Braving rain, lakhs witness Maha Deepam in Tiruvannamalai

Around 20 lakh devotees braving continuous rain witnessed Barani and Maha Deepams that were lit on the concluding day of the 10-day annual festival at Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple in Tiruvannamalai on Friday. Chants of Annamalaikku Arogara rent the air during lighting of both the deepams.

The Barani Deepam was lit inside the Arunachaleswarar temple at the auspicious time of 4 am and the Maha Deepam was lit around 6 pm atop the Annamalai hill.

The devotees who turned up to see the Barani Deepam lighting were allowed inside the temple from as early as 2 am. After completion of the rituals at the temple, the Barani Deepam was lit at 4 am along with Panchamuga Deepams. The lighted Deepam was brought out of the sannadhi and taken to various shrines.

Later, through the Vaikunda Vaasal, the Deepam was brought back and shown to the hill top where the Maha deepam was later lit in the evening.

The Deepam was also taken to the Amman sannadhi, where Panchamuga Deepams were lit. It was finally placed at the Kala Bairavar sannadhi. Once the morning ritual was over, devotees were cleared from the temple premises and the preparations for Maha Deepam started.

Scores of devotees started the girivalam walk from the early hours itself. Many were seen taking cover under umbrellas and during the girivalam as rain was pouring non-stop in the town and its periphery. Police personnel posted on security and crowd regulation duty ensured that there was no chaos on the 14-km girivalam path. Owing to the massive turnout, devotees were not able to commence the girivalam from the Rajagopuram, which would be the usual starting point. However, the devotees started the perambulation and returned to the same spot from where they started the 14-km walk.

In the evening, prior to the lighting of the Maha Deepam at 6 pm, devotees started thronging the temple premises. The panchamurthys – Vinayagar, Murugar, Arunachaleswarar, Parasakthi Amman and Chandikeswarar were brought in decorated gold vahanams (mounts), one after the other to the deepa mandapam for devotees to have a darshan.

A few minutes before 6 pm, Lord Chandikeswarar was brought for public view and after he was taken inside, the Akanda Deepam was lit in the temple. Simultaneously, the Maha Deepam was lit atop the Annamalai hill.

Fireworks were burst to mark the grand event of the 10-day annual festival. Immediately lamps were also lit in houses. The entire temple was festooned and illuminated with colourful decorative lights.