Karthigai Deepam
கார்த்திகை தீபம்
Karthigai Deepam is the festival of lamps observed in the Tamil month Karthigai, associated with the Krittikai nakshatra and famous for the Thiruvannamalai Deepam.
Note the countdown here, then open Daily Calendar on the same date for tithi, nakṣatra spans, sunrise, and auspicious timings—steady reading beats guesswork.
How long until Karthigai Deepam?
Primary date already passed this year; see elapsed days beside.
days elapsed since 2019-12-10.
Tithi, nakshatra & auspicious times
For this date we have not loaded the expanded day card yet. Open Daily Calendar or Panchangam for the same civil day to read Tamil tithi lines, nakṣatra span, sunrise, Rahu, Yamagandam, Gulikai, and Abhijit in one place.
- Primary date: 2019-12-10 (Tuesday, December 10, 2019)
Tamil Nadu Karthigai culture
What is Karthigai Deepam?
Karthigai Deepam is an ancient and highly revered traditional festival of lights exclusively celebrated by Tamils during the full moon day (Pournami) in conjunction with the Krittikai nakshatra in the Tamil month of Karthigai. It is widely considered one of the oldest recorded festivals in Tamil literature, predating many other major celebrations.
While it shares the theme of illumination with Diwali, Karthigai Deepam is uniquely characterized by its pure, quiet devotion and an almost exclusive focus on lighting meticulously arranged rows of small, beautiful earthen clay lamps. It spiritually marks the ultimate triumph of light over the darkness of ignorance, emphasizing that the inner light of the soul must be awakened through continuous prayer and deep meditation.
Traditions in Tamil Nadu
On this highly auspicious evening, the entire state of Tamil Nadu visually transforms. Homes, streets, and temples shine brightly with hundreds of thousands of traditional clay lamps, beautifully known as 'agal vilakku', arranged systematically outside houses which are adorned with detailed kolams (rice flour rangolis). Inside the homes, special delicious offerings like puffed rice balls bound with sweet jaggery syrup (pori urundai) and sweet fried appams are freshly prepared.
The grandest and most spiritually charged celebration occurs at the sacred temple town of Thiruvannamalai. Here, an unimaginably massive cauldron of ghee is lit precisely atop the towering Arunachala hill. This colossal fire, known as the 'Maha Deepam', burns for days and is visible for kilometers around, drawing millions of devoted pilgrims who chant and circumambulate the holy hill in sheer reverence.
Lamp worship guide
Items & timing notes
- Agal vilakku, oil or ghee, cotton wicks, camphor, turmeric and kumkum, flowers, betel leaf and nut
- Fruit, bitter gourd/aviyal-style dishes, rice adai or sweets according to family custom
- A clean altar or a safe lamp row across the doorway
Nalla neram note: Many families light rows just before or after sunset; for the exact band times (Rahu, etc.) open the Daily Calendar for that civil day.
Fasting: Optional gentle fast until evening lamps; hydrate and consult your doctor if you use medication or manage diabetes.
Mantra cue: Om Saravanabavaya Namah / Om Namasivaya (per family lineage)
Steps & safety
- Clean the threshold, draw kolam, and place agal lamps in a safe arc.
- Light from the main lamp or central diya and extend calmly along the row.
- Offer naivedyam; temple girivalam only when health permits.
- Supervise children near flames; use stable bases for brass or metal lamps.
- Share sweets calmly and reach temples slightly early to ease crowding.
- Avoid leaving oil lamps alone on windy terraces or beside curtains.
- Never block evacuation routes during crowded public Deepam events.
Offer pongal, adai, payasam, or simple fruit as naivedyam according to family tradition.
Karthigai Deepam civil dates (sample years)
Sample Gregorian festival days from our working table—a quick skim before you compare with your own temple or town murai.
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 2020-11-29 |
| 2021 | 2021-11-19 |
| 2022 | 2022-12-07 |
| 2023 | 2023-11-27 |
| 2024 | 2024-11-16 |
| 2025 | 2025-12-04 |
| 2026 | 2026-11-24 |
| 2027 | 2027-12-12 |
| 2028 | 2028-12-01 |
| 2029 | 2029-11-21 |
| 2030 | 2030-12-08 |
2019 — lighting the mindset
For 2019, anchor travel and kitchen prep on the primary civil day listed above. Read Rahu spans on Daily Calendar instead of hearsay; attempt girivalam only if stamina allows. At home keep the doorway lamp row simple—good light and calm company matter more than scale.
