Lakhs of devotees gathered in the sacred town of Thiruvannamalai to witness the much-anticipated annual festival of Karthigai Deepam, marked by the grand lighting of the Maha Deepam atop the Arunachala Hill. This spiritual event, steeped in tradition, symbolises the dispelling of darkness and the ushering in of enlightenment.
Karthigai Deepam, celebrated across Tamil Nadu, is a ten-day festival where homes and temples are illuminated with countless lamps. The festivities are especially grand in Thiruvannamalai, Thiruthani, Thiruchendur, and other abodes of Murugan. Temples are adorned with intricate decorations, serial lights, and clay lamps that line the temple tanks and steps. A towering clay lamp is lit atop temple towers, visible from miles away, spreading its divine radiance across the region.
மலையின் உச்சியில் ஒலிக்கும் அந்த சிவ முழக்கம் கட்டியம் கூறுகிறது அவனில்லாமல் எதுவுமில்லை என… 🔥 pic.twitter.com/kKZb8pBDNF
— Annapurna Pillai – BJP Tamilnadu (@AnnapurnaPillai) December 13, 2024
This year’s festival commenced on December 4 with the traditional flag hoisting at the Arunachaleswarar Temple. The presiding deity, Arunachaleswarar, accompanied by Goddess Unnamulai Amman, was taken in procession on various ornately decorated vahanas through the Mada Veedhis (temple streets). The Temple Car Festival, where devotees pulled a beautifully decorated wooden chariot through the four streets surrounding the temple, was another highlight. The air resonated with chants of “Annamalaiyarukku Arokara”, amplifying the devotion of the gathered devotees.
The Maha Deepam Ceremony
The pinnacle of the Karthigai Deepam festival is the lighting of the Maha Deepam, also known as Moksha Deepam, atop the 2,668-foot-high Arunachala Hill. Despite heavy rains, preparations for the sacred event proceeded with unwavering religious fervour.
On December 12, the Maha Kopper (a massive copper vessel) was carried to the hilltop. The following day, December 13, the Bharani Deepam was lit at 4 PM inside the Arunachaleswarar Temple. Later, at 6 PM, as devotees eagerly awaited, the Maha Deepam atop the hill was ignited after temple priests gave the signal by waving lamps from the temple below. A conch was blown, and a deevati (a fireball attached to a long stick) was used to light the mega wick in the copper cauldron.
The Maha Deepam wick, made of 2 kilometers of gada cloth soaked in 4,500 kg of ghee, was placed in the 5-foot-tall copper lamp weighing 150 kg. This sacred flame glowed brightly, visible to devotees for miles around. The tradition of lighting the lamp has been maintained by the descendants of the Parvatha Raja Kulam Marabeenargal family for generations.
Similar celebrations took place in other parts of Tamil Nadu, including the Rockfort Temple in Trichy, the Subramaniyaswamy Temple in Thiruparankundram, and other sacred sites. In Trichy, devotees prepared cotton wicks for the lighting ceremony at the Malaikottai Uchchi Pillaiyar Temple, creating an equally vibrant spiritual atmosphere.
Unique Practices in Thiruvannamalai
The sacred hill and its surroundings came alive with devotion, even though devotees were restricted from climbing the hill this year due to a recent landslide that claimed seven lives. An expert panel recommended the ban, citing unstable sand and stone conditions. Despite this, thousands gathered along the Girivalam Path, encircling the hill, to catch a glimpse of the illuminated hilltop. The chants of “Annamalaiyarukku Arokara” echoed through the air as devotees worshipped the hill as a divine torch.
The lighting ceremony was broadcast live on satellite channels, allowing devotees across Tamil Nadu to witness the divine spectacle from their homes. These moments of spiritual unity stand as a testament to the deeply ingrained Sanatana Dharma traditions of Tamil Nadu, even as political and social challenges threaten its cultural fabric.
The Karthigai Deepam festival not only celebrates devotion but also highlights the need for active efforts to preserve these ancient traditions. Vedic rituals and Sanatana Dharma practices remain cornerstones of Tamil Nadu’s cultural heritage. Yet, the divisive narratives propagated during elections often threaten this unity, targeting Hindu traditions, deities, and practices.
