Karthigai Deepam or Karthikai vilakkidu is a Telugu and Tamil Hindu, festival of Lights. The festival is observed in most Hindu homes and every temple, and falls in the month of Kārttikai (mid November to mid December) as per Tamil Calendar. This occurs on the day when the moon is in conjunction with the constellation Karthigai and pournami. This constellation appears as a group of six stars in the firmament in the shape of a pendant from the ear.

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Karthikai Deepam is one of the oldest festivals celebrated by Tamil people. The festival finds reference in Sangam literature like Akananuru and the poems of Auvaiyar.Karthigai is referred in Sangam literature as Peruvizha.



On Karthigai day, a huge fire lamp is lit up on the hill (in both temples), visible for several kilometers around. The fire (deepam) is called Mahadeepam. Hindu devotees visit the place, to pray and make offerings to lord shiva. In 2016, due to the Mahakumbh Mela  of Ujjain Simhastha, Karthikai Deepam will hold special significance, being celebrated on 12 December 2016, which being a Monday is symbolically attributed to god shiva, of the twelve Jyotirlinga. 


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