The Light of Kartigai
Kartigai is one of the oldest festivals in the Tamil world, older than many of the stories now attached to it. Once a celebration of stars, fire and cosmic light, it has travelled through Sangam literature, temple history and regional lineages while remaining centred on one simple act: lighting a flame. In Tamil homes, clay and brass lamps still honour this ancient rhythm, a reminder that Kartigai endures not through grandeur, but through quiet, living light.