Karthigai

Karthigai, also spelled Karthikai, is a calendar period in the Tamil traditional calendar used by people in Tamil Nadu and Tamil-speaking communities. It is a month typically falling in November to December of the Gregorian calendar, though the exact dates vary with the lunar cycle. The name is closely tied to the Tamil Hindu calendar and is observed in conjunction with religious and cultural practices throughout the Tamil-speaking world.

The most prominent festival associated with Karthigai is Karthigai Deepam. It is celebrated on the full moon night of the Karthigai month and is marked by the lighting of oil lamps in homes, temples, and public places. Lamps are often arranged in rows along walls and doorways, creating a bright display that lasts through the evening and night. The festival emphasizes the triumph of light over darkness and is considered a time to honor family, tradition, and spiritual reflection.

In Tamil Nadu, the festival is celebrated with temple ceremonies and processions, and it includes special prayers, almsgiving, and cultural activities. A notable feature of Karthigai Deepam is the ceremonial lamp lit atop the Arunachala hill in Tiruvannamalai, which can be seen from a distance and draws pilgrims from various regions. The lighting of lamps during Karthigai Deepam is widely observed in homes and communities beyond temples, reinforcing a sense of shared heritage and religious devotion.

Karthigai also appears in seasonal and liturgical contexts within Tamil Hindu practice, reflecting the month’s place in the annual cycle of rituals, harvest, and temple events.