KARTHIGAI DEEPAM FESTIVEL

The town of Tiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu sits about 112 miles (187 km) southeast of the Tamil capital of Chennai (formerly Madras). By car the trip takes about four hours. Katpadi Rail also goes to Tiruvannamalai.

The festivals of Tiruvannamalai attract large crowds sometimes numbering over 100,000 devotees.

If you're looking for one to attend, the best single festival is Kartikai Deepam -- an evening which marks the conclusion of the 10 day long festival in the Tamil month of Kartikai (in November or December). The festival includes grand processions in which images of Annamalaiyaar (an incarnation of Shiva) and Unnamulaiyaal are taken out on decorated platforms and paraded through streets of the city. Tiruvannamalai comes alive with celebration, processions, dancing, and singing.

Kartikai Deepam falls on the eve of the full moon and a huge fire is lighted atop the hill in commemoration of the fire left by Shiva. Thousands flock to the festival from all over southern India.

Tiruvannamalai's place in Tamil history is long established. Successive kings of South India gave great attention to Tiruvannamalai and the temple of Arunachala. Over a period of a thousand years these kings built prakaras outlying temples, gopurams and compound walls, dug ponds, offered jewels and donated gold for the upkeep of temple lands.

A number of other festivals are celebrated in the temple. Some last a few days; others are just one day events.

The 10-day Utharaayanam festival mark the sun's turn northwards; it is celebrated in the month of January.

The Vasanthautsavam festival (also 10 day) in the months of April-May is celebrated to commemorate Kamadhana, the burning of Man-matha, the personification of desires.

The Maha Sivarathri festival occurs in February-March. It re-enacts the story of Brahma, Vishnu and all other deities paying homage to the column of fire after the humbling of the pride of Brahma and Vishnu.

ARUNACHALESWARAR

Thiruvannamalai


The temple town of Tiruvannamalai is one of the most ancient heritage sites of India and is a center of the Saiva religion. The Arunachala hill and its environs have been held in great regard by the Tamils for centuries. The temple is grand in conception and architecture and is rich in tradition, history and festivals.

• Thiruvannamalai is one of the panchabhootasthalas representing the fire element along with Chidambaram, Sri Kalahasti, Thiruvanaikoil and Kanchipuram representing sky, air, water and earth respectively.


• Four Brahmotsavams are celebrated every year, the most famous of which is the one celebrated during the Tamil month of Karthigai (November/December). The ten day event culminates on the day of Karthigai Deepam. On that evening, a huge lamp is lit in a cauldron with three tons of ghee at the top of the Annamalai hill.[2]


• Every full moon night, tens of thousands of pilgrims worship Shiva by circumambulating the Arunachala hill barefoot. The circumambulation covers a distance of about 14 km.[3].


• The Yearly Ones CHITRA POWRNAMI(full moon)Tamil Year,the lakhs of pilgrims worship comes across the world.


• The height of the Arunachala hill is approximately 1600 feet.


• Advaita Vedanta guru Ramana Maharshi lived in Thiruvannamalai for fifty three years until his death in 1950. His ashram, Ramanasramam, is located at the foot of the Arunachala hill, to the west of the town.


• Seshadri Swamigal and Yogi RamSurat Kumar are examples of two other gurus who lived in this city.