Karthigai Deepam is a festival of lights. Like Diwali, Karthigai Deepam is a festival of lights, because Deepams or oil lamps are light in the evening at homes and in temples. Karthigai Deepam is one of the most important festivals as per the Tamil culture in southern part of India.
On Karthigai Deepam day, devotees worship Lord Shiva as well as Lord Kartikeya (also hailed as Murugan, Shanmugham, Subramanian), his son.
Karthigai Deepam is observed on the day of Karthigai Pournami when Karthigai Nakshatra prevails. Many of devotees thronged Tiruvannamalai to witness the lighting of the Karthigai Deepam.