Wed Oct 16 13:24:21 UTC 2024: ## Heavy Rains Prompt Cancellation of Tiruvannamalai Girivalam
**Tiruvannamalai, October 15th:** In a precautionary move, the Tiruvannamalai District Collector, Basker Pandian, has urged devotees to avoid the Girivalam procession this year due to an Orange Alert issued for heavy rainfall in the district.
The annual Girivalam, a circumambulation of the sacred Arunachaleswarar Temple hill, is a major pilgrimage event that draws lakhs of devotees, especially during the full moon. The auspicious time for this year’s Purattasi (September-October) full moon Girivalam was announced as October 16th, Wednesday evening, to October 17th, Thursday evening.
However, the recent torrential rains across Tamil Nadu, including the Tiruvannamalai region, have triggered flood warnings and the district administration has decided to prioritize safety.
The Collector has further requested devotees from outside Tiruvannamalai to postpone their visit to the district.
This decision comes as the Tamil Nadu government has announced a public holiday in four districts and school and college closures across other regions due to the widespread rains.
The Girivalam procession is a deeply significant event for devotees, who believe that completing the 12-year cycle of the pilgrimage brings them moksha (liberation).
Despite the cancellation, the Tiruvannamalai Temple administration is still gearing up to accommodate devotees with the deployment of 200 special buses from nearby districts like Salem, Attur, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Hosur, and Bengaluru.
However, in light of the severe weather conditions, the administration has urged devotees to reconsider their plans and prioritize their safety.
First Piper 