The Maha Deepam

When it is lit

On Karthigai Deepam day, at dusk, the Maha Deepam is lit on the summit of Arunachala. The Tiruvannamalai District Administration gives the time as about 6 PM and says it can be seen “for many kilometres around the mountain”.

The lighting is coordinated with the temple below. The temple’s official history page says that at 6 PM on Karthigai Deepam, Ardhanarishvara is shown, the only time in the year. At that moment the flame from the Bharani Deepam is brought out and the lamp on the summit is lit.

The lamp

• The cauldron. A large metal cauldron, called the kopparai in Tamil, stands on the rocky summit (pictured above).
• The fuel. Wikipedia describes the cauldron as containing “tons” of ghee, and its Arunachala article speaks of ghee mixed with camphor. Devotees donate ghee for the Deepam through the temple.
• The wick. A large wick made of cloth.
• Who lights it. By long tradition, members of the fishing community known as Parvatha Rajakulam carry the materials up and tend the flame. This is a traditional role.
• How long it burns. The flame is kept alight on the summit for several days, replenished with ghee.

After the festival, the soot collected from the cauldron (deepa mai) is traditionally distributed to devotees as prasadam.

What it means

According to the Arunachala tradition, the Maha Deepam shows once more the column of fire in which Shiva appeared to Brahma and Vishnu, on the hill he became. See Legends of Arunachala.

Where to watch

Where	Pros	Cons
Temple courtyards facing the hill	The ritual moment, Ardhanarishvara darshan, direct line of sight	Entry controlled by passes and queues; extremely crowded
Girivalam road	Continuous views as you walk; festival atmosphere	Very crowded on the day
Open ground around town, rooftops of your hotel	More space; good for families	Further from the ritual
A day or two later	The flame is still burning; far fewer people	You miss the lighting moment

Climbing on Deepam day

The summit is closed to general climbing. On Karthigai Deepam a limited number of passes is issued so that some devotees can climb; how they are issued is announced each year. Don’t attempt the climb without a pass. The path is steep and rocky, and crowd safety on the hill is strictly managed.

Plan your trip

• Dates and countdown: Karthigai Deepam 2026.
• Rooms: book months ahead; see where to stay.
• Getting there: how to reach.