Karthigai Deepam
Also called Thiru Karthigai, Karthigai Vilakkidu
When
Tuesday, 24 November 2026 in 75 days
New Delhi ยท change location
See the complete panchang for that day โ
Why this date?
The Karthigai nakshatra falling on or near the Purnima of the Tamil month Karthigai. It is a NAKSHATRA observance rather than a tithi one, which is why it does not sit at a fixed point of the fortnight.
- Computed by the panchanga engine for your location
- Follows a written selection rule, not a copied list
- Governed by the whole day rather than a specific period
- The written guide has not yet been reviewed by a named scholar
Dates come from the calculation engine and are independent of the written guide. How we calculate โ
Dates in the coming years
Published to 2030. Later years appear as the dataset is extended and validated.
What In short
The Tamil festival of lamps. Rows of agal vilakku are lit at every doorway and in every window, and at Tiruvannamalai the Mahadeepam is lit on the summit of Arunachala hill, visible for miles.
- Deity: Shiva as Arunachala
Why The reason behind it
Shiva appeared at Arunachala as an infinite column of fire whose top and bottom Brahma and Vishnu could not find. The hill is that column, and the beacon on its summit is the column re-lit once a year โ which is why the Tiruvannamalai fire, not the household lamps, is the festival's centre.
Traditional basis
Arunachala Mahatmyam and the Skanda Purana โ The lingodbhava narrative of the column of fire, which the Mahadeepam re-enacts.
Sangam-era references to the Karthigai lamp festival โ Among the oldest attested Tamil festivals, referenced in the Ahananuru.
How At home, step by step
- Light rows of agal vilakku at the doorway, windows and courtyard at dusk.
- Make pori urundai and appam for the day.
- Where possible, view the Mahadeepam at Tiruvannamalai or attend the local temple's lamp lighting.
Fasting and breaking the fast
Not a fasting day.
Fasting guidance here describes traditional practice. It is not medical advice โ if you are pregnant, diabetic, on medication or unwell, ask a doctor about your own circumstances.
Personal In your region
- Tamil Nadu (Tamil)
Universal household observance; Tiruvannamalai's Mahadeepam draws the largest crowds of the Tamil year. - Kerala (Malayalam)
Kept as Thrikarthika, with lamps and a distinct temple observance.
For children
The night every doorway in Tamil Nadu is lined with little oil lamps, and a huge fire is lit on top of a hill at Tiruvannamalai that you can see from far away.
Common questions
- Is Karthigai Deepam the Tamil Diwali?
- No. Diwali is kept in Tamil Nadu too, on its own amavasya-based reckoning. Karthigai Deepam is a separate and older lamp festival tied to the Karthigai nakshatra and to Arunachala.
Not the same day
These fall nearby or share the tithi, and are often confused with this observance. They are separate, and this site dates them separately.
- Kartik Purnima
This guide has not yet been reviewed by a named scholar or practising priest. The dates and times on this page come from the calculation engine and are independent of it; the explanatory text is editorial and may not reflect your family's practice. Tell us if something is wrong.