The Karthika Vilakku festival is commonly known as Thrikkarthika in Kerala. Like Deepavali, this festival too has close association with lights. According to the Tamil Hindu calendar, Thikkarthika is observed during the month of Karthikai (the month of Vrishchikam in Kerala), which usually falls between mid-November to mid-December. On this day, the moon will be in conjunction with the constellation named Karthigai (Pleiades, also known as the Seven Sisters). In Kerala, we celebrate this festival to welcome Devi Shakti. This day is also believed to be the birthday of Lord Karthikeya, the second son of Shiva and Parvathi. Thus, in the rest of India, it is celebrated as Kartik Purnima. Being the festival of lights, it is celebrated by lighting clay oil lamps around the temples and houses. It is believed that this practice will protect you from negative forces and will bring in to your family happiness and prosperity.

The Thrikkarthika festival was celebrated in Chinmaya International Foundation (CIF) on 10^th December 2019 at the Chinmaya Swayambhu Ayyappa Temple. The temple premises were lit with lamps and there was a special Chuttuvilakku (lighting of the 1008 lamps around the temple) that was offered to the Lord on this day.