Thiruvannamalai Karthigai Deepam deserves a special mention among the famous festivals of Tamil Nadu. Thiruvannamalai, the South Indian State of Tamil Nadu, celebrates this ten-day-long festival of lights.
First of all, Thiruvannamalai is one of the five temples for Lord Shiva representing the five cosmic elements. Also, in Thiruvannamalai, Lord Shiva is present as a mountain and represents the cosmic element of Fire. This year, the Karthikai Brahmothsavam has seen an exotic commencement. The festival has started with the elaborate rituals and ceremonies at the Thiruvannamalai temple.
Tenth Day of the Festival:
The significant day of this Thiruvannamalai Karthigai Deepam, where the rituals start at around four o’clock in the early hours. And to mark the commencement of the “Periya Karthigai”, the temple authorities lit the Bharani Deepam at the temple.
In addition, they arranged to place an unimaginably huge cauldron filled with ghee at the top of the Thiruvannamalai hills. The designated people make a wick using several hundred meters of cotton cloth, and finally, here comes the most exciting and sacred moment of Karthikai Deepam. The authorities and the lead priest climb the hills and light the lamp at around six o’clock in the evening, whose light and glare radiate through a several-kilometre radius.
Most noteworthy information is that thousands of devotees assemble to witness this mega event, where they feel the Lord’s presence in the form of fire. Light always brings a ray of hope into those who are in the dark. Philosophically, we have to surrender ourselves at the feet of Lord Arunachaleswara. He will put all our sins into the fire and purify us. So, with this faith and belief, the devotees take the Lord around the temple.
And the procession takes place in the golden chariot, which marks the grand conclusion of this ten-day-long Karthikai Brahmothsavam. Eventually, the devotees take back the blessings and the cherished memories from this vibrant sanctimonious place.
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