KARTHIGAI DEEPAM
Kathigai Deepam is one of the oldest religious practices of the Hindus. It falls on the full moon day of the Tamil month of Karthigai. This year Karthigai Deepam is celebrated on December 1, 2009. It is a festival of lamps: on that day devotees light “akal vilakku”, earthen lamps and lay them neatly in front of their houses and pray to Lord Muruga.

The Program of SMC on December 1, 2009 : Karthigai Deepam

1000 parents with children will light 1000 Akal Vilakku. This is the first time an event of this nature is organized. It is more than a festival; it is a solemn event to illuminate the inner self with Agni.
The lighting will be followed by a short prayer, a reenactment of Saravana Poigai with 6 lotus flowers, a short speech by Dato’ Dr.M.Thambirajah. Vegetarian refreshments will be given to all participants.

Origins of Karthigai Deepam
Karthigai Deepam is to commemorate the birth of Lord Muruga, a Hindu deity.  He was created for a purpose. Force of darkness led by Surapadman, a powerful Asura, willfully threatened the lifes of the holy sages.  The Holy men unable to contain the Asura approached Lord Shiva for help. Lord Shiva brought forth 6 sparks from his Third Eye which fell upon 6 lotus flowers in a lake called Saravana Poigai. From each spark emerged an astonishingly beautiful baby. The 6 babies were merged into one by his mother Pravathi, to become Lord Muruga. Muruga is known by many names among them Skanda, Arumugam and Shanmugam.
Muruga is born of Agni or Fire.

Significance Of Karthigai Deepam
Lord Muruga whose image in adorned with a spear, the Holy Vel, in a warrior. He destroys all forces of evil and darkness that inhibit us: fear, pride, ego, lust, greet, sloth and anger.
On Karthigai Deepam the lights placed at doors, windows, balconies and path ways of the house dispel negativity and enlighten the home. Agni , from Vedic times has been worshipped as a Power the destroys evil. Agni is also the messenger who carries the devotee’s your prayers, offerings and sacrifices to God.

For every student, the Agni evoked on Karthigai Deepam is very significant. The fire that he lights in the Agal Vilakku will illuminate has mind, and, just as  Lord Muruga, the child of Agni, overcome evil on earth, the students will move forward with convictions that the Agni will drive out his fears and replace them with energy, hope, confidence, determination, perseverance and love for all.

SMC AND KARTHIGAI DEEPAM
The main aim of reviving Karthigai Deepam for SMC Students is to prepare them for the academic year 2010. In our experience, the month of December, has been a time of lost opportunities. The period can be utilized to develop mindset and skills. The month of December can be a useful period to train the students physically, emotionally, and academically for the next year.
SMC has embarked on a 2 pronged strategy for students in December.

First: Karthigai Deepam
This is primarily to lead the students to realize their full potential. Communication with the MIND through tradition, custom and religious has been effective. The students have to belief our message before they accept and practice it. Karthigai Deepam relays the concept that you have the excellence and it takes the Agni to actualize it. The students are instructed at the end of the ceremony to leave the earthen lamp behind and take back the light in their minds.

            Students are given specific tasks after the ceremony. They have to clean their school bags, pencil boxes, cover their text-books and exercise books, and clean their study tables.

Second : Academic Preparations
            On December 13, 2009 SMC shall have a gathering of all students to give them academic guidance for 2010. The emphasis will be on study skills, time management, constant work and an overview of their curriculum in 2010.

SRI MURUGAN CENTRE : In Brief
Sri Murugan Centre (SMC), an Indian based NGO, was founded 27 years by a group of lecturers and students of the University of Malaya under the guidance of Dato’ Dr.M.Thambirajah. The aim of SMC was to organize educational classes for rural and marginalized Indian children throughout the nation. SMC began with 4 centres and now guides about 9000 students in 103 centres. About 17,000 students from SMC have graduated from local universities.

SMC: MORE THAN A TUITION CENTRE
SMC has evolved beyond a tuition centre into a movement for the Indian community. Cognizant of the dynamics of change in the social environment and challenges of modern urban society, SMC continues to emphasize academic success; simultaneously, it places equal importance to nurture values, develop character and instill discipline. SMC relies on Indian traditions, customs and religion – beliefs close to the heart of the community – as building blocks to inculcate confidence, self – respect, faith, determination, purpose, perseverance and love for all.

KALVI VIRATHAM & KALVI YATHIRAI
To enhance values SMC has introduced Kalvi Viratham which literally means Fast for Education and translates to Discipline for Education. The Kalvi Yathirai, Pilgrimage for Education, is an annual event to build courage, dispel fear and seek the guidance of the Lord before the final examinations.