TranslateWhen: October/November
Deepavali in Tamil Nadu commemorates the victory of Krishna over Narakasura, and unlike much of North India it is observed primarily on a single day that begins before dawn. Families take a ceremonial oil bath in the early hours, wear new clothes, light fireworks at first light and exchange large boxes of home-made sweets and savouries.
When
Naraka Chaturdashi, October or November
Where
Statewide, primarily a home and family festival
Duration
One main day, with preparations over the preceding week
Main highlight
The pre-dawn ganga snanam oil bath and early-morning fireworks
The day begins in the dark, often around 4 am, with an oil bath using sesame oil and a herbal powder called shikakai, followed by wearing new clothes. Children light fireworks as the sky brightens. A medicinal preparation called Deepavali lehiyam is eaten to aid digestion before the day's feasting begins.
Households prepare large quantities of murukku, adhirasam, mysore pak, thattai and ribbon pakoda in the preceding week, and boxes are exchanged with neighbours and relatives. Newly married couples traditionally celebrate their first Deepavali at the bride's family home, a custom known as thalai Deepavali.
Deepavali is largely a home festival rather than a public spectacle, but sweet shops and textile showrooms across Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai and Trichy run enormous festival sales in the fortnight before. Temples hold special worship in the morning. Sivakasi in Virudhunagar district, the centre of India's fireworks industry, is at its busiest in the weeks before.
