Thiru Karthigai Deepam Festival - Tiruvannamalai Deepam

Thiru Karthigai Deepam is one of the famous festival celebrated by Hindus, which appeared in the tamil month of Karthigai and occuring during the Karthigai star. Hence this festival is called as Maha Karthigai or Thiru Karthigai festival. The festival is going to be celebrated on Thursday, December 11, 2008. This festival is celebrated with oil lamps and lights which denotes the removal of darkness (Ignorance) and enhancing of light (Intelligence). This festival is celebrated in all Hindu Temples. Especially, this festival is mainly dedicated to one of the holy place in South India Temple, Tiruvannamalai, abode of Lord Shiva which is called as Agni Shetram or Agni Sthalam (one of the five attributes called Panchaboothams). Hence, this festival is otherwise called as Tiruvannamalai Deepam, Maha Deepam, Arunachala Deepam, etc.

Video Clipping of Thiruvannamalai Maha Deepam

Also in Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple, this festival is celebrating every year very grantly. Lord Shiva and Meenakshi Amman take a procession in the decorated chariot in Rishaba Vahana. The most important thing behind this festival is "Chokkappanai". This chokkapanai will be burned in front of Lord Shiva and Goddess Meenakshi. After completion of the burning, the ash is taken and put in the forehead of Lord and Goddess. Finally the Deeparanda is performed to both Lord and Goddess.