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| Tiruvannamalai temple,TN tripadvisor.in |
In 2025, the sacred town of Thiruvannamalai will observe its major annual festivals with the traditional devotion and large-scale participation that the temple of Arunachaleswarar is known for.
1. Karthigai Deepam Festival – November–December 2025
The Karthigai Deepam festival, the most important celebration at Thiruvannamalai, will fall in late November or early December 2025 depending on the appearance of the Karthigai Nakshatra.
Bharani Deepam (the lighting of the five-element lamp inside the temple) will take place in the early morning of the main festival day.
Maha Deepam on Arunachala Hill will be lit at around 6:00 p.m.on Dec 4,2025, marking the peak of the celebrations.
The entire ten-day festival (Deepam Brahmotsavam) will begin roughly nine days before the Maha Deepam, featuring daily processions, alankarams, and religious rituals.
2. Ratha Yatra – Nov. 30, 2025 (During the Deepam Brahmotsavam)
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| Tiruvannamalai therottam,TN .facebook.com |
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| Tiruvannamalai Rath Yatra, newindianexpress.com |
The grand Ratha Yatra (Therottam), where the procession deity is taken on the huge temple chariot around the four mada streets, takes place on Day 7 of the Deepam festival.
In 2025, it will occur two to three days before the Maha Deepam, depending on the alignment of the Tamil lunar calendar. The event attracts lakhs of devotees who pull the massive wooden chariot with long ropes around the town’s traditional car streets.
3. Festival Highlights of Nov 24 to December 4, 2025
Across the ten days, various themed processions will be held, including:
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| Silver Rishaba Vahana,Instagram.com |
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| Silver Rishaba Vahana,gkamesh.wordpress.com |
Silver Rishaba Vahanam (weighs about 200 kg,height 32 feet;taken out once a year.Main contributors are Nagarathar Community from Chetti Nadu. It is roughly 200 years old andis being maintained by the Nagarathars.
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| Tiruvannamalai,Simha Vahana,youtube.com |
Theerthavari and special abhishekams
The float festival will beheld between Dec4th and 5th ,2025.
Each day showcases a unique alangaram of Lord Arunachaleswarar and Goddess Unnamulai Amman.
In summary:
The highlight of Thiruvannamalai in 2025 will be the Karthigai Maha Deepam in late November–early December, preceded by the ten-day Brahmotsavam, with the Ratha Yatra occurring mid-festival. Devotees from across India and abroad are expected to gather in large numbers to witness the lighting of the sacred Maha Deepam atop Arunachala Hill.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karthikai_Deepam
Author: K. N. Jayaraman
