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Celebrating the occasion of Thirukkaarthigai festival: Procedure to light the Karthigai special lamp
Posted on: 19/Nov/2021 11:32:20 AM
Hindus all over the world celebrate the sacred festival of Thirukkarthigai’ grandly with lights it up in the houses and prayers performed on the day when the ‘Full Moon Day’ occurs in the Tamil Calendar month of ‘Karthigai’!
This grandly celebrated festival, bringing light to life, is celebrated today (Friday. 19th November) this year (2021).
The very mention of the phrase ‘Karthigai Deepam’ brings to mind, the hugely popular ‘Thiruvannamalai Deepam’ festival, on the temple of Lord Arunachaleswarar, where the Maha Deepam’ is lit on the top of the Thiruvannamalai mountain
The various parts of the houses are beautifully lit and adorned with small deepens (made of clay, or metals) making a grand occasion for celebration!
Right from the entrance of the house, ‘Deepams’ are to be lit in every part of the house including the bedrooms. The tradition has that a total of 27 lamps are to be lit in the house! However, the residents in smaller places have to lit at least 3 lamps (deepens)!
Lamps come in various shapes and sizes and are made of different materials! They may be made of a combination of 5 metals (Panchalokam), silver, a sanding maid form, serial lamps, Kamakshi Lamp, (Kamakshi Vilakku), kuthuvilakku, Kodi Vilakku, Thoondamani Vilakku, and Agal Vilakku (earthen clay)!
The citizens can select and litany of the above the lamps as per their convenience and affordability!
Traditionally, the oils used for lighting the lamps include – a combination of 5 oils – neem oil, Iluppai Oil, (made from an Indian oil tree known as Mahua or iluppai (Biological Name - Madhukka), coconut oil, castor oil (known as Vilakku ennai), and ghee (clarified butter).
- The lamp should be kept on a plantain leaf or cow dung.
- Lamps can be lit in any direction except the south.
- Lighting the lamp in the direction of North brings knowledge, health, wealth, etc. It also removes evils that block the event of marriage.
- Lighting the lamp in the Eastern direction alleviates all the hardships and problems faced.
- Lighting the lamp in the Western direction relieves from problems such as debts and the evil effect of negative forces!
