On December 3, the morning of Karthigai Deepam in Thiruparankundram looked like it always does. Pilgrims drifting in, vendors settling into their usual spots, the town waking up to a rhythm it knows well.

Karthigai Deepam is a Tamil festival of lights, primarily celebrated by Hindus by lighting oil lamps in households and temples.

But this year, something felt different. In the middle of all that familiar bustle, a new and uneasy choreography was playing out. Vehicles carrying BJP flags lined the road, clusters of men in saffron scarves gathered near tea stalls. There were two arches on the way up the hill to the temple, and police barricades were set up throughout the area.

Our reporter Abhishek Vijayan was on the ground, reporting the events as they unfolded.

The hill is home to two important religious sites. One is the Subramanya Swamy temple, considered one of the six sacred abodes, or Arupadai Veedu of the Hindu god Murugan. 

The second one is the Hazrat Sultan Sikandar Badshah Dargah, a Sufi Islamic shrine built around the tomb of the saint.

For years, these sites and the devotees have coexisted peacefully, with occasional minor scuffles.

So, what changed this year?

The current conflict didn’t begin with the Deepam festival. It began in January this year with a very different issue – animal sacrifice at the Dargah.

The Deepam conflict was an extension of that.

In addition, a December 1 Madras High Court direction by Justice GR Swaminathan that Deepam be lit at the peak of the hill enthused the BJP and other right-wing organisations, such as Hindu Munnani and VHP, which mobilised in large numbers.

The issue has now snowballed into the INDIA bloc MPs asking to move an impeachment motion against Justice GR Swaminathan.

So why did this order become controversial? And how was the unrest organised?

Let me explain. 

This report was republished from The News Minute as part of The News Minute-Newslaundry alliance. Read about our partnership here and become a subscriber here.