Karthikai

Karthikai, also spelled Kartikai or Karthikai, is a month in the Tamil calendar observed by Tamil-speaking communities in Tamil Nadu and other parts of South India, as well as by the Tamil diaspora. It typically falls between mid-November and mid-December in the Gregorian calendar. The name is linked to the Karthikai nakshatra, one of the lunar mansions used in traditional Hindu astronomy.

A major cultural and religious feature of Karthikai is the Karthikai Deepam festival, celebrated on the full moon night of the month. The festival centers on lighting lamps, or deepams, in homes and temples as a sign of auspiciousness and spiritual illumination. In many households, rows of oil lamps are placed around entrances and windows, and some families keep lamps burning throughout the night. Temples also participate with elaborate lighting displays and processions.

The most renowned observances occur in Tamil Nadu, where the festival is closely associated with temple rituals and regional legends. In Tiruvannamalai, for example, a large lamp is lit atop the Arunachala hill, symbolizing the fiery form of Lord Shiva and the emergence of the sacred jyotirlingam in local tradition. This event draws significant attention from pilgrims and visitors and is considered a highlight of the month’s celebrations.

Karthikai is also observed in other South Indian states and in Tamil communities abroad, where the tradition of lamp lighting and family prayers continues. The month marks a seasonal transition and is characterized by domestic rituals, seasonal foods, and cultural activities tied to light and renewal.