Next: about 23 Nov 2026
Karthigai Deepam
The festival of lamps of Tamil Nadu, kept when the star Krittika meets the full moon, with rows of clay lamps at every door.
What is worn for Karthigai Deepam
Karthigai Deepam is the festival of lights of Tamil Nadu, kept in the month of Karthigai when the full moon falls on the star Krittika (the Pleiades). Rows of small clay lamps, agal vilakku, are lit at every door and window at dusk. At Tiruvannamalai, a great fire is lit on the top of the hill Annamalai at the end of the day. Women wear a new or fresh saree, often silk in the south, and light the lamps in the evening, and sweets such as appam and aval pori (puffed rice) are made. The date depends on the star and can differ by a day between calendars.
Also part of it, and being written: Kanchipuram sari (A silk saree is the festive standard in Tamil households.).
Written by the EveryPallu desk with AI assistance. Background: "Karthikai Deepam" on Wikipedia. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.