2021 Karthigai Deepam Festival: November 10, 2021 Day One—Hoisting of the Flag

 

The 2021 Karthigai Deepam Festival at Arunachala will be similar to that of the Deepam Festival of 2020, in that the Festival will have a limited number of devotees allowed into the Temple compound and Festival observances and processions will be low-keyed. Processions also will not take place around the perimeter of the Temple (i.e. Mada Vedhis) but instead smaller processions will occur around the prakarams inside the Temple Compound.

 

 

Early morning Wednesday, November 10, 2021 and the hoisting of the flag (kodietram) on the flagpost outside the Siva Sannidhi, Arunachaleswarar Temple.

Later that morning a procession of the Gods took place inside the Temple Compound.

 

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.

 

Significance of Navaratri: Shakti Temple Archives Tiruvannamalai

 

To read about the significance of the recently concluded Navaratri Festival, check out this link on my website here. 

 

To view archive photographs of the many Shakti Temples at Tiruvannamalai during the days of Navaratri, check out this link on my website here.

 

 

 

In line with the Shakti aspect of the Navaratri Festival, I have embedded an enjoyable video entitled "Evolution of Woman" below. Go to the "subtitles/closed captions" function at the bottom right of the video to access translation into English.

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.

 

Pre-Deepam: Day 1 Durgai Amman Temple—2021 Karthigai Deepam Festival

 

On Sunday November 7, the 2021 Karthigai Deepam Festival commenced at a function which included special abhishekam and procession at the Durgai Amman Temple, Chinnakadai Street, Tiruvannamalai.

 

2021 Karthigai Deepam Festival—Arunachaleswarar Temple Lights

 

Below are a series of photographs showing Arunachaleswarar Temple, Tiruvannamalai fully lit up in celebration of the 2021 Karthigai Deepam Festival at Arunachala.

 

2021 Navaratri Festival, Tiruvannamalai: Temple Alangarams and Kolu Displays

Each year Navaratri commences on the first day (pratipada) of the bright fortnight of the lunar month of Ashvin. The Navaratri festival or 'nine day festival' becomes a 'ten day festival' with the addition of the last day, Vijaya Dasami (day of victory) as its culmination.


In 2021 the dates of this Festival ran between Day 1, Thursday October 7 until Day 10 Vijaya Dasami Saturday October 16, 2021. The celebrations and attendance were limited in the first days at Tiruvannamalai Temples, however as a result of the ruling of a Chennai Court Case, Temples including Arunachaleswarar Temple were instructed to remain open for the last three days of the Festival. 

 

Alangaram of Goddess Saraswati

Origins of Navaratri

There is different mythology connected with this Festival. In one legend Mahishasura, the King of Demons started a war against the Gods. To combat him, the Gods combined their powers to give birth to 'Shakti'. The Goddess fought the demon for nine nights and on the tenth day, the Goddess slew it - thereby achieving victory over evil.


Another legend is that Goddess Uma the wife of Lord Siva and daughter of Daksha - the King of the Himalayas - is said to return home for ten days during Navaratri.


It is believed that Adi Shankaracharya gave upadesa at two primary locations during the installation of a Sri Chakra at Srisailam (Andhra Pradesh) and at Koolurmugambika (Karnataka). At the time of the installations he directed women folk to worship the Goddess and seek Her blessings for the wealth, prosperity and long life for their husbands and overall happiness in the family.


Navaratri is celebrated in many ways, depending on region, local history and family influences. Some see it as a way to commune with one's own feminine divinity. A widespread practice honours the Goddess in every woman by inviting young girls to the family's home and feeding and offering new clothes to the girls. During the Festival, women also perform tapas and selfless acts.



Kolu Displays

Families in Tamil Nadu traditionally prepare in their homes a Kolu, an exhibition of small dolls, figurines and artefacts on a stepped, decorated shelf. At least one murti of Shakti must be present, as well as wooden figurines of a boy and a girl together to invoke auspicious marriages.


For more information and details of the origins and significance of this Divine Festival visit my website at this link here.


To view unique, original photographs of the alangarams of the Divine Mother through each day of the Festival at a variety of Temples at Tiruvannamalai and spectacular Kolu displays at Yogi Ramsuratkumar Ashram and at the private house of Dr. K. Shanthi, Science Professor at Tiruvannamalai Arts College, visit Album archives at my website at this link here. 

 

Kolu Display at Dr. K. Shanthi's Home