitted a petitioner plus ten others to ascend the hill with protection from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to personally light the lamp at Deepathoon.
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| Thiruparankundram hill,Madurai dhinasari.com |
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| Thiruparankundram hill,temple Madurai opindia.com |
The next day — December 4 — a division bench of the Madras High Court declined to stay the order. It reaffirmed the earlier judgment, slamming the state government’s attempt to block the lamp-lighting as an effort to avoid contempt rather than a substantive legal contest.
However, the state responded by moving the Supreme Court of India (SCI) seeking to challenge the High Court’s directive. Meanwhile, on the ground, there were tense scenes: despite the order, police and administration in Madurai initially prevented access to the hill, citing public-order concerns under prohibitory Section 144. This sparked protests by Hindu groups — some leaders, including politicians, were detained.
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| Subramanya Swamy temple,deccanherald.com |
In short: as of now, the Madras High Court remains firm — no stay on lamp-lighting at Deepathoon. Whether the ritual will actually take place depends on compliance, security arrangements, and whether the Supreme Court grants relief to the state.
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| Thiruparankundram Hindu festival, deccanherald.com |
https://www.newindianexpress.com/amp/story/states/tamil-nadu/2025/Dec/04/madras-hc-declines-to-put-on-hold-order-allowing-lighting-of-oil-lamp-in-thirupparankundram-hill?utm_source=chatgpt.com
