Karthigai Deepam 2023 falls on 26 November on a Sunday.
Karthigai Deepam is one of the important festivals that is celebrated in south India, especially Tamil Nadu. Karthigai Deepam is celebrated in the Tamil month of Karthigai, which falls between mid-November- December.
Significance of Karthigai Deepam
Karthigai deepam holds a great significance in Hindu mythology and is celebrated with utmost devotion, joy and happiness.
The legend says that to prove their supremacy lord Vishnu and lord Bramha were in argument. Lord Shiva appeared in front of them and said that one who can reach the beginning and end of the lord Shiva is supreme. Lord Vishnu took the form of a boar and drug the soil, but after a while, he was exhausted and gave up. However, lord Brahma lied to Shiva saying that he had seen the top. Lord Shiva the supreme power to show his supremacy emerged as the form of Fire and cursed lord Brahma.
The place where he took the form of the fire to prove his supremacy is Thiruvannamalai- the fire mountain.
Karthigai Deepam is celebrated grandly at Thiruvannamalai as a ten-day festival. Devotees visit the Thiruvannamlai temple during this period and seek the blessings of the lord Arunachala. The Thirukarthigai Deepam is also celebrated in Shivan temples and Murugan temples throughout Tamil Nadu.
Thirukarthigai is the festival where many lamps are lit in the house, it signifies the defeat of the darkness by the positive bright light.
How to Worship
The household is cleaned and the pooja room is cleaned and decorated with flowers and light. The agal vilakku or the mud lamps are purchased and are made ready to be lit. on the day of karthigai Deepam in the morning, the Bharani lamp is lit in the household before 6 am. At 6 pm the entire house is illuminated with mud lamps and the deity is worshipped.
Mavilakku mavu, aval pori, fruits and others are offered as neivaithiyam to the deity.
Benefits of worshipping on Karthigai Deepam:
Karthigai deepam worship brings positivity and auspiciousness in families.Removes darkness in lives and brings a light of positivity
All the wishes get fulfilled.
All the boons of the worshipper are bestowed.
Happy Karthigai Deepam!🪔