Kaarthigai Deepam

As already mentioned in many of my articles, India is a place with lot of culture irrespective of caste, creed and socialism. Each place from east to west and north to south is unique having its own custom and rituals. So yesterday "Karthigai Deepam" was celebrated in South India mostly in the state called Tamil Nadu. Karthigai Deepam is also called as "festival of lights ".

Karthigai is a month as per Tamil solar calendar and Deepam is to light the Diyas. It is usually celebrated for 3 days. As per Hindu mythology this festival is celebrated during this month because the karthigau Nakshatra ( meaning stars) coincides with pournami (the moon) and this is said to be the full moon day of the month.

There are so many stories related to Lord Shiva as to why this day is being celebrated. As this festival is being celebrated for three days, on the last day the people rush into the temples to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva.

This is a tradition as per Hindu mythology to light "Diyas" on this particular day. Not a big celebration or a big festival. It is just lightning the "diyas". Diyas are made from mud or clay. They are small circular pot like thing ,with a wide opening in the centre and with two thick threads placed inside the oil in the Diya.

In the evening people lit the Diyas and place it jn a row at their homes. Do you know the reason ? It is to drive away the evil from their homes. A new blessing to the home.

Few information were taken from Wikipedia.