Skandha Sashti

In south India the sixth day after Diwali people celebrate Skandha Shashti . This story of the birth of Lord Muruga, also termed as Subramaniya, Karthikeya, Skanda, Shanmuga dates back to the legend of defeating the demon/anti God, Tarakasuran. The devas along with Indra sought the help of Brahma to kill the demon. Brahma advised the son of Shiva and Parvathi can only defeat the powers of the evil, The devas sought the help of Parvathi and Kama (the God of Love). Parvathi agreed to help, and engaged herself in a severe penance to please Shiva, while Kama engaged himself in arousing Shiva from his Samadhi.
Lord Shiva came out of deep state of meditation. He opened his third eye and created Six Great Fire Sparks that dropped into the holy Ganges. Six beautiful maidens called 'KRITIKAIS looked after the babies. When Parvathi came and gathered all the six babies, He became Shanmukha - the one with the six faces and one body.
Shanmukha became Kumara. He was made the General (Deva Senapathi) of the God's army. Goddess Parashakthi(Parvathi) gave all her power in the form of Vel to Skandha to protect himself and to kill the demons. Veerbahu was assisting and killing the demons with Muruga. He engaged in a war against all the demons for six days. On the sixth day he vanquished all of them. The demons pleaded to Lord Shanmuga that they were his Bhaktas and that wanted to be with the Lord himself. Hence they became Seval and Snake.
Indra was restored to his kingdom and got his daughter Deivayanai or Devasena married to muruga..
People fast for six days and sing Thirupugazh, Skandha sasthi Kavacham and other muruga stotras. On the sixth day special milk abhishakam is performed. Offering of Kavadi on Skanda Sashti is a form of popular worship. In the evening, the effigy of demon in the form of tree.crackers are bursted. Lord Muruga shoots an arrow and kills the demon by cutting the tree into two. This is known as Sursamharam. The marriage of Lord Muruga and Deivayanai is held. Offering are made to god and distributed as prasad.
the couples who want children should observe vruth for these 6 days .vruth means taking one time light meal and on the sixth day upavasa has to be observed.depending on the health condition one can decide the mode of observing the vruth. chanting murugan hyms and songs should be done .determination and pure bakthi will always be answered by god.
shasti on every month can also be observed as vrutham by both husband and wife for quick result. .vrutham always is observed according to once health condition. strictly complete fasting should be observed. chanting shasti kavacham and murugan hyms , visiting temple should also be done.
when our prayers are answered on the next skanda shasti vruth should be observed for 6 days to thank the god who is full of compassion.