Karthigai Deepam 2026: The Date
Karthigai Deepam falls on Tuesday, 24 November 2026. On that evening, the Maha Deepam is lit atop Arunachala Hill in Tiruvannamalai, the climax of a ten-day festival running from 15 to 24 November 2026, as per the customary schedule.
The date is set by the Tamil calendar: Deepam is observed when the Krittika (Karthigai) nakshatra aligns with the Pournami of the Tamil month of Karthigai. In 2026 that alignment falls on 24 November. As always, the Arunachaleswarar Temple’s official festival programme, published closer to the event, is the final authority on the day-by-day schedule.
Key Moments of Deepam Day
| Event | Customary Time | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| Bharani Deepam | Around 4:00 AM | The inaugural flame is lit inside the temple in the early hours |
| Theerthavari and daytime rituals | Through the day | Festival rites continue across the temple and tanks |
| Maha Deepam lighting | Around 6:00 PM at dusk | The giant cauldron atop Arunachala is lit from the Bharani flame as Ardhanareeswarar gives darshan below |
The hilltop cauldron burns enormous quantities of ghee offered by devotees, with reports of roughly 3,500 kg used, and the flame is visible for many kilometres around. It is then maintained for days afterwards.
The Ten-Day Festival: 15 to 24 November 2026
Deepam day caps the Karthigai Brahmotsavam, ten days of processions and rituals. The festival traditionally opens with the flag hoisting (Dwajarohanam) and builds through daily processions of the deities on different vahanams, including the silver chariot, the great wooden Maha Ratham that fills the street, and the horse vahanam, before the flame crowns the final day. After Deepam, closing celebrations include theppam (float) festivals on the temple tanks and a Girivalam procession of the deity.
The exact day-by-day programme for 2026 will be published by the temple; treat the sequence above as the customary pattern.
Why This Festival Matters Here
Tiruvannamalai is the Agni sthalam, the fire-element temple among the Pancha Bhoota Stalams. The Deepam flame re-enacts the founding legend: Shiva appearing as an endless column of fire that neither Brahma nor Vishnu could measure. When the hilltop cauldron catches at dusk, the hill itself becomes, for devotees, that column of light. It is the single most important day of the Tiruvannamalai year.
What to Expect in the Town
- Crowds: The largest of the year, with lakhs of pilgrims on the main day and heavy footfall across the festival window.
- Girivalam: Vast numbers walk the 14 km path with the flame in view; the walk continues for days while the flame burns.
- Traffic: Expect road closures, one-way pedestrian flows and diverted vehicle routes announced by the district administration.
- Stays: Hotels sell out weeks ahead for the Deepam window; book early or stay farther out.
Planning Your 2026 Deepam Visit
- Fix your dates around 24 November 2026, arriving at least a day early.
- Book accommodation as soon as your plan firms up; the closer to the temple, the earlier it sells out.
- Decide your experience: the main-evening lighting amid maximum crowds, or Girivalam at dawn on the following days with the flame still burning.
- Confirm the temple’s official programme once published for exact event times.
- Pack for long waits: water, light snacks, comfortable traditional wear.
Karthigai Deepam Beyond Tiruvannamalai
Across Tamil Nadu, the same evening is the festival of lights: homes draw kolams and line their thresholds with oil lamps, temples hold special worship, and the month’s Krittika days carry special worship of Lord Murugan, born of the Krittika stars. But the sight that defines the festival remains the flame over Arunachala.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing Bharani Deepam, the dawn flame inside the temple, with the evening Maha Deepam on the hill.
- Arriving on the main day itself and losing hours to diverted traffic.
- Leaving right after the lighting and missing the calmer, magical after-days.
- Relying on unofficial schedules; the temple’s published programme is the authority.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Karthigai Deepam 2026 date?
Tuesday, 24 November 2026, with the Maha Deepam lit at dusk on Arunachala Hill.
When does the 2026 festival begin?
The ten-day festival runs from 15 to 24 November 2026 as per the customary schedule, subject to the temple’s official programme.
What time is the Maha Deepam lit?
Customarily around 6:00 PM at dusk, following the dawn Bharani Deepam inside the temple.
How is the Deepam date decided?
It falls when the Krittika nakshatra aligns with the full moon of the Tamil month of Karthigai, which in 2026 occurs on 24 November.
How long does the hilltop flame burn?
It is maintained for days after the lighting, fed by ghee offered by devotees.
Can I do Girivalam during Deepam 2026?
Yes; lakhs do, on the main night and the days after. Expect police-managed one-way flows.
Is Karthigai Deepam the same as Bharani Deepam?
No. Bharani Deepam is the inaugural dawn flame inside the temple on the same day; the Maha Deepam is the evening hilltop flame.
How early should I book a hotel for Deepam 2026?
Several weeks ahead at minimum for anything near the temple or the Girivalam road.
Is the flame visible from the Girivalam path?
From most of the circuit, coming in and out of view as the road curves around the hill.
Where can I confirm the official schedule?
From the Arunachaleswarar Temple’s festival programme published closer to the event on the official HR and CE channels.
Conclusion
Mark it now: 24 November 2026. If you see one thing in Tiruvannamalai in your lifetime, make it the moment the hill catches fire at dusk. Plan early, and the greatest festival of the temple year takes care of the rest.
Related reading: Girivalam during Karthigai Deepam, Girivalam dates 2026 and hotels near the temple.
