Karthigai Deepam
"Karthika Deepam: A Luminous Blend of Tradition and Gastronomy in Tamil Iyer Culture"
Karthika Deepam, also known as Kārtikai tīpam in Tamil, is a distinguished festival of lights primarily celebrated by Hindus in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Sri Lanka. It traces back to ancient times and aligns with the full moon day of the Kartika month, typically in November or December. This festival coincides with the full moon in conjunction with the Kartika constellation, according to the Tamil calendar.
The festival's origins are found in the Sangam period (200 BCE to 300 CE), with references in the Akanaṉūṟu, a collection of poems, and the works of the renowned poet Avvaiyar. It stands as one of the oldest festivals celebrated by Tamil people.
A mythological basis of Karthika Deepam involves the deity Shiva creating Kartikeya (Murugan) from his third eye or six faces. The six faces are believed to have transformed into children, each raised by six Kartika nymphs, later fused into one by Parvati, his mother. These nymphs, represented by a cluster of six stars in the Kartika constellation, are worshiped by lighting oil lamps, and the festival is also seen as the birthday of Kartikeya.
The festival includes lighting rows of clay oil lamps (Agal vilakkus) in homes, symbolizing auspiciousness, warding off evil, and bringing prosperity and joy. It also celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters, similar to Raksha Bandhan in South India. In Telugu households, oil lamps are lit daily throughout the Kartika month, with special observances like fasting till sunset.
A significant event occurs in Thiruvannamalai, where a massive earthen lamp is lit atop the holy mountain, signifying the form of Shiva as Ardhanarishvara. The light from this lamp, using around 3500 kilograms of ghee, is visible for miles and is a central part of the festival's celebrations, attracting thousands of devotees.
In the Iyer community, a Tamil Brahmin subgroup, the festival of Karthika Deepam holds unique traditions and culinary practices. The ritual known as Thala Karthigai is performed by newlyweds during their first Karthika Deepam after marriage. Traditional offerings include a variety of dishes such as pori urundai, nel pori urundai, appam, uppu appam, and paruppu thengai, especially offered to the son-in-law (mappilai).
Specific to the Iyer community, a range of distinctive and delectable dishes are prepared during Karthika Deepam. These include:
Pori Urundai: A sweet dish made from puffed rice and jaggery, often shaped into balls.
Nel Pori Urundai: Similar to pori urundai but made with nel pori, a type of puffed rice.
Instant Gothumai Appam: A quick and easy version of the traditional appam, made with wheat flour.
Uppu Appam: A savory version of appam.
Kadalai Urundai: Sweet balls made from peanuts and jaggery.
Maavilaku: A unique dish used for religious purposes.
Kandarappam: A sweet dish made from rice and jaggery.
Arisi Thengai Payasam: A rice and coconut kheer or pudding.
Paruppu Payasam: A sweet lentil-based pudding.
Kadala Paruppu Payasam: Another variation of payasam made with chana dal (split chickpeas).
The preparations for Karthika Deepam begin a couple of days before the actual festival. Homes are cleaned thoroughly, and brass and silver lamps are polished to shine. On the festival evening, the front of houses are washed and decorated with kolam (rangoli) made from rice powder, colors, or both. Lamps, decorated with vermilion, sandalwood, and flowers, are placed on top of the kolam, facing east. The women, dressed in traditional attire, light these lamps after performing pooja and mangalarti, marking the beginning of the festivities.
As night falls, the atmosphere resembles that of Deepavali with people bursting crackers, lighting sparklers, and enjoying the company of neighbors and friends. This ritual of lighting lamps and celebrating continues for the next seven days, creating a vibrant and joyous atmosphere throughout the village.
Karthika Deepam in these communities is not just a festival of lights; it's a blend of devotion, tradition, and gastronomy, encapsulating the rich cultural heritage of the Tamil Brahmin communities.