Karthigai Deepam is a Hindu festival which is celebrated mainly by Tamil, Telegu, Srilanka and Malayali Hindus . The day of Karthigai Deepam is fixed based on Tamil Solar Calendar. It falls in the month of Karthikai when Karthigai Nakshatra prevails during Ratrimana. This is also the time when Karthigai Nakshatra coincides with Pournami, the full moon day in the month of Karthikai.
Procedure to be followed in Karthigai Deepam
- Start making preparations for the festival. On this day, people make a variety of preparations. A couple of them consist of puffed rice and jaggery – nel pori urundai and arasi pori urundai. Apart from these, people also prepare nei appam, adai, adrisam and payasam.
- Clean the house and start decorating the floor at the entrance and in the temple area with Kolams/rangoli.
- Add kumkumam and chandanam to main lamp in the temple of your home along with the maavillakku that you had prepared, and light all the earthen lamps.
- Do the puja to Lord Shiva/Lord Vishnu and offer flowers.
- Offer incense, and do the Deeparadhanai. Then, place the agal villaku (earthen lamps) in different rooms, at the main entrance and every part of the house facing east.
Karthigai Deepam at Arunachaleshwara Swamy temple
Karthigai Deepam festivities at Thiruvannamalai Arunachaleshwara Swamy temple are the most famous one and popularly known as Karthikai Brahmotsavam. Karthigai Deepam festivity at Thiruvannamalai temple spans for 10 days. The celebration begins with Dwajarohanam on the day when Nakshatra Uthiraadam prevails at sunrise. Most of the time, Nakshatra Uthiraadam prevails 10 days before the main Karthigai Deepam day. Karthigai Deepam should not be confused with Bharani Deepam which is inaugural ritual of Karthigai Deepam. Bharani Deepam is done before sunrise at 4 a.m. . Bharani Deepam day falls one day before or on the same day of Karthigai Deepam. Bharani Deepam is lit inside the temple premises when Bharani Nakshatra prevails. In most years Bharani Deepam is lit at 4 a.m. on the same day of Karthigai Deepam. Karthigai Deepam is lit after sunset at 6 p.m. with the flame taken from Bharani Deepam. In the evening flame is carried at the top of the hill to light the Karthigai Maha Deepam.