Tiruvanamalai festival

astilla

Hi there,

I have been told when I was in Rameswaram that there will be a special festival from the 1st to the 4th of December (I think it is called Deepam), and probably 6 more days?

Does anyone know for sure?

Has anyone been there once? As I was supposed at this date to leave Tamil Nadu for Kerala and going up towards Mumbai, and I am thinking of changing my way, I would like to be sure that it is really worth to do so?

If it is, won t it be too hard or impossible to find a room.

Many thanks in advance,

Isabelle

ananda2193

This link is all I can help you with.

http://www.geocities.com/tiruvannamalainet/festtvc.htm

Nick-H

Don't know much more about this than you do, but i have heard of this wonderous flame that appears in the hills on this occasion.

By coincidence, only yesterday I saw a picture in the newspaper of the 'cauldron' that they use as a massive oil lamp to produce this flame, and learnt a little more from the link in ananda2193's post.

Karthigai Deepam --- Karthigai is the name of the Tamil month which started a few days ago. Mrs N told me that, if I wanted to follow tradition I could put an oil lamp at the front of the house.

I don't know how to translate the dates from that site ie to relate The festival begins in the uthiradam (star) day in Karthigai and winds up with the Bharani Deepam lit in the early hours of the tenth day. to our Western calendar.

We need a Tamil Hindu. Hopefuly one will be along soon

By the way... welcome to IndiaMike

Oh, and that is a bog pilgrimage centre: I would expect it to massively crowded for this event.

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ananda2193

Here's a link to Hotels there. You can call them and ask them the exact dates. Good luck.

http://www.tiruvannamalai.net/hotels.html

fsg

Festival starts tomorrow 24/11, with the flag raising ends after 5th Dec. Each day there is some god or other or cart/silver nandi being taken round the temple.

7th or eighth day the big car is pulled round the town manually.

Bharani deepam is on 3rd with the flame lighting ceremony in the temple 4am, but if you want to see it you will have to queue from about 1 am.

Maha Deepam is 6pm 3/12 with the bramin lighting the flame which can be seen for about 20 k around.

You will be very lucky to get accommodation on night 2nd.

astilla

Many thanks guys...
This may make changing my mind, I will see on the way...

sudheer poppa

I would say if you get a chance, take it.. It would be one of those very special things you have observed in a lifetime..

And the temple in itself is one of the most peaceful temples I have been. Unlike the commercial circle of the other temples in Tamil Nadue, this one stands out as a gem of spirituality and aesthetics (hope I got the spelling right!)

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