Karthigai Deepam 2026: Date and Temple Notes
Karthigai Deepam is on Tuesday 24 November 2026, says Drik Panchang. The great lamp (Maha Deepam) is lit on Arunachala hill in the evening at Tiruvannamalai. The temple has not posted its 2026 notice yet.
Are you going to Tiruvannamalai for the lamp? Then you may want the exact time and the entry rules.
We could not find a 2026 notice from the temple. So this page shows the date, what the calendar says, and what the Srirangam temple has posted.
When is Karthigai Deepam 2026?
Drik Panchang and the Srirangam temple's own table both give 24 November. Some blogs give other dates, but we do not list those.
| What | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Karthigai Deepam and Maha Deepam | Tuesday, 24 November 2026 | The Karthigai star runs from 2:02 AM to 11:25 PM on this day in Delhi. |
| Srirangam: Kaisika Ekadasi | Friday, 20 November 2026 | The Namperumal procession is at 10:30 AM. |
| Srirangam: Kaisika Dwadasi | Saturday, 21 November 2026 | The procession is at 10:00 AM. |
| Srirangam: Thirukarthigai | Tuesday, 24 November 2026 | Pancharatra Deepam, and the Namperumal procession at 9:00 AM. |
What is Karthigai Deepam 2026?
Karthigai Deepam is the Tamil festival of lamps. It falls on the day the Karthigai star meets the full moon (Drik Panchang).
At Tiruvannamalai the temple festival lasts 10 days and starts with a flag hoisting. On the last day a lamp is lit inside the temple early in the morning (Bharani Deepam). In the evening the great lamp is lit on top of the hill.
Drik Panchang says the Bharani Deepam is lit around 4 AM and the hill lamp around 6 PM. The district administration's page, last updated in 2018, says about 5 PM. So treat the time as evening until the temple announces it.
Do temples change their timings on Karthigai Deepam 2026?
Here is what we found for each temple.
- Arunachaleswarar Temple, Tiruvannamalai
We found no 2026 notice from the temple or the Tamil Nadu temples department. Drik Panchang describes a 10-day festival that ends on 24 November. We could not confirm the flag-hoisting date with the temple, so we do not list it.
- Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam
The temple's festival table lists Kaisika Ekadasi on 20 November, Kaisika Dwadasi on 21 November, and Thirukarthigai on 24 November. Daily darshan hours for these days are not in the table.
We did not find any notice on whether the Tiruvannamalai temple changes its darshan hours on festival days.
Tips for your visit
- Check the Tiruvannamalai temple's notice closer to the day, for entry rules and the lamp time.
- Hold your travel booking until the temple posts its programme, if you can.
Karthigai Deepam 2026 questions
When is Karthigai Deepam 2026?
It is on Tuesday 24 November 2026, says Drik Panchang. The Srirangam temple's table also lists Thirukarthigai on 24 November.
What time is the Maha Deepam lit?
Drik Panchang says around 6 PM, and an older district page says about 5 PM (page). The temple has not announced the 2026 time.
What is Bharani Deepam?
It is the lamp lit inside the temple before sunrise, usually around 4 AM, says Drik Panchang. The hill lamp is lit with a flame from it.
Is Karthigai Deepam on the same day as Dev Deepawali?
Yes, in 2026 both fall on 24 November. They are different festivals in different parts of India.
Quick summary
Karthigai Deepam is on 24 November 2026. The hill lamp is lit in the evening.
The Tiruvannamalai temple has not posted its notice, so check again closer to the day.
Karthigai Deepam is on 24 November 2026. The hill lamp time is not confirmed by the temple yet.
More festivals coming up
- Navratri and Durga Puja 2026 (11 to 21 October 2026)
- Dussehra 2026 (20 to 21 October 2026)
- Diwali 2026 (6 to 11 November 2026)
- Sabarimala Mandalam and Makaravilakku Season 2026-27 (17 November 2026 to 15 January 2027)
- See the full festival list