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I came this year under Holy Arunachala sooner to see festival Kartigal Deepam. Milions pilgrims are comming to see this special festival. Also temple elefant is leaving temple and visit streets of Tiruvannamalai city.
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People are greeting their Gods in chariots. Gods are occasionally leaving the main temple and visiting people in city. One day of this festival is dedicated only to such visits.
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This chariot belongs to God Siva , the Holy hill Arunachala in Tiruvannamalai is His personification and people call him Annamalai.
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Great chariots must be driven by robust chains. One chain is for men and the second one is for women. Every hindu wish to pull his favorite God's chariot.
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The chariot of the God Siva is covered by rain of yellow flowers. This phenomenom apeears when auspicious event take place.
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The festival culminate before Full Moon, when big fire from butter is lit on the top of Arunachala. This fire remind begining of Universe by Siva Purana. All pilgrims wait for this moment and burn their own fires.
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All Indians love fire, lamps. Deepam is festival of light and happiness.
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This fire upon the top of th Hill burns for eleven days. It is lit for the first time one day before Full Moon, next night is most auspicious to make a pigrimage around holy Arunachala.
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Fire ceremony is most important hindu rite. Devotees prepare presents, which are sent to Gods through fire god Agni.
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Arunachala in time of Full Moon in january. One month passed from Deepam time, there is New year and festival Pogal is slowly comming.
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Pradakshina starts at the end of the day and many pilgrims circle the Hill.
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Many Asramas celebrate Sri Raman birthday. My Athithi Asram is not exception. Special God Siva ceremony take place in meditation hall since early morning. Sri Ramana is considered to be human form of Arunachala and God Siva himself.
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Part of Sri Ramana birdthday celebrtion is feeding sadhus. About one hundred sadhus are waiting behind Asram gate or beginning of their feast.
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This feast is religious ceremony, hosts honour the poor Sadhus with food, the brings their wisdom obtained by austerity.
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Festival Pongal starts, there is many family and social rituals. Rangolis - coloured painting are everywhere.
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Families cook holy Tamil food - pongal. It is mix of rice and lentils, prepared salty or sweet. Pongal for this festival is sweet.
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Sugar cane belongs to Pongal as well as tree to christmas. But this tre you can eat.
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One day of Pongal festival is dedicated to cows. We are celebrating this day in brahmin school few kilometers from city.
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Honoured person is happy mother with her small calf few days old.
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The special event in front of main temple in Tiruvannamalai. Gods leaves the tempe again to meet their devotees.
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Beautifull example of folk art for one day.
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Children are very good object for photographer, especialy small girls.
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I met the cheapest car on the way around the Hill. It is Tata Nano and is costs 2000 USD. My new bike with gear is next to Nano, it cost 120 USD
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Next stop is close to my favorite atraction - special temple of God Siva - Idukkupillayar
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My next visit in school took place in holiday time. There was no chanting, just taking cows to pasture and resting.
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Next Full Moon time is here.
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Big pancake in my favorite restaurant.
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Maha Siva Ratri is comming, it is great Siva night - Siva marriage with his wife Paravati. I met my sadhus friends.
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Preparation of colorful mandalas from salt. These pictures shows scenes from God Siva life.
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Great Siva night is here. Oil lamps are everywhere, concerts, dancing and chanting mantras takes place around all temples for all the night.
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I let to make feast for sadhus for my father 75th birthday just after Siva ratri.
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It was my small remote greeting to my father for his jubilee.
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Honoured hosts living asketic life to gain highest wisdom and freedom.
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I met two fortunetellers on Full Moon in March. The parrot took card for me and choosed all gods picture for me.
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Morning view of Arunachala in sunrise time.
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Another view Arunachala with halo from Sun rays.
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This charming grandmam sells banana and biskit on the way to Skanda Asramam.
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Swami picture with a dog staying close to dakshinamurti temple next to Sri Ramanasramam.
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