The sacred town of Tiruvannamalai is glowing with devotion as the renowned Annamalaiyar Temple has been beautifully illuminated ahead of the auspicious Karthigai Deepam festival.
The Tiruvannamalai Arunachaleswarar Temple is set to host the Karthigai Deepam Festival 2025, starting on Monday, 24 November 2025.
Day 1 Highlights
Morning: The festival commenced with the traditional flag hoisting (Kodiyetram)
Evening: Panchamoorthis (the five deities) will take a ceremonial procession along the streets in silver vimanas (chariots)
Night: Devotees will witness a grand procession featuring Silver Nandi, Lion, Peacock, and Mushika vahanas, enhancing the festive spirit
The festival marks a 10-day spiritual celebration culminating with the Maha Deepam on 3 December 2025, attracting thousands of devotees from across the country.
Girivalam (also known as Giri Pradakshina or Giri Valam) is a sacred practice of walking barefoot around the Arunachala Hill in Tiruvannamalai, covering a distance of approximately 14 kilometers. This ritual is performed by devotees in a clockwise direction and is considered a powerful spiritual journey dedicated to Lord Shiva, who is believed to manifest in the form of the Arunachala mountain. Each step in Girivalam symbolizes humility, devotion, and a desire to attain liberation (moksha).
Walking barefoot during Girivalam is a profound act of surrender and spiritual discipline. It represents leaving behind worldly attachments and connecting directly with the sacred earth of Arunachala. The barefoot walk signifies:
Saints like Sri Ramana Maharshi have emphasized the holiness of Arunachala’s soil, making every step taken barefoot a sacred offering.
While Girivalam can be undertaken on any day, specific times are considered especially auspicious and spiritually potent:
If you’re visiting Tiruvannamalai on a non-festival day, consider these timings for comfort and devotion:
| Time Slot | Reason |
|---|---|
| 4:00 AM – 6:00 AM | Peaceful, cool, ideal for meditation and sunrise darshan |
| 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Cooler temperatures, fewer crowds |
⚠️ Note: Avoid afternoons (11 AM to 4 PM), especially in summer, due to intense heat and risk of dehydration.
Prathosam event took place at the Arulmigu Om Arunachaleswarar Temple in Tiruvannamalai. Below are some of the pictures showcasing the Prathosam event
s part of the grand Karthigai Deepam festival celebrations at the Arunachaleswarar Temple, Tiruvannamalai, the beautifully renovated Parashakthi Amman chariot was ceremoniously pulled by devotees this morning.
The chariot procession was filled with divine chants, traditional music, and thousands of devotees offering prayers, marking a spiritually vibrant start to the Deepam festivities.
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The Parashakti Amman Ther (Chariot) Festival has commenced today at Annamalaiyar Temple in Thiruvannamalai. The chariot, refurbished at a cost of ₹72 lakh and standing 48 feet tall, is being pulled by thousands of devoted devotees, marking the start of the grand festival celebrations.
The festival, held ahead of the Karthigai Deepam celebrations, attracts a large number of devotees who gather to receive the blessings of Parashakti Amman. During the festival days, the temple premises are filled with spiritual fervor and devotional enthusiasm.
Tamil Nadu is preparing to celebrate Thirukarthigai Deepam, one of the most revered festivals dedicated to Lord Shiva and Lord Murugan. This festival of divine light symbolizes purity, knowledge, and the triumph of goodness over darkness.
On the day of Thirukarthigai, devotees begin their day with an early morning bath and by lighting the first lamp at home — marking the start of the Deepam fast. Those who observe the fast traditionally avoid solid food, sustaining themselves on fruits and fruit juices throughout the day.
The highlight of the festival is the Karthigai Deepam Pooja, performed at home and in temples on the full moon day of the Tamil month of Karthigai. Devotees set up an altar with images of Lord Shiva and Lord Murugan, decorate it with flowers, and light rows of lamps symbolizing divine energy and enlightenment.
According to custom, 27 lamps should be lit in specific places:
Two at the entrance
Two in the hallway
One in the kitchen
Four at the back of the house
Two before the deities
One Ema Deepam for protection from untimely death
Additionally, five lamps are lit on Bharani Deepam, marking the spiritual beginning of the festival. Devotees also visit nearby Shiva temples, lighting lamps with cow ghee, and offering prayers for prosperity and well-being.
At Tiruvannamalai, the celebration reaches its divine climax when the Maha Deepam is lit atop Arunachala Hill, representing Lord Shiva’s eternal flame. Witnessing this sacred light is considered highly auspicious and spiritually uplifting.
While Karthigai Deepam is observed throughout the month, Thirukarthigai day holds the greatest significance, coinciding with the full moon (Pournami). The festival’s date changes each year based on the lunar calendar.
As lamps glow across Tamil Nadu, Thirukarthigai Deepam reminds devotees to light not just their homes, but their hearts – with faith, wisdom, and the eternal light of the divine.
The Tiruvannamalai Annamalayar Deepam Festival commenced with a special ritual and invitation ceremony at the sacred Sambandha Vinayagar Temple. Devotees gathered to seek blessings and mark the divine beginning of this grand spiritual celebration dedicated to Lord Annamalayar.
The Arunachaleswarar Temple will celebrate the Thirukarthigai Deepam festival this year with grand rituals and ceremonies. The festival begins on Karthigai month 8th day (November 24, 2025, Monday) with the traditional flag hoisting ceremony.
The highlight of the festival will be the lighting of the Maha Deepam on the Annamalai hill, which stands at 2,668 feet. This sacred event is scheduled for Karthigai month 17th day (December 3, 2025, Wednesday) at 6:00 PM, drawing thousands of devotees from across the country to witness the divine spectacle.
Festival Dates & Events
| Date | Day | Festival Details |
|---|---|---|
| 21.11.2025 | Friday | Arulmigu Durga Amma Utsavam |
| 22.11.2025 | Saturday | Arulmigu Pidhari Amma Utsavam |
| 23.11.2025 | Sunday | Arulmigu Vinayakar Sandikeswarar Utsavam |
| 24.11.2025 | Monday | Kodiyeram – Silver Vahanam, Simha Vahanam |
| 25.11.2025 | Tuesday | Golden Suriyaprabha Vahanam, Silver Indra Vimanam |
| 26.11.2025 | Wednesday | Silver Anna Vahanam |
| 27.11.2025 | Thursday | Silver Kamadhenu Vahanam |
| 28.11.2025 | Friday | Silver Rishaba Vahanam |
| 29.11.2025 | Saturday | Silver Ratham |
| 30.11.2025 | Sunday | Maha Ratham |
| 01.12.2025 | Monday | Pichandavar Utsavam, Horse Vahanam |
| 02.12.2025 | Tuesday | Kailasa Vahanam, Kamadhenu Vahanam |
| 03.12.2025 | Wednesday | Morning – Parani Deepam, Evening – Maha Deepam |
| 04.12.2025 | Thursday | Theppal Utsavam – Chandrashekar |
| 05.12.2025 | Friday | Theppal Utsavam – Parashakthi Amma |
| 06.12.2025 | Saturday | Theppal Utsavam – Subramaniyar |
| 07.12.2025 | Sunday | Arulmigu Sandikeswarar – Silver Rishaba Vahanam |
The grand Tiruvannamalai Annamalaiyar Temple Karthigai Deepam festival will begin with the Bandhakal Mukhurtham ceremony on 24th September 2025 (Purattasi month). The rituals will start early morning from 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM at the holy temple.
