TIRUVANNAMALAI: Around 10 million devotees witnessed lighting of Karthigai Mahadeepam atop 2668 ft Tiruvannamalai Hills on Sunday.
As the festival coincided with a holiday, crowd turned out in huge numbers in comparison to the previous years during the Mahadeepam festival. Earlier, Bharani Ddeepam was lighted inside the temple at four in the morning, to symbolise the unification of five elements.
Thickly packed devotees inside the temple had a glimpse of light on the earthen lamp. Then in the evening, Karthigai Maha Deepam festival began near golden flag mast inside Annamalayar temple. Singer Veeramanidasan was singing devotional songs and hymns preparing the mood of the crowd for the mega event.
First, idols of Vinayagar, Murugar, Annamalayar, Unnamulayamman and Chandikeshwarar were taken out from the temple and placed on the mandapam in front of flag mast. Just before the climax event there was a light drizzle. Then at exactly 6 pm deity of Ardhanareeshawarar came out dancing forcibly for a moment.
Simultaneously, Aganda Deepam in front of flag mast and five torches were lighted. On seeing the torches lighted in the temple, men at the peak of the mountain lighted the Maha Deepam, a cauldron with around 3 tonne ghee in it.
The moment Maha Deepam was lighted people enigmatically chanted ‘Annamalayanukku Arogara’ and all the lights were switched on.
People revered the deepam on the hill, which would be visible around 30 km radius. While a few thousand privileged devotees were witnessing the rituals inside the temple many in lakhs were performing girivalam, coming round the hill traversing 14 km path.
