Thrikarthika, or Trikartika, is the festival of lights celebrated in Kerala on the Karthika Nakshatra (star) in the Malayalam month of Vrischikam (November – December). Thrikarthika 2024 date is December 13. It usually falls on the full moon day in the month and on the day all the houses, streets and temples are well lit with traditional oil lamps. The festival is mainly observed in South Kerala and is of great importance in many temples .
Why is Thrikarthika Observed?
Thrikarthika festival is not dedicated to any particular God or Goddess in Hindu pantheon. But some people do claim that is dedicated to Shakti – popularly known as Bhagavati in Kerala. Some people claim it is an ancient form of nature worship.
How is Thrikarthika Observed or Procedure to Perform Karthika Vilakku?
On the Thrikarthika day after sunset, houses, streets and temples are decorated with special oil lamps. Earlier people used to make use of the shell of Marotika to light lamps. Now the Marottika shell is widely replaced by clay diya (known as idinjil or chirathu) and candles.
The stems of banana (plantain) and tender leaves of coconut tree are used to decorate the Thrikarthika lamps. The lamps are placed on the banana stems supported by coconut leaves.
People who have domesticated animals also decorate the cowshed and other places used by animals.
Special Food
Special food is prepared using Tapioca, elephant yam and other tubers with lot of grated coconut on the day and is known as Karthika Puzhukku.
The full moon night and the Thrikarthika lamps complement each other giving an awe inspiring feeling to the viewers.
On the same day, the famous Karthika Deepam and the Tiruvannamalai Maha Deepam is held in neighboring Tamil Nadu.
The day is of great significance in thousands of Hindu temples in Kerala. The annual festival or the most important day in a calendar year falls on the Thrikarthika day.
Kumaranalloor Devi Temple Thrikarthika
One of the most famous Thrikarthika festivals is observed at
the Kumaranalloor Devi Temple near Kottayam. It is part of the 10-day annual
festival.
On the Karthika nakshatra day in Vrischika Masam, the
arattu procession of the Devi takes place.
Legend has it that once Vadakkumnathan (Shiva) came out of
the temple to have darshan of the ethereal beauty of Mother Goddess worshipped
in Kumaranalloor Devi Temple. Similarly, the deity at the Udayanapuram temple
also came out to have darshan of the Devi.
When the priests in the temple went to perform puja, they
did not find the deities in the sanctum sanctorum. They saw them sitting in the
outer compound wall of the respective temple.
On the Thrikarthika day, therefore puja is performed on a
spot in the compound walls of the temple. As it is believed that on the day the
deities sit there to witness the arattu procession of Kumaranalloor Devi.
The thrikarthika desha vilakku in the temple takes place in
the evening from 5:30 PM. Mother Goddess is welcomed to the Nadapanthal. Caparisoned
elephants and traditional nadaswaram music welcome her.
Traditional lamps are lit in the entire temple and nearby areas.