Karthigai Deepam Karthigai Deepam Recipes

Karthigai Deepam lights up the homes and the delicacies made on that day fills up the heart. I have put up an extensive range of dishes that are made on Karthigai Deepam day for your reference.

About Karthigai Deepam

Karthigai Deepam, Thirukarthikai or Karthikai Vilakkidu is a typical festival of lights of the southern part of India. Karthigai Deepam is celebrated on 19th November (Friday) this year 2021. Karthigai Deepam, is celebrated on the full moon day when the moon is in line with the six-star constellation called Karthigai. People light lamps in their homes, temples and the workplace on Karthigai Deepam. The home looks heavenly with oil lit lamps everywhere. The idea behind this festival is to keep away bad things from life and welcome the good and holy things of life.

Karthigai Deepam – A History

It is believed that Lord Shiva created Muruga from his 3rd eye of six primary faces and each of them brought up by the six Karthigai nymphs and later merged into one by his mother Parvati as Lord Karthikeya. 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 Karthikeya, or Muruga’s birthday.

Thiruvanamalai Karthigai Deepam

Karthigai Deepam is very famous in Thiruvanamalai temple and the entire mountain is worshipped as Shiva lingam. Maha Deepam will be lit at around 6 pm at the top of 2668 ft high holy mountain using nearly 3500 kg of ghee which will be visible around the Holy Mountain in a radius of 35 km. Lakhs of devotees will perform 16 km Girivalam round the mountain on Karthigai Deepam.

Memories

When I was young there used to be a competition with my friends in the road where I lived in as to whose home lights up more deepam / lamps. We then go out around the city to watch the lights displayed in homes – it is a bliss! We reserve a portion of crackers purchased during Diwali to burst on this day. Mittu is christened in devout of Lord Karthikeya in whose name this festival is celebrated. In summary, people await for this festival as it brings lot of positivity to home!

Karthigai Deepam Recipes

1.Pori Urundai: Puffed rice balls made using jaggery syrup is called Pori Urundai. All the families that celebrate Karthigai make Pori Urundai and offer as neiveidhyam to god and then consume. Nel Pori Urundai, Karthigai Pori, Karutpatti Pori urundai, Chocolate Pori urundai, Kadalai Urundai, Pottukadalai Urundai, Karthigai Aval Pori, Aval Pottukadalai Urundai, Peanut ladoo, Pani Olai Kozhukattai, are the related Urundai recipes quiet commonly made on Karthigai Deepam. 2.Appam: Ghee fried pancakes are called Nei appam. It is traditional to make it along with Pori Urundai in southern Tamilnadu. Karthigai appam, Thinai Nei Appam, Wheat flour Appam, Rava Appam, Instant Nei Appam are the related Appam recipes that are made on Karthigai Deepam. 3.Maavilaku: In rural areas of Tamilnadu, people make Maavilaku as Neiveidhyam to God when they visit temples and make a wish to god. Maavilaku is a rice flour, jaggery mix mold in which oil is lit and made as lamp for God. Some of the people observe full fasting on the day, pray with maavilaku and they break the fasting with Maavilaku. Edible Karthigai Vilaku Kozhukattai is another version you can try at home. 4.Adai: Adai is the savoury version of pancakes. Adai is made as a savoury combo for the Pori Urundai on Karthigai Deepam. Karthigai Vella Adai, Milagu Adai and plain Adai are made in the families for the dinner on Karthigai Deepam. If you have any more questions about this Karthigai deepam recipes do mail me at [email protected]. In addition, follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest ,Youtube and Twitter . Tried this Karthigai deepam recipes ? Do let me know how you liked it. Also tag us on Instagram @sharmispassions and hash tag it on #sharmispassions.

📖 Recipe Card

Serving & Storing Suggestions

Pori Urundai / Urundai Recipes will be good for 2-3 days when stored in an airtight container. Refrigeration is not needed. However if we are gonna reserve it for friends & relatives for 4-7 days, we can refrigerate and then steam it lightly / heat with microwave before serving.

1.What is Karthigai Deepam?

Karthigai Deepam or Karthikai is festival of lights celebrated on the Poornima / Full moon day and marks the birth / creation of Lord Muruga from the 3rd eye of Lord Shiva.

2.How do you celebrate Karthigai Deepam at home?

Karthigai Deepam is celebrated by lighting rows of lamps, making Pori Urundai, do pooja to god and then dining together.a. Get the lamps ready before the day of Karthigai Deepam either by purchasing them or retrieving them from our racks. Also purchase couple of litres of Deepam Oil to light the lamps.b. Draw Kolam in the entrance of the house & puja room and place lampsc. Place the lamps on the Maadam, entrance, doors, walls, balcony; fill them with oil and light them (Be safe to handle the lights)d. Prepare Pori urundai / sweet of your choicee. Gather the family members, offer the sweets to God (Shiva, Muruga / Karthikeya) take aarthi & prayf. Burst crackersg. Share sweets with friends and neighboursh. Entire family dines together

3.Name the important recipe / dish to make on Karthigai Deepam?

Pori Urundai is the most common & traditional recipe made on Karthigai Deepam. Nei Appam and Milagu Adai as add-ons will be a treat to celebrate Karthigai.

4.Is it a must to fast on Karthigai Deepam?

It is good to do fasting on all Pournami (Full moon day) for long life and very special to fast on Karthigai Deepam. However it is not a mandatory custom.