Arunachala Karthigai Deepam Lighting—Friday November 19, 2021

The below photographs are of the lights of Arunachala starting with small deepams inside the Temple compound, the lighting of the Deepam on the Hill summit and thereafter darshan of the light on Arunachala from the rooftops of Tiruvannamalai. 

Below there is also an extended video with commentary and footage of the actual lighting of the Deepam Cauldron on the Arunachala summit and a video of the celebrations of Tiruvannamalai. 

Lighting of the 2021 Karthigai Deepam, Tiruvannamalai

The 2021 Arunachala Karthigai Deepam

An extraordinary photograph circulating amongst Arunachala devotees, many of whom believe shows the manifestation of Lord Siva at the time of the lighting of the 2021 Karthigai Deepam

First appearance from distance of the 2021 Arunachala Deepam at 6.05 p.m. Friday 19 November

2021 Arunachala Deepam

Extended video with commentary of the lighting of the Deepam Cauldron on Arunachala Summit

Celebrations in Tiruvannamalai of 2021 Karthigai Deepam of Tiruvannamalai devotees

    

God Alangarams at Arunachaleswarar Temple—Day 10, Karthigai Mahadeepam

The below photographs are of the God alangarams at Arunachaleswarar Temple for the day of Karthigai Deepam, Friday November 19, 2021

 

Beautiful Floral Decorations inside Arunachaleswarar Temple—Day 10, Karthigai Mahadeepam

The below photographs show some of the beautiful and elaborate decorations created inside Arunachaleswarar Temple for the day of Karthigai Deepam, Friday November 19, 2021.

 

2021 Journey of Deepam Cauldron

A short video of the 2021 Karthigai Deepam Cauldron starting its journey to the top of Arunachala. Puja was performed inside Arunachaleswarar Temple and thereafter the consecrated Cauldron was carried out of the Pey Gopuram (West Gate), carried across the street and unto the tract running through outlying streets and houses on the slope of Arunachala. The Cauldron will then be carried past various hill caves and shrines like Virupaksha Cave and onto the open Hillside—ever upward to the summit of Arunachala.

2021 Karthigai Deepam Festival: November 13, 2021—Night Four

The below photographs are of Night 4 of the 2021 Karthigai Deepam Festival celebrated at Arunachaleswarar Temple and in particular shows the procession and darshan of the Gods in the Temple prakarams.

 

 

Pre-Deepam Day 3: Vinayaka Utsavan—2021 Karthigai Deepam Festival

On Tuesday November 9, the third day of the Pre-Deepam Festival Vinayaka Utsavam was observed at Arunachaleswarar Temple.

 

Pre-Deepam Day 2: Pidari Shrine—2021 Karthigai Deepam Festival

 

On Monday November 8, the second day of the Pre-Deepam Festival was observed at the Pidari Shrine, 3rd Prakaram, Arunachaleswarar Temple.

 

Arunachaleswarar Temple—Karthigai Deepam Festival 2021: Temple Admission Information

 

According to guidelines issued by the Tamil Nadu State government and the District authority in consideration of the Covid situation, Arunachaleswarar Temple authority issued Admission tickets for devotees for the Karthigai Deepam Festival.

 

The Temple issued 3000 tokens for local devotees and 10,000 tokens for devotees from other Districts and States. Thus a total of 13,000 devotees who have been issued Admission tokens will be allowed inside the Temple from November 7, 2021 to November 23, 2021 except for the dates Wednesday 17 November, 2021 to Saturday 20 November, 2021.

 

The Deepam festival started on November 7, 2021 with the Durgai Amman Utsavam and ends on November 28, 2021 with Sri Chandikeswar procession—the Festival is thus celebrated for a total of 17 days.

 

Karthigai Deepam Panthakal Function: Friday, November 19, 2021

 

Karthigai Deepam (which is also known as Karthigai Brahmotsavam Festival) will be celebrated this year at Arunachala on Friday, November 19, 2021. This grand festival is inaugurated two months previously with an event of the planting of the Panthakal pole. In 2021 this occurred on Thursday, September 16, 2021.

 

The Panthakal pole was kept near the shrine of Lord Sambandha Vinayagar where Abhishekham was performed. The panthakal was then dressed with a special cloth and garlands and planted near the front of the Raja Gopuram, the principal eastern doorway of Arunachaleswarar Temple Compound.

 

As well as blessing the front of the Temple—outside the Raja Gopuram, priests also blessed the newly renovated Maharadham chariot and other vehicles which will be used during processions in the upcoming 2021 Karthigai Deepam Festival. 

 

The below photographs are of the Panthakal Function which was performed on Thursday, September 16, 2021 at Arunachaleswarar Temple to mark the official beginning of the rituals and ceremonies preceding the Karthigai Festival (Mahadeepam is Friday, November 19, 2021).