Thiruvannamalai Maha Karthigai Deepam Festival 2011

Karthigai Deepam is one of the famous and important festivals being celebrated by the people of Tamil Nadu at Arunachaleswarar Temple in Thiruvannamalai every year. Several people from different parts of Tamil Nadu gather and celebrate this festival for 10 days with special prayers. Thiruvannamalai has its pride towards the location of famous temple named Arunachaleswarar Temple. Several festivals are being celebrated at this temple but Karthigai Deepam has some special importance and celebrated in a grand manner with gathering of huge number of peoples. In order to avoid the crowd several Polices are being employed and in addition to make and satisfy the desire of participation of the people the local government has decided to run special Bus services to this place along with addition of special trains from Southern Railways.

History behind celebration of Maha Deepam

We would be able to witness the stories behind lighting of Maha Deepam from our ancestors. Former stories says that there was a quarrel and ego between two gods named Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma to identify who is more superior. In order to identify it they took the help of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva called both gods and said about a situation to decide their winning and both gods accepted to it. Lord Shiva using his power grew like a flame from a light which was brighter and stretched for a long distance. Later Lord Shiva called both the gods and asked them to find his Foot and Crown and the person who identifies can be declared as a winner. To identify it Lord Brahma took the form of a Swam and flied higher to a great extent and Lord Vishnu took the form of Pig and digged the ground to identify the feet but both gods failed. Later Lord Shiva called them and Shiva appeared like a Joythi to both the gods and in remembrance of it every year people light Maha Deepam at Thiruvannamalai and it doesn't stop with it and the people even consider the cave equal to their god.

Maha Deepam Events in Thiruvannamalai

Karthigai Deepam is celebrated as a 10 days festival with each day as special occasions to their god with their respect towards the god. Let's dig further to know more about the events carried out for 10 days in the temple.

Day 1
The Day 1 for the current year started on 29th November 2011. The first day starts with hosting of the Flag and once it is hosted it indicates the startup celebration of Deepam Festival. Several activities are being carried out to their gods during day and night. In order to praise their God the people take their god in a Silver Chariot in different forms. Initially the devotees of the Temple perform a Deeparadham at kalayana mandapam and carry out respective gods in their Vahanas.Panchamurthi God Lord Ganapathi, Lord Murugan,Lord Sandeswarar,Lord Arunachaleshwarar and Godness Parvathi plays a vital role and they are being respected with their travel in chariot.

Day 2
The second day is on 30th November 2011.On the second day the Karthigai Deepam festival starts and on this day the people declare the designed chariot equal to God Indira and all the Panchamurthi gods are placed on it and comes around. As the chariot lies behind god Indira they say that their god are coming on Indira Vimanam.

Day 3
The Third day is on 1st December 2011. On the Third day the entire Panchmurthi god comes with a pride and majestic in a Simha Vahana and as the name indicates it is called as the Chariot of Lion and this happens at night.

Day 4
The Fourth Day is on 2nd December 2011. On the fourth day all the Panchamurthi gods comes in a Kamadhenu Vahanam. As the name indicates it is called as a Cow of Plenty. During this ride several people surrounds the chariot and pray to their god to greet them with their wishes as they believe that a Tree named Karpaviraksha located in the chariot along with their god will satisfy with their wishes.

Day 5
The Fifth day is on 3rd December 2011. This occurs during night and this day is very special to watch and would be more interesting as the chariots are highly decorated. The chariot used in this is very tall and all gods are being placed onto it and the chariot is named as Rishaba Vahanam.Another important point to add up would be the devotees carry a big umbrella which is larger in its diameter in front of the chariot along with the procession of their god.

Day 6
The sixth day starts on 4th December 2011. On this day the chariot named Silver Car – Chariot of Lord Indira Varama is being highly decorated and people places their god in the chariot and starts with their procession around the temple.

Day 7
The seventh day starts on 5th December 2011. On seventh day all Panchmurthi god starts their travel on Maha Ratham and as the name implies the Ratham is made up of Wood which is more stronger with a huge rope at its front being pulled by womens and due to this occasion the street is being flooded with peoples. During 5.30am and 6.45am the Maha Ratham comes around the town and later reaches Asthana Mandapam.

Day 8
The Eight day starts on 6th December 2011. On Eight day all the panchamurthi god starts their journey on a Huge Horse Vahanam and to make a note here the Horse legs will be raised and doesn't touch the ground.

Day 9
The Tenth day starts on 7th December 2011. On this day all the Panchamurthi god starts their journey in Kailsa Vahanam around the temple.

Day 10
The Tenth day falls on 8th December 2011. Maha Deepam starts early morning 4am and Barani day time Tank Teertham is also carried out. The person who hold the Pass are being allowed to see it very near.Later in the evening a huge Maha Deepam is being lighted on the top of the hill with a height of 2668 Feet and this happens at 6pm and this is one of the important event of Karthigai Deepam Festival and a huge number of people gather to watch the glorious and lighting of the god at the top of the hills. Another highlight for this day would be the travel of Lord Periyar Nayagar on Rishabha Vahanam which is totally made of Gold.

Later for the next subsequent three days Lord Chandrasekarar, Parasakthi and Subramaniar travels in a boat in the Theepam and so named as Theepam Thiruvilzha. Also the god Arunachaleswarar goes moving around the hill and this is known as Giri Valam and with this occasion the Karthigai Deepam festival at the temple comes to the end with a grant occasion of celebration.

How to Reach Thiruvannamalai

Thiruvannamali is located at a distance of 185 Kilometers from Chennai and it may take 3.5 hours of journey to reach the respective place from Chennai via Bus.

Special Trains by Southern Railway on occasion of Karthigai Deepam
Date: 7/12/2011
1. Puduchery – Thiruvannamali Via Villupuram – Departure Time: 7.35am Arrival Time: 10.45am
2. Thiruvannamali – Puduchery Via Villupuram – Departure Time: 11am Arrival Time: 2.45pm
3. Chennai Central – Thiruvannamali Via Vellore – Departure Time: 12.10pm Arrival Time: 5.00pm
4. Thiruvannamalai – Chennai Central Via Vellore – Departure Time: 8.30pm Arrival Time: 2.15pm

Date: 8/12/2011
5. Puduchery – Thiruvannamali Via Villupuram – Departure Time: 1.20pm Arrival Time: 4.20pm
6. Thiruvannamali – Puduchery Via Villupuram – Departure Time: 8pm Arrival Time: 11pm
7. Chennai Central – Thiruvannamali Via Vellore – Departure Time: 12.10pm Arrival Time: 5.00pm
8. Thiruvannamalai – Chennai Central Via Vellore – Departure Time: 8.30pm Arrival Time: 2.15pm

Puduchery – Howrah Via Vellore on 07/12/2011 will Departure from Thiruvannamalai at 2.35pm

All above mentioned 8 Trains will stop at all junctions from Kattpadi – Thiruvannmali – Villupuram

Special Buses on occasion of Karthigai Deepam

The government has decided to operate 800 special buses from Koyambedu Chennai to Thiruvannamalai and there is no Booking for these buses and the passengers will be provided with Token and will be allocated seats in buses based on the tokens and the tokens can be received only at Chennai and Puduchery Transport offices and not in Thiruvannamalai and the office have planned to collect Rs 5 as the charge towards the token issued.

Thiruvannamalai Maha Karthigai Deepam Festival 2011

History behind celebration of Maha Deepam

Maha Deepam Events in Thiruvannamalai

How to Reach Thiruvannamalai

Special Buses on occasion of Karthigai Deepam

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