Karthigai Deepam Festival|Festivals in Tamil Nadu

The Karthigai Deepam festival is celebrated in the Tamil Month of Karthigai (November - December). It begins on Uttradam day with flag hoisting and goes on the nine days. In the early hours of the tenth day Bharani Deepam in five agantams will be lit in Arunachaleswarar's Sannithi. In the evening, the Pancha Murthis will be brought to the Katchi Mandapam. At dusk (Pradosha) the Karthigai day synchronizing with the full moon day, the deity, Ardhanareeswarar is taken out to this place with the five deepams, which are put in a big receptacle near the flug-stuff. Festivals in South India,Southindiaholidaytours.com,Festivals of Light,Annamalai Deepam Festival,Festivals in Tamil Nadu At the same time the beacon light on the hill is lit. The huge concourse of devotees from all parts of our country in a million voice raise a cry simultaneously "Harohara to Annamalai" which will rend the air. It is a sight for the Gods to see!

ROWS OF agal vilakkus in front of every house... this is the image that at once comes to mind when we think of Karthigai Deepam - the festival of lights that is celebrated throughout Tamil Nadu during the month of Karthigai (November-December). Not many of us are aware that it is one of the oldest festivals celebrated in the State, perhaps even before people began celebrating Deepavali and Navarathri. Festivals in South India,Southindiaholidaytours.com,Festivals of Light,Annamalai Deepam Festival,Festivals in Tamil Nadu Also, unlike many other Hindu festivals, Karthigai is basically a Tamil festival and is virtually unknown in most other parts of the country.

One of the earliest references to the festival is found in the Ahananuru, a book of poems, which dates back to the Sangam Age (200 B.C. to 300 A.D.). The Ahananuru clearly states that Karthigai is celebrated on the full moon day (pournami) of the Tamil month of Karthigai. It was one of the most important festivals (peruvizha) of the ancient Tamils. Avaiyyar, the renowned poetess of those times, refers to the festival in her songs.

Karthigai is essentially a festival of lamps. The lighted lamp is considered an auspicious symbol. It is believed to ward off evil forces and usher in prosperity and joy. While the lighted lamp is important for all Hindu rituals and festivals, it is indispensable for Karthigai.

Festival of Lights - This festival of lights lasts for three days. It is celebrated in a very colorful manner. People clean their houses, draw rangoli or kolams in their yards and put lamps on it.

There is an interesting story explaining the link between Karthigai and lamps. Legend has it that Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma began to quarrel as to who was the more powerful of the two. Festivals in South India,Southindiaholidaytours.com,Festivals of Light,Annamalai Deepam Festival,Festivals in Tamil Nadu While they were fighting, Lord Shiva appeared before them in the form of a huge pillar of fire. Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma gave up quarrelling and decided to find the top and the bottom of the pillar.

Accordingly, Brahma assumed the form of a swan and moved upwards. Vishnu transformed himself into a boar and started digging deep into the earth.

But even after searching for several years, neither of the two was able to find the ends the pillar. Finally, they realised that the pillar was none other than Lord Shiva.

Soon afterwards, Lord Shiva appeared as a hill (Arunachala Hill) at Tiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu. Indeed, the very names `Tiruvannamalai' and `Arunachala' translate as `holy fire hill.' The Shivalinga in the temple here is the agni linga.

The tiny lamps lit during the Karthigai festival (Karthigai Deepam) are believed to be the miniature replicas of the fire linga. Every year thousands of devotees from Chennai and elsewhere flock to Tiruvannamalai to see the spectacular Karthigai Deepam there.

It is believed that Lord Shiva once asked Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu to find out the accurate location of his head and feet. However, the larger than life form of Lord Shiva made it impossible for both the deities to locate these organs.

In order to help the lords of the lords Brahma and Vishnu, Lord Shiva incarnated the form of jyoti (light of fire) on the hill of Thiruvannamali and marked the birth of this festival.

And it is with this belief that Annamalai Deepam or the Karthigai Deepam is celebrated in a special manner in Thiruvannamalai.

Every year in Thiruvannamalai a special torch is lighted on the peak of the hill with a staunch belief that Lord Shiva's jyoti will one day be visible to the naked eyes.

Tours To South India - On Karthigai Deepam special pujas are offered to Lord Muruga also who is believed to have taken the form of six babies in a lake called "Saravana Poigai".

 

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