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Deepam row relates to a dispute over lighting Karthigai Deepam festival lamp at the historic Deepathoon pillar located atop Thiruparankundram hill in Madurai, close to a dargah.
Madras High Court judge Justice GR Swaminathan. (Image: hcmadras.tn.nic.in)
In a fresh development in the ongoing Deepam row in Tamil Nadu, Madras High Court judge Justice G R Swaminathan expressed personal disappointment over the issue.
Speaking on the controversy, Justice Swaminathan said he wondered why the Deepam issue was repeatedly being linked to him. He said he had initially felt happy when he heard that arrangements were being made to light the “deepam”. However, he later learnt that the lamp would not be lit on the Deepathoon pillar, which left him disappointed.
“I don’t know what the connection is between the Deepam issue and me. I was initially excited when it was said the Deepam would be lit, but later I was disappointed when it was announced that it would not be lit at Deepathoon. I believe the time will come when the Deepam is lit on Deepathoon,” the judge said, expressing hope that the long-standing tradition would eventually be restored.
The Deepam row relates to a dispute over lighting the Karthigai Deepam festival lamp at the historic Deepathoon pillar located atop the Thiruparankundram hill in Madurai, close to a dargah. Devotees say the practice is more than 1,300 years old and was stopped around 80 years ago. Since then, the Deepam has been lit at a lower Ganesha temple instead.
Earlier this month, on December 1, Justice GR Swaminathan passed an order directing the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department to restore the lighting of the Deepam at Deepathoon, along with other traditional locations.
December 29, 2025, 10:58 IST
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