Chennai: Amidst a downpour, the annual Karthigai Deepam festival unfolded in Thiruvannamalai, drawing thousands to witness the spectacle as a temple car paraded through the streets. The event, hosted at the Arunachaleswar Swamy temple and inaugurated with traditional flag hoisting on the 17th, spans ten days, leading up to the main celebration of Karthigai Deepam on November 26.

On the 6th day of the festival, a vibrant street procession featured 63 Nayanmars (Saiva Saints) in Chandrasekaraswamy’s silver chariot, accompanied by Panchamurthys in silver chariots. Despite the rain, young school boys enthusiastically carried small pallakkus containing the idols of the 63 Saiva Saints, reflecting the deep spiritual significance of the occasion and dispelling any notion of it being solely political. Undeterred by the weather, the Rathotsava or Temple car roll-out unfolded with Panchamurthys parading in Pancharatha (five temple cars), resonating with chants of “Har Har Mahadev.”

The festival's pinnacle, Karthigai Deepam, is set to commence on the 26th. The Bharani Deepam will illuminate the temple at 4 am, followed by Theerthavari at Sri Subramaniyar Brahma Theertha Kulam, and the grand Mahadeepam at the summit of the hills around 6 pm, marking the conclusion of the ten-day celebration.

In a departure from the norm, the HR and CE department of the DMK government announced increased ticket rates for witnessing the Deepam festival. Tickets for Bharani Deepam are priced at Rs. 500 each, while Mahadeepam tickets are set at Rs. 600 each for 100 people and Rs. 500 each for 1000 devotees. Critics argue that this move may deter devotees and signal a potential shift in the cultural landscape.

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