Karthigai Deepam

Karthigai Deepam is one of the oldest and important festivals of South India. It falls in the Tamil month of Karthigai.

The legend has it that once Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu challenged Lord Shiva who is said to be adi-less and mudi-less and vowed to see His head and feet. Lord Shiva had taken the form of a flaming light whose ends could not be fathomed. While Lord Brahma took the form of a swan and flew higher and higher in the sky to reach the top of Lord Shiva's head, Lord Vishnu transformed into a boar, dug the earth deeper and deeper to get to Lord Shiva's feet. Neither of them was successful. Thus it was established that Lord Shiva has no beginning or end, even in form.

It is said the very hills of Annamalai in Tamil Nadu was once the flaming light which Lord Shiva took form of. Thus even today, the hill is converted into a gigantic lamp: a large quantity of oil is poured, a long and thick wick made of many measures of cloth is prepared. The lamp is lit on the last day of the ten-day festival. The light could be seen from very far. This is called Annamalai Deepam.

It was in this month of Karthigai that Lord Muruga was born and has taken the name Karthikeya.

On this day, people clean their houses and draw Rangoli in front of their houses and in the evening place lamps (called agal) on it. The entire house is also decorated with the agals. It is a great feast to the eyes to watch the entire street with houses lined with lamps.

Sweets like pori urundai (a ball made of puffed rice and jaggery) and appam (an oil-fried dish made of flour and jaggery) are made and distributed among the neighbours.

Since this festival is an extension of Diwali, crackers are also fired during the night.