Karthikai Deepam
| Karthikai Deepam (கார்த்திகை விளக்கீடு) Karthigai Vilakkidu కార్తిక దీపం |
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Agal vilakku (oil lamps) during the occasion of Karthigai Deepam
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| Observed by | Tamil Malayali Telugu |
| Significance | Formation of Arumugam (Murugan) |
| 2016 date | 12 December 2016 |
| 2017 date | 02 December 2017 |
| Homemade karthikai deepam firework (கார்திகை சுற்று) | |
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| Label Details | |
| A | The 3 twigs which hold the charcoal pack |
| B | The exposed charcoal to ignite easily |
| C | The layered charcoal packed in jute sack pieces |
| D | The rope binding |
| Height | Height might vary from 10 inches to 12 inches or more |
| Width | 3 to 4-inch width of the charcoal package |
Karthikai Deepam or Karthikai vilakkidu is a Tamil hindu, . The festival is observed in most Hindu homes and every temple of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, and falls in the month of Kārttikai (mid-November to mid-December) as per Tamil calendar. This occurs on the day when the moon is in conjunction with the constellation Karthigai (Pleiades) and pournami. This constellation appears as a group of six stars in the firmament in the shape of a pendant from the ear. In Kerala, this festival is known as Thrikkarthika.
Many legends and lyrical poetry have grown round this star. The six stars are considered in Indian mythology as the six celestial nymphs who reared the six babies in the saravana tank which later were joined together to form the six faced Muruga. He is therefore called Karthikeya, the incarnation of lord Shiva as his second son after lord Ganesha. Stories tells lord shiva created Muruga from his 3rd eye of six primary faces (Tatpurusam, Aghoram, Sadyojatam, Vamadevam, Eesanam, Adhomukam). Stories tells the six forms made into six child and each of them brought up by the six Karthigai nymphs and later merged into one by his mother Parvati.
While merging he also formed into a six faced (Arumugam and twelve handed god. The Lord muruga is also portrayed with his six plays and worshiped with six names.
As the six nymphs helped in growing the six child, lord shiva blessed immortality to the six nymphs as ever living stars on the sky. Any worship performed to this six stars is equal to worshiping lord muruga himself. They are worshiped by lit up with rows of oil lamps (Deepam) in the evening of the festival day around the houses and streets. Karthikai Deepam is also known as Kartikeya, or Muruga's birthday.
Other Mythological Stories and Literature on this 6 stars Pleiades in folklore and literature.
One of the earliest references to the festival is found in the Aganaanooru, a book of poems, which dates back to the Sangam Age (200 B.C. to 300 A.D.). The Aganaanooru clearly states that Karthigai is celebrated on the full moon day (pournami) of the month of Karthigai, as per South Indian calendar. It was one of the most important festivals (peruvizha) of the ancient Tamils, including now the areas of modern Kerala too. Avaiyyar, the renowned poet of those times, refers to the festival in her songs. Karthikai Deepam is one of the oldest festivals celebrated by Tamil people. The festival finds reference in Sangam literature like Akanaṉūṟu and the poems of Auvaiyar. Karthigai is referred in Sangam literature as Peruvizha.
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