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Kartika Deepotsavam: Everything You Need to Know
The month of Kartika has its own significance in the Indian Almanack. It is during this month, the Tirunakshatrams (birthdays) of Divine Saints Sri Tiruppanalwar and Sri Tirumangai Alwar are celebrated with enthusiasm. It is again important for the Kartika Deepotsavam.
This article covers the importance and celebration of Kartika Deepotsavam in brief.
Deepam means Light, and Utsavam means celebration with zeal and enthusiasm. Hence, Deepotsavam is a festival of Light. During Deepavali, the residential houses are lit with lamps to celebrate the conquest of Lord Sri Krishna over Narakasura. In Kartika Deepotsavam, not only houses but also temples are lit with plenty of lamps.
According to Hindu Mythology, it is celebrated to commemorate the victory of Lord Siva over the Tripurantaka. It is also celebrated to praise Lord Sri Vishnu, incarnated as Tirvikrama. In any way, it is a festival to propitiate the God, who has provided us soul, body and shelter.
Kartika Deepotsavam is a celebration deeply rooted in Hindu Mythology and tradition. It is a festival that transcends religious boundaries, promising positive energy and spiritual growth.
This festival has cultural significance. It brings people together and fosters a sense of unity. It is a common shared festival. Families and friends come together to light lamps, decorate their homes and participate in various cultural activities.
It is not just a religious ritual but also a symbolic act representing the victory of light over darkness. (It may be noted that Veda states, ‘Lead me to Brightness from Darkness’). It is a festival denoting the dispelling of ignorance, negativity and evil forces from one’s life. The warmth and radiance of illuminated lamps create an atmosphere of joy and positivity, contributing to a sense of collective well-being.
It is not just an act of illumination. It represents high wisdom, deep knowledge and the correct path of righteousness. The festival encourages one and all to seek inner illumination to overcome ignorance and get spiritual enchantment.
The lighting of a lamp is a gesture of expressing our gratitude to the Celestial Gods that govern this universe. It is, in a way, acknowledging the Cosmic energy and expressing our deep devotion to those deities. The flickering of the lamp reminds us that life is of a transient nature and that we should use life with a purpose and pursue the right path to get salvation from the miserable world.
Kartika Deepotsavam is celebrated on the full-moon day in the month of Kartika. It is celebrated in most of the Shiva and Vishnu temples in a grand manner.
The Kartika Deepam celebrated at Tiruvannaamalai in Tamil Nadu is world-famous. The big fire lit with tons of ghee at the top of this mountain city is seen far and wide.
We can witness the Deepotsavam in temples like
- Srirangam (Sri Ranganatha swamy),
- Tirumala (Sri Venkatachalapathi Swamy),
- Tiruvallikkeni Sri Parthasarathi Swamy)
- Kumbakonam (Sri Sarangapaani swami) and likewise, many more temples.
Deepotsavam is celebrated grandly in Sri Guruvayur Temple by lighting a lakh of lamps (Laksha Deepa) with wicks drenched in pure ghee- a wonderful sight to see.
In Vaishnava temples, the whole place is lit with small as well as big clay lamps, illuminating all places around. It is preceded by rituals in the presence of the presiding Deity. The deities are adorned with new clothes, ornaments and flowers and taken around while the lamps are lit. Special dishes are offered to the Gods, like Seedai, Murukku, Laddu, etc.
A special feature of Deepotsavam is Chokkapanai (Bonfire). The utsavam concludes with the witnessing of Chokkapanai by the presiding deity. In this event, heaps of dried Palm leaves are torched in a big fire, illuminating the place around.
In South India, sisters pray for the welfare of their brothers during this festival, just as in Raksha Bandhan. When one moves from darkness to brightness, he can witness all around him without any hindrance. By witnessing the Deepotsavam in temples as well as lighting of lamps in our houses, we feel new energy to get rid of our ignorance both material and spiritual and will be able to lead a virtuous life to attain salvation in due course of time. Light the Lamp in your nearby temple to this Karthika Deepotsavam and chant Om Karthika Daamodaraaya Namaha.
Kartika Deepotsavam at Tirumala
In Tirumala, Kartika Deepotsavam is celebrated wonderfully on the full moon day. Lamps made of ghee wicks are lit and carried in procession with ceremonial umbrellas, accompanied by mangala vadhyas – musical instruments. The procession is led by the Holy Jeeyar Swamies of Tirumala and officials of the Devasthanams.
First in Ananda Nilaya, the lamps are lit and offered to the Moolavar and with His blessings, the lamps are carried to various sacred places, Sanctum, Kulasekara padi, Dwarapalakas, Garudalwar, Sri Varadaraja Swamy, Sri Bhashyakara Sannidhi, Sri Yoga Narasimha Swami Sannidhi and likewise, Sri Varaha Swamy temple and Swami Pushkarini- the sacred Tank are illuminated with lamps. The whole hill town glows with glory. One should be fortunate to witness this event.
