Tiruvannamalai

For our last weekend in India we decided to visit Tiruvannamalai, we were particularly fortunate to arrive during Karthikai Deepam. The most important festival of the Annamalaiyar temple (main temple in Tiruvannamalai) is celebrated during the Tamil month of Karthikai, between November and December, concluding with the celebration of Karthikai Deepam. A huge lamp is lit in a cauldron, containing three tons of ghee, at the top of the Annamalai hills during the Deepam. To mark the occasion, the festival deity of Annamalaiyar circumambulates the mountain. Every full moon, tens of thousands of pilgrims worship Annamalaiyar by circumambulating the Annamalai hill barefoot. The circumambulation covers a distance of 14 kilometres (8.7 mi), and is referred as Girivalam. According to Hindu legend, the walk removes sins, fulfils desires and helps achieve freedom from the cycle of birth and rebirth. Rows of Agal vilakkus (oil lit lamps) are lit in every house. Karthigai is essentially a festival of lamps and it is believed to ward off evil forces and usher in prosperity and joy.

We arrived in Tiruvannamalai at 4.30pm and had to get off bus way out of town and walk as there were thousands of people walking the pilgrimage (2 million estimated overall this year). Arrived outside the temple for 6pm to watch the fireworks and the cauldron being lit. Had dinner, waited for the rest of our party and set off about 9pm. We walked in a giant circle on a road surrounding the mountain with thousands of pilgrims. Lots of shops selling food, goods and cows. Arrived back at the start at 2am and had to wait for everyone to catch up. Feel asleep outside the building where our bags were stored and woke up at 4am when everyone else arrived. 

We were invited to stay at Satish's girlfriend's house about 30 minutes away by bus. However, we didn't manage to get on a bus as they were full by the time they reached us with people running and jumping on the sides and roof. Managed to get 8 adults in a single tuc-tuc and crawled into bed at 6am. Visited the temple during daytime on Sunday morning and luckily met an elephant!! 

Agal vilakkus

Small section of pilgrims

Annamalaiyar temple

Not a great shot but just to show that many people also walk up the mountain (using their phones etc for light) to the caludron at the top. From where I was sat it looked like a river of stars.

Nothing says "I love my God" like a giant replica made of LED bulbs. 

Annamalaiyar temples with the mountain peak in the background where the cauldron is.

Elephant!!