Thiruvannamalai: Significance and Importance of Karthigai Maha Deepam Festival in Arunachaleswara Temple.

Karthigai Deepam is a annual carnival being celebrated in Arunachaleswara Temple located in Thiruvannamalai City in Tamilnadu State. Every year this Festival is celebrated for 10 days which begins on Uthiradam Star (Uttarashada Star in Telugu) day in the Tamil Month of Karthigai (November/December) and ends on Bharani Star Day. The Karthigai festival is also called as Karthika Brahmotsavam in this temple.

This year 2014,  the karthigai deepam carnival begins on November 26, 2014(Wednesday) and ends with the Karthigai(Karthika) Deepam on December, 2014(Friday).

Significance of Karthigai Deepam: 

Lord Arunachaleswara is the main deity of the temple in the form of Shivalinga. The Shivalinga in the temple is known as AGNI LINGA. The Karthika deepam is also known as Maha Deepam.

During this festival the presiding deity of Lord Arunachaleswara is grandly decorated and takes the Lord in procession in various Vahanams during morning seva and evening seva in and around the temple city. On the final day(Full Moon Day) of 10days grand Karthigai Deepam Festival, Karthigai Deepam will be ignited at the top of the Arunchala(Holy Hill) coinciding with the Full Moon. 

Devotees believed that the Real image of Lord Arunchaleswar is viewed in the appearance of Agni. During this holy day millions of devotees get witnessed this heavenly worship of Lord.

How the Karthigai Deepam Igniting Process Take Place at atop of the Holy Hill:

A big brass vessel especially designed in the form of a Lamp shape is lifted to the peak of the Arunachala(Holy Hill). It is filled with tins and tins of Ghee and pots and pots of Butter and an enormously thick wick made of loosely twisted woven fibres (clothes) is immersed into the vessel and one end of the wick is drawn out to the apex and is ignited with burning camphor around 6pm coinciding with the Full Moon. 

The luminous glow of the lamp atop of the hill opens the eyes of the Million devotees and uttering "Om Arunachaleswaraya Namah". The sacred Karthigai Deepam can be seen even from a distance of 45KM.    

Thiruvannamalai Karthigai Annual Brahmotsavams Schedule 2014