The holy deepam was lighted atop the hill of Thiruvannamalai on Tuesday evening, when the whole town went bursting crackers, and devotees calling “Arunachala Arunachala” in praise of Shiva.
The human mass gathered within and around the precincts of the temple, along with the residents of the town and neighboring towns catch sight of the flame atop the Annamalai hill, cherishing the age old belief that it is a representation of Shiva himself, who appeared in the form of a flame whose origins could not be deciphered by the other two of the Trinity namely Bhramma and Vishnu.
After seeing the deepam on this hill, every house lighted rows of lights in the tiny earthern vessels. Crackers rent the air, enlivening a touch of Deepavali, which is another festival of lights like this.
The Kartikai Deepam was preceeded by the Bharani Deepam celebration when a lamp was lit in the main shrine of the temple following a fire sacrifice before the shrine of Surya. A small bowl of ghee lighted at this fire is used to light five other lamps representing the five aspects of Shiva.
Then a group of fishermen carried a portion of this fire inside a container of baked earth to the summit of the mountain where a large copper utensil filled with offerings of ghee and pieces of cloth was placed.
Crowds began to throng the temple complex, and a discernible order prevailed among the crowd as the tens of thousands gathered begin their patient wait for the auspicious moment when the Deepam celebration would reach its peak.
The celebration of Kartikai Deepam marked the conclusion of the ten day Bharammotsavam in the month of Kartikai. Each of these festival days was marked by the procession of the Pancha Murthys ( Somaskandar (Annamalayar), Unnamalaiyal, Ganapati, Subramanyar and Chandikeswarar) in gaily decorated mounts. Most noteworthy among these were the Rishaba Vahana Utsavam celebrated on the fifth evening of the festival and the Rathotsavam, celebrated on the seventh day of the festival.
Karthikai Deepam is a festival of lights celebrated by Tamil Hindus on the full moon day of Karthikai month (November/December), which is observed in every home and in every temple. This occurs on the day when the moon is in conjunction with the constellation Karthigai (Pleiades) and purnima. This constellation appears as a group of six stars in the firmament in the shape of a pendant from the ear.
Lamps are lit in front of the house in the morning and evening, throughout the month. On the Thirukarthikai day, the entire house is decorated with the oil lamps.
This festival of lights indicates the removal of darkness (Ignorance) and enhancing of light (Intelligence).
Thiruvannamalai is a pilgrimage town and municipality in Thiruvannamalai district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the headquarters of the Thiruvannamalai district. Thiruvannamalai is home to the Annamalaiyar Temple located at the foot of the Annamalai hill and amongst one of the great Shiva Temples of Tamilnadu. Karthigai Deepam Festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm in Thiruvannamalai.
- Asian Tribune -
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