Karthigai Deepam: Frequently Asked Questions
The questions on this page are the ones people ask most often about Karthigai Deepam. The answers are short and direct. For longer explanations, follow the links to the relevant pages.
When is Karthigai Deepam 2026?
Tuesday, 24 November 2026. Bharani Deepam, the day before, is Monday, 23 November 2026. The date is set by the Krittika nakshatra and Pournami (full moon) coinciding in the Tamil month of Karthikai. See the full 2026 date page →
Is Karthigai Deepam for Lord Shiva or Lord Muruga?
Both. The date is set by the Krittika star, which is linked to Lord Muruga. The central legend - Shiva as the infinite pillar of fire at Arunachala - and the Maha Deepam at Tiruvannamalai honour Lord Shiva. In practice, Tamil homes honour both deities together. More on the significance →
Why is Karthigai Deepam celebrated?
It commemorates the day Lord Shiva revealed himself to Brahma and Vishnu as an infinite pillar of light, later condensed into the Arunachala hill at Tiruvannamalai. It also marks the manifestation of Lord Muruga as six sparks nurtured by the six Krittika stars. The lit lamp itself symbolises the triumph of light over darkness and of knowledge over ignorance. Read the full story →
How many days is Karthigai Deepam?
Three days in most Tamil homes: Bharani Deepam (day before), Karthigai Deepam (main day), and a smaller day-after observance. At Tiruvannamalai the associated Brahmotsavam festival runs for ten days, ending on Karthigai Deepam day. If a source says the festival is ten days long, they mean the temple festival at Tiruvannamalai.
Is Karthigai Deepam the same as Diwali?
No. Karthigai Deepam and Deepavali (Diwali) are separate festivals, though both involve lamps. Karthigai Deepam is much older, is specifically Tamil, and commemorates the appearance of the divine as light itself. In many Tamil households the two are treated as a continuous season of lighting, culminating on Karthigai Deepam.
What does the word Karthigai mean?
Karthigai is the name of the Tamil month that falls in November-December. It is also the Tamil name for the Krittika nakshatra - the Pleiades star cluster in Western astronomy. The festival is named for both the month and the star.
How is Karthigai Deepam celebrated at home?
Homes are cleaned in advance, a fresh kolam is drawn at the doorway, and mango-leaf toranams are hung. On the main evening, clay lamps (agal vilakku) are lit throughout the home from dusk onward. Sesame oil or ghee is preferred over refined oil, and traditional sweets like pori urundai and nei appam are prepared as naivedyam. Full home celebration guide →
What foods are prepared?
The signature preparations are pori urundai (puffed rice and jaggery balls), nei appam (sweet rice flour fritters fried in ghee), and nel pori (puffed paddy with jaggery). Other common items are sakkarai pongal, adhirasam, vella aval, and savoury murukku for guests. See the recipes →
What is the Maha Deepam at Tiruvannamalai?
The Maha Deepam is a great flame lit on the summit of the Arunachala hill at sunset on Karthigai Deepam day. A copper cauldron roughly five feet in diameter is filled with several tonnes of pure ghee and a stitched Ghada cloth wick, then set alight. On a clear evening the flame is visible more than thirty kilometres away. Pilgrim's guide to Tiruvannamalai →
How old is the festival?
More than two thousand years. Karthigai Deepam is referenced in the Ahananuru, part of Sangam-era Tamil literature dated to roughly 200 BCE - 300 CE, and in later works by the poet Avvaiyar and others. It is one of the oldest recorded festivals in Tamil culture.
Can anyone celebrate Karthigai Deepam?
Yes. Karthigai Deepam is a household and community festival open to anyone who wishes to observe it. The lit lamp is a universal symbol; there is nothing exclusionary about the practice of lighting one at home on the day.
What is Girivalam?
Girivalam is the barefoot circumambulation of the Arunachala hill at Tiruvannamalai. The path is approximately fourteen kilometres and passes eight lingams representing the eight cardinal directions. Devotees perform Girivalam on every Pournami (full moon), with the largest crowds walking on Karthigai Deepam night.
What mantras are chanted?
Common chants include the Deepa Jyoti sloka when lighting a lamp, the Arunachala Shiva chant for those walking Girivalam, and the Muruga mantra Om Saravanabhava. See the mantras with translations →