Wednesday, 3 December 2025
On 3rd December 2025, Ramakrishna Math, Madurai celebrated Karthikai Deepam, a significant festival of lights observed on the full moon day of the Tamil month of Karthikai (which falls in November-December). The festival is dedicated to Lord Shiva, who is believed to have manifested as a column of fire on this day.
The event began with a special Arati to Arunachaleshwar (a form of Lord Shiva associated with the Arunachala Hill in Tiruvannamalai). A photo of Arunachaleshwar was placed inside the shrine for devotees to offer their prayers.
At 6:00 PM, a Deepam (sacred lamp) was lit in the prayer hall, symbolizing the divine light and its presence in all aspects of life. This beautiful ritual marked the beginning of the evening's celebration, creating an atmosphere filled with spiritual energy.
Following the lighting of the lamp, devotees joined in singing Namavalis (devotional chants) in praise of Lord Shiva, which continued until 6:30 PM. The singing of these sacred names filled the prayer hall with devotion and reverence, bringing the celebration to its spiritual peak.
After the regular Arati at 6:30 PM, Bhajans were sung, and the session continued until 7:30 PM. The spiritual energy and devotional songs created a deeply reverent atmosphere, uplifting the hearts of all present.
