Yesterday evening (Sunday, November 21, 2010) around dusk, approximately 6.05 p.m., the Deepam was lit on top of Arunachala.
Newspaper reports estimate that the number of devotees visiting Arunachala for the lighting of the 2010 Deepam to be around 17 Lakhs (1,700,000). With most of those devotees either viewing from Arunachaleswarar Temple, performing girivalam, climbing the Hill or attending functions at one of the many Ashrams throughout Tiruvannamalai.
This year I decided to take a nice silent Deepam and planned my evening accordingly. So around 5.00 p.m. my six doggies and I walked onto the Samudram Erie, giving a wide berth to the goats and cows grazing in the area, and headed for the spot that would give an excellent darshan of this glorious occasion.
We arrived at our 'spot' with time to spare and enjoyed the day becoming dusk and nearing the joyous moment of the Deepam lighting.
In anticipation of the moment of lighting, we could see and hear fireworks being set off throughout. Even though I was far from the crowds, I could sense a great feeling of excitement and anticipation in the air.
And the time has come, and there on top of our beautiful Arunachala, the light of the 2010 Deepam.
Shouts and cheers punctuated the dusk, and the darkening skies were momentarily lit by the light of numerous fireworks.
In the next photograph as well as fireworks, one can see in the background, the lights of the Arunachaleswarar Temple Gopuram.
And now its getting quite dark, and the Deepam light is bright in the clear skies.
And suddenly the full moon peeps out from a cloud cover, and the picture of the 2010 Arunachala Deepam, is complete.
Blessings of Arunachala Light and Grace to all. Wherever you are , may you receive its light of joyous inspiration.
