Today the 19th of November is the full moon day.
It is celebrated in Tamil Nadu as KARTHIGAI DEEPAM’’. In the Tamil month of
Karthigai (15th November to 15 th December), the full moon day i.e Purnima
is celebrated every year as karthigai deepam festival, it is celebrated in the
evening time for the occurring full moon. Earthen lamps are lit all around the house. This festival is not only in house -holds, but also it is performed in Temples.
It is a very special festival for women, they can decorate and
arrange the lamps according to their wish and like. Gifts are given to them
both by their parents and in laws. Newly wedded couple celebrate it in a grand
manner as their first festival of deepam after their marriage. The Bride will
be given silk sarees, gold bangles, rings &necklace by her mother in law. She will celebrate
this festival in her in laws house.
First deepam festival is marked with sweets presented in the
form of cones. Sweet balls made of puffed rice, poha and groundnuts with jaggery
is shaped like a cone and gifted to the new bride. Sliver and brass lamps were
also given in large numbers.
This festival is more grandly celebrated in the temple town
of Thiruvannamalai in TamilNadu. The entire temple is hugely decorated with
earthen lamp and one big lamp is lit on the hill top and it can be viewed from
anywhere in the town. Once the temple big lamp is lit by 6 pm everyone in the
town offer their prayers and then only they start to light lamps in their houses.
It’s a grand ceremony there. People from various parts of the world come there
to witness this glorious lamp and receive the blessings on the Lord Shiva who
is in the form of a light on hill top.
Children in the household fire crackers which were usually
set aside for this festival on the deepavali day. New dresses are worn by women
while lighting the lamp. More orthodox people wear the traditional 9 yards
sarees. People exchange gifts and sweets on this occasion with each other.
In spite of the heavy rainfall these days in Chennai and other places
of TamilNadu, the festival was successfully celebrated with same fervour and
gaiety as the rain stopped by the evening paving way for the celebrations.
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