Early morning on the 8th day of the 2015 Karthigai Deepam Festival, puja was performed to the cauldron before it started its long journey to the top of the Hill. Lovely Rukku, our Elephant was on hand to lend her own regal blessings to proceedings. As is traditionally the case the Cauldron was taken up the Hill by locals of the Fishing Caste.
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| The Cauldron after cleaning and painting |
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| Lovely Rukku, adding her own substantial Blessings to the proceedings |
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| After Puja, the long journey starts to the top of Arunachala |
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| Leaving the Temple at the Pey Gopuram Gate (West Gate) |
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| The men of the Fishing Caste on their way to the top of the Hill |
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| Their long haul upward |
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| The Wick for the Cauldron, at the Temple waiting to be transported up the Hilll |
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| Just a small part of the ghee that will be used in the Cauldron over the Festival |
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| Some devotees choose to purchase ghee directly from a Temple Shop |
