Madurai’s Thiruparankundram hill—long upheld as a symbol of religious coexistence between the Subramaniya Swamy Temple and the Sikkandar Badusha Dargah—turned into a volatile flashpoint on Wednesday after chaos erupted over the lighting of the Karthigai Deepam lamp.

The unrest followed the alleged non-compliance of a Madras High Court order directing that the ceremonial lamp be lit at the ancient hilltop “Deepathoon” pillar, a site considered sacred in the traditional ritual.

Tensions surfaced when state officials proceeded instead to light the lamp at the Uchi Pillaiyar shrine, a different location on the hill, citing longstanding practice and law-and-order concerns.

This directly contradicted Monday’s order by Justice G R Swaminathan of the Madurai Bench, who had instructed authorities to ensure the lamp was lit at the Deepathoon pillar—a spot historically linked to temple ownership as per litigation records dating back to 1920 and even acknowledged by the Privy Council in the colonial era.

Court Order Ignored, Contempt Alleged

The petitioner, a right-wing activist, had approached the court arguing that the traditional location of the lamp had been shifted away from the original hilltop pillar in recent years.

The court agreed and directed that the petitioner, along with ten others and escorted by CISF personnel, be allowed to ascend the hill at 6 pm on Wednesday to perform the ritual.

However, when officials lit the lamp at a lower shrine instead, the judge took strong exception. In a sharply worded follow-up order, Justice Swaminathan noted that his directive had been “wilfully disobeyed,” calling the incident a serious breach of administrative responsibility and a challenge to judicial authority.

Temple officials later argued they were unable to reach the Executive Officer entrusted with carrying out the court’s instructions.

The state government, meanwhile, maintained that sending a group to the hilltop—particularly to a spot situated close to the Muslim dargah—risked exacerbating communal tensions.

Clashes Erupt as Police Block Hill Access

As the ritual time approached, growing crowds of Hindu Munnani and other right-wing groups gathered at the foothills, demanding that the police allow the court-sanctioned climb.

When police refused, citing safety concerns, protesters dismantled barricades, attempted to march uphill, and confronted security personnel.

Stone-pelting was reported, prompting police to lathi-charge the crowd. At least six police personnel were injured, according to officials. CISF units deployed to enforce the court order also remained unable to proceed to the hilltop after police deemed the situation too volatile.

Prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC were soon imposed across the Thiruparankundram area to prevent mass gatherings. Heavy police deployment continued through the night as security forces attempted to stabilise the situation.

A Hill Shared by Faiths Turns Politically Charged

The controversy has quickly taken on political overtones. The BJP and affiliated groups accused the ruling DMK government of “deliberately defying” the High Court and “appeasing minorities” by preventing the lamp from being lit at the designated site.

DMK leaders countered that the opposition was exploiting a sensitive religious issue for political mileage ahead of the Assembly elections, noting that the hilltop site—where the lamp is to be lit—lies adjacent to the Sikkandar Badusha Dargah, a historically significant Muslim shrine built in the 17th century.

Earlier this year, the same hill had seen friction after some Muslim groups demanded it be renamed “Sikkandar Hill,” which Hindu groups and the BJP vehemently opposed. Videos allegedly showing meat consumption on the hilltop had also triggered controversy.

Court to Review Compliance Today

With the lamp at the Deepathoon pillar still unlit despite judicial directions, the High Court is set to review compliance on Thursday. It has been reiterated that the petitioner and ten others must be permitted to climb to the pillar with adequate CISF security.

What began as a dispute over a ritual flame has now escalated into a test of judicial authority, religious sentiment, and communal sensitivity—turning Thiruparankundram hill, once a symbol of coexistence, into a tense battleground watched closely by both political actors and local communities.