S Panchanathan Stores
In this article8 parts
Quick answer
For a home on Karthigai Deepam you need clay agal lamps, gingelly oil (or ghee for the pooja lamp), cotton wicks and something to light them. For 21 lamps, half a litre of oil and one pack of 60 wicks is plenty.
- Soak new clay lamps in water for a few hours and dry them, so they drink less oil.
- Gingelly oil burns steadily with little smoke and is the usual choice.
- Keep lamps away from curtains, dupattas and children’s reach.
Karthigai Deepam is the festival of lamps in the Tamil month of Karthigai, on the day of the Krithigai star. At Thiruvannamalai, not far from Kallakurichi, the Maha Deepam is lit on top of the hill, and homes across Tamil Nadu light rows of lamps at the doorstep, on the kolam, along the steps and on the walls. See this year’s date on our Karthigai Deepam page.
Which lamps should you light?
Agal vilakkuSmall clay lampsFOR THE ROWS
Best for: the doorstep, steps and walls; cheap, and new ones each year
Kuthu vilakkuTall brass lamp
Best for: the pooja room, with ghee or gingelly oil and two or five wicks
Decorated clay lampsPainted or many-faced
Best for: the entrance and the middle of the kolam
Which oil is best for Karthigai lamps?
Gingelly oilNallennaiMOST USED
SmokeCostBurns
Best for: rows of agal lamps outside
GheeNei
SmokeCostBurns
Best for: the pooja room lamp
Iluppai oilMahua
SmokeCostBurns
Best for: families who follow the old custom
Ready "deepam oil"Blends
SmokeCostBurns
Check the label: some blends add cheaper oils that smoke more
The meters compare the oils with each other, from what families tell us at the counter; they are not lab tests.
Which wicks should you use?
Pure cotton wicks are the simplest and burn evenly in clay lamps. Some families use lotus stem wicks (thamarai thandu thiri) in the pooja lamp.
Shop tip
Twist two cotton wicks together for a bigger flame in the doorstep lamp. Keep the tip short: a long wick gives a tall, smoky flame and drinks oil.
How much do you need for 21 lamps?
21clay agal lamps, plus 3 or 4 spare
500 mlgingelly oil for one evening
60cotton wicks, about three evenings
2–3 hone lamp burns on one filling (our estimate)
Your Karthigai listFor 21 lamps · 2 of 6 on our site
- Clay agal lamps24 piecesIn the shop
- Gingelly oil500 mlIn the shop
- Ghee for the pooja lamp100 gIn the shop
- A tray of sand, or a plate under each lampto catch drips
How do you prepare and light the lamps?
- MorningSoak the new lamps
2 to 3 hours in water, then dry them in the sun. They drink less oil and are less likely to crack.
- AfternoonDraw the kolam
Decide where the rows go: the doorstep, the steps, the compound wall, the windows.
- DuskFill and light
Fill each lamp two-thirds with oil, lay the wick with a short tip, and light the pooja room lamp first. Carry the flame outside.
- After 2 hoursTop up the oil
Only if you want the lamps to keep burning.
How to keep lamps safe at home
Do
- Place lamps on a flat, stable surface
- Keep a bucket of sand or water nearby
- Use deep lamps or a glass cover on a windy evening
- Keep lamps an arm's length from parked two-wheelers
Don't
- Light them near curtains, dupattas or paper decorations
- Pour water on burning oil (cover it to put it out)
- Leave lamps burning when everyone has gone to sleep
What is cooked for Karthigai Deepam?
Pori urundai (puffed rice balls with jaggery) and nei appam are the dishes most homes make, along with adai and sweet pongal in some families. Jaggery, ghee and cardamom are the things to stock up on.
Questions people ask
Can I reuse last year’s clay lamps?
Yes, if they are not cracked. Wash them in hot water with a little soap to remove old oil, dry them fully, and use them again.
Is gingelly oil or ghee better for the lamp?
Both are traditional. Ghee is usually kept for the pooja room lamp, and gingelly oil for the rows of lamps outside because it costs less and burns steadily.
How long does one clay lamp burn?
A small agal with a cotton wick burns about 2 to 3 hours on one filling. A bigger lamp or a shorter wick lasts longer.
Why does my lamp smoke?
The wick is too long, the oil is a cheap blend, or the lamp is in a draught. Trim the wick, use gingelly oil, and move the lamp out of the wind.
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