Deepam lights up Tiruvannamalai

Several lakh devotees performing ‘girivalam’ (circumambulation of the hill) had a glimpse of the ‘Karthigai Maha Deepam’ being lit on the Tiruvannamalai hill on Wednesday evening.

Defying expectations that the crowd will be thin because of rain in the region and the aftermath, devotees started pouring into the town from morning by special buses from different parts of the State. The lighting of Mahadeepam marked the conclusion of ten-day festival celebrated in the town and Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple.

Earlier, ‘Barani deepam’, a ritual that preludes ‘Mahadeepam’, was lit inside the temple at 4 am but only a few thousand devotees could witness this event.

For the Mahadeepam, a huge cauldron filled with ghee and topped with a wick made of several hundred meters of cotton cloth was used. It was lit by the members belonging to Parvatha Rajakula fishermen clan at the summit of 2,668-foot high hill at 6 pm.

Thousands of devotees climbed the hill to witness the event from close. Simultaneously, rituals were held in Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple. Decorated idols of ‘panchamurthis’ were taken to the space near flag mast where thousands of devotees waited. The idol of Ardhanareeswara was taken into arena for a moment. This coincided with lighting of deepam on the hill.

In a moment, the town and temple were engulfed in light. Firecrackers added colour to the sky, while earthen lamps and serial lights adorned every corner of the town.