Karthikai Deepam is one of the most important festivals of South India. Karthikai Deepam is celebrated in Tamil Nadu on the full moon day of the Karthikai month. Special pujas are offered to
Lord Shiva,
Goddess Parvati and
Lord Muruga on this day. Karthikai Deepam is observed with great religious fervor in
Thiruvannamalai. It is also known as Annamalai Deepam. It is on this day that the huge beacon is lit on the holy
hill of Arunachala in
Tamil Nadu.
Karthikai Deepam is celebrated for three days. Houses are kept clean. Rangoli is drawn and lamps are placed on it. The lamps are kept in the puja room and are lit after the Deeparadhana and taken to various parts of the house. This is followed by fireworks. In some houses, the numbers of lamps are doubled every day from the day of Diwali and this way a number of lamps are seen lit on the day of Karthikai Deepam. Bonfires are lit in front of the temples in the evenings.
