Karthikai Deepam

Many legends and lyrical poetry have grown around this star. The six stars are considered in Indian mythology as the six celestial nymphs who reared the six babies in the Saravana tank which later were joined together to form the six faced Muruga. They are Dula, Nitatni, Abhrayanti, Varshayanti, Meghayanti and Chipunika. He is therefore called Karthikeya, the incarnation of Lord Shiva as his second son after Lord Ganesha. It is believed that Lord Shiva created Muruga from his 3rd eye[note 1] of six primary faces (Tatpurusam,[note 2] Aghoram,[note 3] Sadyojatam,[note 4] Vamadevam,[note 5] Eesanam,[note 6] Adhomukam[note 7]). It is believed that the six forms made into six children and each of them brought up by the six Karthigai nymphs and later merged into one by his mother Parvati.

While merging he also formed into a six faced (Arumugam and twelve handed god. The Lord Muruga is also portrayed with his six plays[2] and worshiped with six names.

As the six nymphs helped in growing the child, Lord Shiva blessed immortality to the six nymphs as ever living stars on the sky. Any worship performed to this six stars is equal to worshiping Lord Muruga himself. They are worshiped by lighting up rows of oil lamps (Deepam) in the evening of the festival day around the houses and streets. Karthikai Deepam is also known as Kartikeya, or Muruga's birthday.

Other Mythological Stories and Literature on this 6 stars Pleiades in folklore and literature.[3]

One of the earliest references to the festival is found in the Aganaanooru, a book of poems, which dates back to the Sangam Age (200 B.C. to 300 A.D.). The Aganaanooru clearly states that Karthigai is celebrated on the full moon day (pournami) of the month of Karthigai, as per South Indian calendar. It was one of the most important festivals (peruvizha) of the ancient Tamils, including now the areas of modern Kerala too. Avaiyyar, the renowned poet of those times, refers to the festival in her songs. Karthikai Deepam is one of the oldest festivals celebrated by Tamil people. The festival finds reference in Sangam literature like Akanaṉūṟu and the poems of Auvaiyar.[4] Karthigai is referred in Sangam literature as Peruvizha.[5]

Nizhal Thangal, Attoor decorated with Agal vilakkus during the Karthikai Deepam celebrations on 2013-11-16

Rows of Agal vilakkus (Clay Oil lamps) are lit in every house. Karthigai is essentially a festival of lamps. The lighted lamp is considered an auspicious symbol. It is believed to ward off evil forces and usher in prosperity and joy. While the lighted lamp is important for all Hindu rituals and festivals, it is indispensable for Karthigai. This festival is also celebrated to commemorate the bonding between brothers and sisters in south India(analogous to Bhaiya-Dhuj and Raakhi). Sisters pray for the prosperity and success of their brothers and light lamps to mark the occasion.

In Telugu households, Kaartheeka maasam (month) is considered very auspicious. The Kartheeka month starts on the day of Deepawali. From that day till the end of the month, oil lamps are lit every day. On Kartheeka Pournami (full moon of Kartheeka month) oil lamp with 365 wicks, prepared at home, are lit in Lord Shiva temples. Apart from that, Kaartheeka puranam is read and fasting is observed till sunset, every day for the whole month.

Homemade karthikai deepam firework (கார்த்திகை சுற்று)
Sample Construction
Label Details
A	The 3 twigs which hold the charcoal pack
B	The exposed charcoal to ignite easily
C	The layered charcoal packed in jute sack pieces
D	The rope binding
Height	Height might vary from 10 inches to 12 inches or more
Width	3 to 4-inch width of the charcoal package

Kārtikai chutru or Kārtikai chuḻaṟtu is a homemade charcoal-based hand-rotating firecracker. This is crafted by youngsters and elders at the time of this festival at rural cities at Tamil Nadu[11] state in India. This cracker is very safe as it is made of Charcoal and constructed as a non-explosive craft. This cracker is handled with a long rope and rotated over the head clockwise, anti-clockwise, zig zag and any other pattern to make the display more fun. To maintain safety, the ropes used are either coir rope or jute rope. While rotating the ignited set-up of this cracker with the wind makes the charcoal to burn and split into small pieces which falls down. This burning effect can be compared with Chimney starter.[note 8] This display can be compared with a fire performance,[note 9] but the rope will not be ignited.

Hundreds of diyas lit across the Aruvikkarai bridge during Karthigai deepam 2019 near the legendary Sapta kanniyar temple at Aruvikkarai, Tamilnadu

This cracker is made of Crushed and packed charcoal into Coconut shell. The packing is tightly placed inside 3 twigs or flexible wood stick or plant stem. The twigs are tied with ropes with a safety distance. Few burning charcoal is placed over the packing and blown hard or rotated until The packing gets slowly ignited. While the packing started ignited then it can be rotated faster with help of the rope. The falling pieces of burning charcoal pieces from the packing gives a fire cracker effect. The charcoal mixture can be mixed with dried palm flower pieces for more sparkling effects.. Crushed charcoal can be packed into layers of jute sack (Gunny sack) pieces

• Demo of Karthikai home made cracker

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Karthigai Deepam.

• Karthigai Festival

In Regional new year it is mentioned (under Malayali-Kerala)that Vishu is the new year, But Chingam is the start of new year in their calendar. Vishu (Malayalam: വിഷു) is a Hindu festival primarily celebrated in the Indian state of Kerala, which marks the beginning of the harvest year.(From Wiki itself copied)