Karthigai Deepam

Karthigai Deepam is celebrated as a ten day festival and is widely known as Karthigai Brahmotsavam. This occurs on the day when the moon is in conjunction with the constellation Karthigai (Pleiades) and Purnima. This constellation appears as a group of six stars in the shape of a pendant from the ear.

In Indian mythology, it is considered that these six stars known as celestial nymphs has brought up the six babies whom later were joined together to form the six faced Lord Muruga. Hence, he is also called as Lord Karthikeya.

On this day only a huge beacon is lit on the holy hill of Lord Arunachaleshwara (Lord Shiva) temple. After watching this deepam (light) either directly or through TV, people will start to lit up rows of oil lamps (deepam) in their houses in the evening of this festival day.