Karthigai Deepam.

Karthigai deepam is a festival of lights.Unlike in the north India where the festival of light is 'Diwali", in south, the fullmoon after the "Diwali" new moon is the festival of lights. Oil lamps are lit and placed inside and outside the house. Sesame oil and little lamps ('Diyas' 'Villakku') made of mud is only used for the occasion. This lighted small lamps are believed to ward off evil forces and usher in joy and purity. Almost all the temples (in south India) celebrate it in a grand manner illuminating the whole complex with such lamps. Still Thiruvannamalai temple and the huge beacon lamp that is lit on the hill top which is visible up to nearly 10miles is the special one. It is called 'Annamalai deepam'.

Here in this place Lord Shiva is said to have manifested himself in the form of a massive column of fire. The celebration starts right from the afternoon onwards on the day of Karthigai deepam. A portion of fire kept inside a container of baked earth is taken to the summit of the mountain. The main fire is lit in the form of lamp and called as 'Deepam' will be brought out of the inner shrine in a gait by the bearers .This 'Deepam' is believed to be a form of the lord Himself. And people in and around this temple village light lamps in their houses after seeing the beacon light on the hill is lit. This festival,signifying prosperity and purity, is celebrated in the tamil month of Karthigai, full moon day is thus a special event,is also an exclusive one in the state of Tamilnadu for it is less known in other parts of India ,and is one of the oldest festival too.