Karthigai Deepam is a annual carnival celebrates in Lord Arunachaleswara Temple,Thiruvannamalai City,Tamilnadu State.Every year this Festival celebrates for 10 days which begins in the Uthiradam Star (Uttarashada Star in Telugu) day in the Tamil Month Karthigai(Karthika Masam in Telugu)[November/December] and ends in the Bharani Star Day. In this year 2012 the karthigai deepam carnival begins on 19-11-2012 and closes on 27-11-2012.
Significance of Karthigai Deepam :
During this festival the Deity of Lord Arunachaleswara is grandly decorated and procession take place in various Vahanams during morning seva and evening seva in the temple city.On the final day[Full Moon Day] of 10days grand Karthigai Deepam Festival, Karthigai Deepam will be ignited at the top of the Arunchala(Holy Hill) coinciding with the Full Moon.Devotees believed that the Real image of Lord Arunchaleswar is viewed in the appearance of Agni. During this holy day more than 10,00,000 devotees get this heavenly worship of Lord.
How the Karthigai Deepam Igniting Process Take Place at atop of the Holy Hill
A big brass vessel especially designed in the form of a Lamp shape is lifted to the peak of the Arunachal(Holy Hill).It is filled with tins and tins of Ghee and pots and pots of Butter and an enormously thick wick made of losely twisted woven fibres(clothes) is immersed into the vessel and one end of the wick is drawn out to the apex and is ignited with burning camphor around 6pm coinciding with the Full Moon.The luminous glow of the lamp atop of the hill opens the eyes of the Million devotees and uttering "Om Arunachaleswaraya Namah".The sacred Karthigai Deepam can be seen even from a distance of 45KM.