Karthigai Deepam 2026 கார்த்திகை தீபம்

The day in the Tamil calendar

Timings for Chennai. The date follows the Tamil Nadu calendar.

About the festival

Karthigai Deepam is a Tamil festival of lights, with roots traceable to Sangam-era Tamil literature.^1,2

Homes are cleaned, kolams are drawn at the entrance, doorways are hung with mango-leaf festoons, and rows of clay lamps (agal vilakku) are lit in the evening.^1,2,3

Many devotees fast during the day and break the fast after sunset.^2,3

At Tiruvannamalai, a large lamp (the Maha Deepam) is lit on top of the Arunachala hill and is visible from a long distance.^1,3,4

When it falls: Karthigai Deepam falls in the Tamil month of Karthigai on the day of the Krittika (Karthigai) nakshatra.^1,3

Sources

1. Wikipedia: Karthikai Deepam
2. incredibleindia.gov.in
3. tamilnadutourism.tn.gov.in
4. indiatvnews.com

Karthigai Deepam in other years