Karthikai Deepam or Karthikai vilakkidu is a Hindu specially Tamils Festival of Lights. The festival is observed in most Hindu homes and every temple, and falls in the month of Kārttikai (mid-November to mid-December) as per Tamil calendar.
Maa Vilakku (Rice Flour Lamp) is made during special occasions such as aadi velli,purattasi sani, thai month, karthigai deepam etc.
Maa Vilakku is a special lamp made with freshly ground rice flour and jaggery kneaded together as a dough with a dent in the middle where we pour ghee, place the wick(thiri) and lit the lamp.