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New Moon Day on the Tamil month ‘Thai’ Special Abhishekhams performed at Thiruvannamalai temple

The New Moon Day falling in the Tamil Calendar month of ‘Thai’ is considered traditionally as a very sacred occasion in the Tamil Hindu culture.

So, on this New Moon Day in the month of Thai this year, on the ‘pradosham’ day, special abhishekhams were performed on the Nandhis located in the 5 corridors of the temple at the Thiruvannamalai Lord Arunachaleswarar Temple and later, Deeparadhanai was also performed.

The deity of Pradosha Nayakar offered Darshan to the devotees on the special carriage of Golden Rishabham (bull or Nandhi).

After the deity of Lord Periyanagar and Goddess Parasakthi Amman offered Darshan to the 5 Nandhis on 16th January (Mattuppongal, Thursday) with this event known as ‘Thiruvoodal Utsavam’ the deity of Lord Periyanayagar was carried out along with the deities of Goddess Parasakthi Amman and Saint Manickavasagar to offer Darshan to the Sun God as the first round of the Pongal events.

Today (Friday, 10th January), ‘Arudra Darisanam’is celebrated. ‘Maha Abhishekham’ will be performed in the morning on the main deities of Lord Nataraja and His Consort Sivakama Sundari y at the ‘1000-pillars’ Mandapam (Aayiramkaal Mandapam) located at the 5th corridor of the temple. After this, Deepa mai’ (The burnt black ash after the burnt wick) was applied on the deity of Lord Nataraja and then was distributed to the devotees.

At 9.00 AM, Maha Deeparadhanai’ was be performed on the deities – Sivakamasundari and Lord Nataraja.

After this, the deity will be taken on a procession on the corridor streets via the ‘Thirumanjana Gopuram’.

Pilgrims believe that by worshipping at the Arunachaleswarar temple at Tiruvannamalai and go Girivalam on the new moon day will get the blessings of the Lord abundantly. The 14 km-long Girivalam path around the Arunachala hill in Tiruvannamalai district that is treaded by lakhs of devotees every month on full moon days. Special buses are operated on this day from various important places of Tamil Nadu.

Every full moon day of the month Girivalam is undertaken by the pilgrims. For this month the temple authorities have given the Girivalam timing as below:

Girivalam Day – 10th January 2020

Girivalam Timing: 09th January 2020 – 02:48 AM (Thursday) to 10th January 2020 – 1:49 AM (Friday)