Usually Deepavali is celebrated as the Festival of lights. However, during Karthika masam (Karthigai in Tamil), when the full moon occurs in Krithika star, a festival of lights called Karthika Deepam is celebrated!
Got the opportunity to learn & realize yet another reason why this festival is celebrated, especially during the same month as Thanksgiving (November).
The story behind the essence goes like this…
A simple act of lighting a lamp seems to be customary across the world this month!
Human beings use the resources provided by the environment in various forms. Only we (as humans) have the ability to recite God’s name. The other beings do not get that opportunity to recite their names and progress in their birth cycles. When we light light lamps on the full moon day (when the full moon occurs in the Krithika star), that day, we express gratitude to all the living being supporting us and light the lamps. We invoke the form of Shiva (Om Tryambakam Aavahayami) or the form of Vishnu (Om Damodara Aavahayami) through the lamps. The insects, animals and other beings who see the light on that day are blessed by Gods through the lamps to progress to their next stage in their birth cycles. We receive the blessings from all the living beings who get to see the light (from the lamps) lit by us.
When you offer something with heartfelt gratitude, the receiver feels the warmth and blesses you for the same!
May we be thankful for all that we have, all that we have received, all that we will receive and to all those from whom we continue to seek and receive!
Some follow this ritual as well: Those who have missed lighting a lamp in their home any day during the year, can collate 365 wicks in one Diyas and light them as one lamp on Karthigai Deepam day, to account for the missed days!
May the light within us continue to guide us!