The Karthigai Deepam festival at Arunachaleswarar temple in Tiruvannamalai will see more than 15,000 police personnel deployed for security on Maha Deepam day, December 3. This includes officers manning 24 watch towers around the town. The festival runs from November 24 to December 7. Collector K. Tharpagaraj and SP M. Sudhakar inspected the civic arrangements and Girivalam path, which stretches 14 km. The temple car pulling event on November 30 drew about six lakh visitors. To keep devotees safe, 1,060 CCTV cameras are installed, with 303 inside the temple. Authorities identified 26 vulnerable spots requiring extra watch towers. Around 45 lakh visitors are expected on the main day. The district has set up 24 temporary bus stands on the town outskirts, with parking for 2,325 buses. Nearly 4,764 special buses will run 11,293 trips mainly on December 3 and 4. Private vehicles, including cars and two-wheelers, will not be allowed inside the town on the festival day to avoid traffic jams. Instead, 180 shuttle buses will run between parking zones and Girivalam path or the temple, charging Rs 10 per ride. There are 130 parking lots for 19,815 cars outside the town. To make the long walk easier, jute mats will cover about 2 km of footpaths. For child safety, wristbands will be given. The health department will run 85 mobile health desks and 45 ambulances, including five bike ambulances. Water taps, washrooms, and streetlights are provided along the Girivalam route and town. Approximately 3,600 sanitary workers will keep the area clean during the festival. The celebration began with the holy flag hoisting on November 24. Daily processions of deities take place, climaxing with the lighting of the Maha Deepam atop the 2,668 ft hill. The festival will conclude with a three-day float event called Theppa Thiruvizha.