Karthigai Deepam 2017 Tiruvannamalai
When is Karthigai Deepam?
Karthigai Deepam 2017 Date - 2nd December 2017 (Saturday)
Karthigai Deepam, also known as Karthikai Vilakkidu in Tamil Nadu, is a festival of lights celebrated by Tamil Hindus. As per Tamil Solar calendar, it falls in the month of Karthik or Karthikai when Karthigai Nakshatra prevails during Ratrimana. Karthigai Deepam is also the time when Karthigai Nakshatra coincides with Pournami, Karthikai month's full moon day. In Karthigai Deepam, also called as Karthikai Deepam, people light the handmade oil lamps as it is considered auspicious. Karthigai Deepam 2017 Date is 2nd December 2017.
Karthigai Deepam is celebrated for three days in southern India, by the Hindus in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The first day is called Appa Karthigai, the second Vadai Karthigai and the final day is called Thiru Karthigai. The main puja is performed on the last day. A huge cauldron (a large metal pot with a lid and handle, used for cooking over an open fire) is lit on the hill top of Tiruvannmalai (Tamil Nadu) where all the devotees can be seen praying to Lord Shiva for prosperity and well being of their families.
Karthik month is considered an auspicious month for Hindus and it starts from the day of Diwali as per Tamil calendar, though it occurs much before than the Diwali festival of North India calendar.
Celebration of Karthigai Deepam festival at Thiruvannamalai Arunachaleshwara Swamy temple is often the most famous one and it is known as Karthikai Brahmotsavam. Karthigai Deepam festivity goes on for 10 days. The celebration starts with Dwajarohanam when Nakshatra Uthiraadam prevails at sunrise, it prevails mostly 10 days before the main Karthigai Deepam day.
Please do not confuse Karthigai Deepam with Bharani Deepam which is the inauguration ritual of Karthigai Deepam. Bharani Deepam is performed before sunrise at 4 a.m. Bharani Deepam day often falls one day before or on the same day of Karthigai Deepam. Bharani Deepam is performed when Bharani Nakshatra prevails inside the temple premises. Bharani Deepam is lit at 4 a.m. on the same day of Karthigai Deepam in most of the years and Karthigai Deepam is lit after sunset at 6 p.m. with the flame being taken from Bharani Deepam. Flame is carried at the top of the hill to light the Karthigai Maha Deepam in the evening.
Karthigai Deepam festival is known as Trikartika or Kartika Vilaku in Kerala and is held in the month of Vrichikam (November – December). Karthigai Deeepam is celebrated as Tirukarttikai in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa and other parts of the world with considerable Tamil population.
Online tickets for Karthigai Deepam darshan is made available on www.arunachaleswarartemple.tnhrce.in and www.tntemple.org. This year around 500 tickets, each costing Rs 500, would be available for 'Bharani Deepam' darshan. 1,000 tickets at a cost of Rs 500 each and 100 tickets at a cost of Rs 100 each would be available online to witness the Mahadeepam festival. Devotees, who book online ticket for Karthigai Deepam darshan must bring a photocopy of the ticket and an identity card while coming for darshan.
Karthigai Deepam Date
2017 - Saturday, 2nd of December2018 - Friday, 23rd of November
2019 - Tuesday, 10th of December
2020 - Sunday, 29th of November
2021 - Friday, 19th of November
2022 - Tuesday, 6th of December
2023 - Sunday, 26th of November
2024 - Friday, 13th of December
