Because of complications connected with pandemic restrictions, the 2020 Karthigai Deepam Festival currently underway at Tiruvannamalai, is being celebrated only in the confines of Arunachaleswarar Temple. There are no processions on the Mada Veedhi Streets, there will be no Maharadham circumambulation on the Deepam 7th Day, and Theppal celebrations will take place at Brahma Teertham inside the Big Temple rather than its traditional venue i.e. Ayyankulam Tank in front of Arunagirinathar Temple (the 3rd most famous Shiva Temple at Tiruvannamalai).
Traditionally each day and night during the Deepam Festival is dedicated to a specific God's Vahana, this year that is not the case probably because some Vahanas are too large or ungainly to navigate the restricted spaceways inside the Temple Prakarams.
Shortly after completion of this year's Festival, an archive of the whole of the 2020 Karthigai Deepam will be posted on Arunchala Samudra website. In the meantime you might like to refer back to an archive (posted on Arunachala Samudra) of the Karthigai Deepam Festival and review a more traditional observance of this Festival with information about the significance of each day.
