Karthigai Deepam 2026 — Tuesday 24 November
కార్తీక దీపం 2026
Kartika Purnima nakshatra Krittika (Tamil solar month Karthigai) · Kartikai Deepam / Karthik Deepam / Bharani Deepam / Thiruvannamalai Deepam · Krittika Nakshatra begins 23 Nov ~evening · ends 24 Nov ~evening · Thiruvannamalai Maha Deepam lit atop Arunachala Hill at 18:00 IST (Tuesday evening) · Bharani Deepam pre-dawn 24 Nov 05:00 IST · Karthigai Choodum (household diya lighting) 24 Nov 18:00 – 20:00 IST
Karthigai Deepam 2026 (also called Kartikai Deepam / Karthik Deepam / Bharani Deepam / Thiruvannamalai Deepam) falls on Tuesday, 24 November 2026. Karthigai Deepam is Tamil Nadu's festival of lights — older than Diwali per Tamil literature (Sangam-era Manikkavachakar, Auvaiyar, and Thirumurai references). At Thiruvannamalai, the Maha Deepam is lit atop the 2,668 ft Arunachala Hill using 3,500 kg of ghee — visible for 35 km. This commemorates Shiva's manifestation as an infinite column of light (jyoti-lingam) that Brahma and Vishnu could not measure — one of the pancha-bhuta lingams (fire). 3.5 lakh+ pilgrims perform the 14 km Giri Valam (barefoot mountain circumambulation) around Arunachala on this night. Every Tamil household lights rows of agal-vilakku (clay diyas) in front doorway. Primary observance: Pre-dawn Bharani Deepam at Arunachaleshwar temple garbhagriha; devotees light diya from this flame and carry home. Recommended muhurat: Krittika Nakshatra begins 23 Nov ~evening · ends 24 Nov ~evening · Thiruvannamalai Maha Deepam lit atop Arunachala Hill at 18:00 IST (Tuesday evening) · Bharani Deepam pre-dawn 24 Nov 05:00 IST · Karthigai Choodum (household diya lighting) 24 Nov 18:00 – 20:00 IST.
Karthigai Deepam 2026 — Date & Muhurat
| Festival Date | Tuesday, 24 November 2026 |
| Telugu Masa & Tithi | Kartika Purnima nakshatra Krittika (Tamil solar month Karthigai) |
| Primary Muhurat | Krittika Nakshatra begins 23 Nov ~evening · ends 24 Nov ~evening · Thiruvannamalai Maha Deepam lit atop Arunachala Hill at 18:00 IST (Tuesday evening) · Bharani Deepam pre-dawn 24 Nov 05:00 IST · Karthigai Choodum (household diya lighting) 24 Nov 18:00 – 20:00 IST |
| Alternative Names | Kartikai Deepam / Karthik Deepam / Bharani Deepam / Thiruvannamalai Deepam |
All timings computed using Lahiri Ayanamsa Swiss Ephemeris for Hyderabad (17.385°N, 78.486°E). For exact local timings in other cities use our Today's Panchangam tool.
Significance of Karthigai Deepam 2026
Karthigai Deepam is Tamil Nadu's festival of lights — older than Diwali per Tamil literature (Sangam-era Manikkavachakar, Auvaiyar, and Thirumurai references). At Thiruvannamalai, the Maha Deepam is lit atop the 2,668 ft Arunachala Hill using 3,500 kg of ghee — visible for 35 km. This commemorates Shiva's manifestation as an infinite column of light (jyoti-lingam) that Brahma and Vishnu could not measure — one of the pancha-bhuta lingams (fire). 3.5 lakh+ pilgrims perform the 14 km Giri Valam (barefoot mountain circumambulation) around Arunachala on this night. Every Tamil household lights rows of agal-vilakku (clay diyas) in front doorway.
Key Rituals on Karthigai Deepam 2026
Pre-dawn Bharani Deepam at Arunachaleshwar temple garbhagriha; devotees light diya from this flame and carry home. Evening 6 pm: Maha Deepam kindled atop Arunachala Hill (visible from all around Thiruvannamalai). Household ritual (statewide): light 3+ rows of agal-vilakku (clay lamps) at doorstep, courtyard, terrace; recite Thirukarthigai Padigam (Thirumurai hymn); prepare pori (puffed rice) + adhirasam (jaggery sweets); distribute to neighbors. Giri Valam (14 km barefoot Arunachala parikrama) starts at sunset for lakhs of pilgrims.
Karthigai Deepam 2026 Puja Samagri Checklist (Shopping List)
Items to procure 1-2 days before Karthigai Deepam 2026:
| # | Item |
|---|---|
| 1 | Clay agal-vilakku (30+ lamps for household) |
| 2 | Sesame or coconut oil + wicks |
| 3 | Camphor + agarbatti |
| 4 | Pori (puffed rice) |
| 5 | Adhirasam + murukku + thattai (Karthigai sweets) |
| 6 | Rangoli powder + turmeric-kumkum |
| 7 | Shiva + Muruga picture (jyoti-lingam symbolism) |
| 8 | Ghee (small quantity — for main puja diya) |
| 9 | Fresh flowers + coconut |
| 10 | Naivedyam: pongal, sundal, kesari |
Regional Variations of Karthigai Deepam 2026
Tamil Nadu (heartland — cultural event equal to Diwali): Every household from Chennai to Kanyakumari lights agal-vilakku rows; sky lit up statewide. Thiruvannamalai (peak): Arunachaleshwar temple + Maha Deepam atop hill draws 3.5 lakh+ pilgrims; Giri Valam route (14 km) filled overnight. Andhra/Telangana: Karthika Deepam / Karthika Vanabhojanam — every household lights 30+ diyas; Karthika Somavaram cluster continues. Karnataka: Karthika Deepam at all Shiva temples (Chamundi Hills, Sri Chamundeshwari). Kerala: Karthika Vilakku at Guruvayur + Chottanikkara + Padmanabhaswamy temples. Sri Lanka Tamil communities: Karthigai Deepam at Nallur + Konesar Temple (Trincomalee). Malaysia/Singapore Tamil diaspora: community festival at all Murugan and Shiva temples.