Get ready to walk safely and happily, pilgrims of Tiruvannamalai! On Wednesday, a major cleanup blitz kicked off as officials tore down roadside stalls and shop extensions crowding the four Mada Streets around the magnificent Arunachaleswarar Temple. Why? To clear the path for the huge crowd expected during the colorful Karthigai Deepam festival, which lasts till December 7. The State Highways team is in action, not just around the temple but also along the famous 14-km Girivalam path. These areas, bustling with devotees, saw illegal structures vanish to make way for smooth movement, especially as the glorious Maha Deepam lighting on December 3 draws near. Officials promise to finish this work in just a day or two! Collector K. Tharpagaraj and Tiruvannamalai Corporation Commissioner S. Selva Balaji came to see the ground action, making sure the plan rolls out perfectly. S. Anbarasu, Assistant Executive Engineer, shared with The Hindu, "More road space will help senior citizens and children to walk safely around the temple and the Girivalam path. The entire stretch will be restored to its original width." That means no more squeezing through crowded lanes! The troublemakers here? Mostly shops and outlets built on new stormwater drains, and even two-wheelers and cycles parked on the walking paths! This blocked devotees’ easy access, causing frustration. Devotee K. Pavithra said, "Providing more road space is a welcome measure as pedestrians, mostly devotees, struggle to walk safely on the stretches due to make-shift shops." Big numbers speak volumes: On Chitra Pournami days, around three lakh people visit Tiruvannamalai. But hold on, on Maha Deepam day, a mind-blowing 40 lakh devotees arrive! On that day, the town shuts out vehicles, including two-wheelers, to handle this enormous crowd safely. Adding to the good news, the ongoing ₹15-crore project to lay concrete carriageways on Mada Streets is nearly done. Soon, devotees won’t have to dodge potholes on their sacred walk to the temple. This cleanup and upgrade work makes Tiruvannamalai truly ready to welcome one and all for the grand Karthigai Deepam celebrations!