On the first day of the festival at 10.00 pm, the Panchamurthys were carried on a procession on Mooshikam (mouse), Peacock, Silver Ahikara Nandhi, Hamsam and Simham (lion) respectively around the temple corridor streets offering Darshan to a large crowd of devotees!
The hugely popular Deepam festival at the Lord Arunchaleswarar temple in Thiruvannamalai started early this morning Today (Friday , 17th November) with the divine flag-hoisting ceremony!
Renowned as the place of fire among the Panchabootham places and the sanctuary for salvation, the Tiruvannamalai Annamalaiyar Temple has commenced the much-celebrated Tirukarthikai Deepam Festival. The inaugural ceremony witnessed the majestic hoisting of the golden flag tree, symbolizing the commencement of the festivities.
The temple gates opened at 2 o’clock in the morning, heralding the start of the special abhishekahm prayers dedicated to Annamalaiyar and Unnamulai Amman. The sacred rituals continued with special abhisheka prayers for the Panchamurthis, including Vinayagar, Murugar, Annamalaiyar, Parashakthi Amman, and Chandrasekarar. The deities were adorned with vibrant flowers, creating a divine spectacle.
As part of the celebration, a special Deeparathan, invoking the divine light, illuminated the temple, casting a spiritual glow on the devotees present.
Anticipation is on the rise as the auspicious ‘Karthigai Deepam’ festival is set to kick off at the Sri Arunachaleswarar temple in Tiruvannamalai. The 10-day grand celebration will commence with the ceremonial hoisting of the holy flag on Friday (17.11.2023), marking the beginning of this sacred event that draws lakhs of devotees to the pilgrim center.
The significant highlight of the festival will be the Maha Deepam, illuminating the spiritual ambiance throughout the 10-day celebration. Devotees from far and wide are expected to gather to witness and participate in the divine festivities.
The sacred flag-hoisting ceremony will take place on the temple precincts between 4:45 a.m. and 6:12 a.m., symbolizing the commencement of the much-awaited ‘Karthigai Deepam’ festival.
‘Pandhakkaal’ erection for the grand ‘Deepam’ festival at Thiruuvannamalai temple
With the ensuing grand festival of ‘Deepam Thiruvizha’ at the Lord Arunachaleeswarar temple at Thiruvannamalai, the inaugural ceremony of performing a special Abhishekham for the first wooden pole (Pandhakkaal in Tamil) for the erection of the thatched shed – known as Pandhal in Tamil – for the grand Deepam festival was organised at the Sanctum Sanctorum of the Lord Vinayaka in the temple.
Pichagar Raghu carried the wooden pillar which was erected opposite the main temple tower Rajagopuram after performing special ‘Deepaaradhanai’ to the holy chariots of the temple.
