Aadi Krittikai 2023

Aadi Krittikai falls in the Tamil solar month of Aadi (Sun in Karka Rashi), on the day Krittika Nakshatra prevails at Sayankala, the last of the day's five equal divisions before sunset. It is one of several Krittika-nakshatra observances in the Tamil calendar (Karthigai Deepam, in the month of Karthikai, is the better-known sibling), each tied to a different solar month's occurrence of the same nakshatra.

The day is associated with both Lord Murugan (Karthikeya), whose name Karthikeya itself derives from Krittika, and with Lord Shiva, worshipped in many Shaiva households on Krittika-nakshatra days generally. Lamps are lit at dusk, timed to the Sayankala window the day itself is selected by, and temple visits are common in Tamil Nadu.

Regional and family observance can vary. Please confirm with your own community's convention where it differs from what is shown here.