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 Karthigai Deepam Festival: Barani Deepam—Tenth Day

 

As these five flames loom up with red-yellow light, the famous South Indian festival of Karthigai Deepam officially begins. A single flame is then taken from the pots and kept burning in the Temple throughout the day as a symbol of the merging of manifestation back into God, the one source of all. This single flame is referred to as the Bharani Deepam.


Significance:

"There is immense significance in this ceremony called Bharani Deepam. At this time, the universal Lord manifests as the five elements, which will later fully merge to become one when the Krittika Deepam flame is lit in the evening. From one to many and many to one. This is the whole essence of Saivism and the meaning of Krittika Deepam." 

 

For live coverage of the Karthigai Festival visit the official Temple website You Tube Channel at this link here.

 

 

 

2021 Karthigai Deepam Festival: November 18, 2021—Ninth Day

The below photographs are of the Ninth Day of the 2021 Karthigai Deepam Festival. The God alangarams after worship and aarti are carried out of the Kalyana Mandapam (third prakaram) and taken upon a procession around the Temple prakarams.

 

2021 Karthigai Deepam Festival: November 16, 2021—Seventh Day

 

One of the most popular processions of the Arunachala Karthigai Festival is that of the seventh day and of the processions of the gigantic Maharadham and accompanying huge wooden chariots around the mada veedhis (perimeter streets) of Tiruvannamalai. In 2020 devotees were sad that health related restrictions of the Deepam Festival included a ban on all darshan and processions outside  the Temple. Sadly it was decided to continue this restriction in 2021.

 

Below are photographs of small chariots used on the seventh day of the 2021 Karthigai Deepam Festival inside Temple prakarams which were substitutes for the huge, magnificent chariots, devotees are more accustomed to.

 

Prior to the restrictions of the Karthigai Deepam Festival at Tiruvannamalai of 2020 and 2021, you can view full photographic archives of an earlier Festival here.

 

Generally (except for the restrictions of the last two years) the Deepam Festival follows the same daily programme. One hopes that next year 2022; Arunachaleswarar Temple will return to the regular Arunachala Karthigai Deepam Festival.

 

To look through an explanation of the calendar and significance of the various functions and rituals of each day of a more traditional year, visit my website at this link here.

 

2021 Karthigai Deepam Festival: November 15, 2021—Night Six

The programme for Night Six is usually an elaborate and beautiful ceremony of the Lord mounted on a Silver Chariot giving darshan and then taken upon procession of the mada veedhis (Temple perimeter streets). This year because no processions are occuring outside Arunachaleswarar Temple, the below photographs are of a simple procession around the Temple prakarams on Night Six of the 2021 Karthigai Deepam Festival.