Thiru Karthigai Deepam, the festival of lights, is celebrated every year in the Tamil month of Karthigai (mid November – mid December). Karthikai Deepam falls on the full moon day of the Karthigai month, coinciding with Krithikai star. In 2023, Karthigai Deepam Festival falls on 26 November.
Karthigai Nakshathra (Karthika Nakshatram) will begin at 2:05 PM on 26th November 2023 and will end at 1:35 PM on 27th November 2023.
Karthigai Deepam Festival
Lamps are lit in front of the house in the morning and evening, throughout the month. On the Thirukarthikai day, the entire house is decorated with the oil lamps. This festival of lights indicates the removal of darkness (ignorance) and enhancing of light (intelligence).
The Ritual
On Thirukarthigai, people clean their houses and draw kolams (rangoli) in the front of the house. The lamps are then placed on it. Before that, the lamps (Agal) are placed in the pooja and lighted. Deeparathana is done and the lamps are kept in different places in the house.
People of Tamil Nadu celebrate Karthigai Deepam for three days. Some people celebrate it, extending from the Deepavali festival. The number of lamps is doubled every day from the day of Diwali and they end up with numerous lamps on the day of Karthigai Deepam.