Karthigai Deepam 2026

Countdown to the Maha Deepam

The countdown runs to about 6 PM IST on 24 November 2026, the approximate lighting time. Published calendars agree Published calendars agree on this date; it will become “Official” once the temple publishes its schedule.

Key dates

Date	Event	Status
Sunday 15 November 2026	Flag hoisting (kodiyetram): Brahmotsavam begins	Reported by published calendars
15–24 November 2026	Ten days of processions on vahanas, morning and night; chariot festival during the week	Schedule set by the temple
Tuesday 24 November 2026, before dawn	Bharani Deepam lit in the sanctum	Published calendars agree
Tuesday 24 November 2026, about 6 PM	Ardhanarishvara darshan and Maha Deepam lit on the summit	Published calendars agree
Following days	Maha Deepam kept burning; Theppotsavam; heavy Girivalam crowds	Traditional pattern

We will add the temple’s day-by-day vahana and chariot schedule when it is published. Check the official temple website for the latest.

Sources for the date

• karthigaideepam.com lists Tuesday 24 November 2026.
• The Arunachala Grace ten-year calendar lists Tuesday 24 November 2026.
• Our own calculation (the moon in Krittika nakshatra at dusk in the Tamil month of Karthigai) also gives 24 November.

No official temple notice for 2026 was available when we checked on 27 September 2026.

Planning for 2026

• Book your room now. Rooms within walking distance of the temple sell out months ahead. See where to stay.
• Arrive by 23 November. Traffic controls begin well before the day; private vehicles are stopped on the edge of town.
• Getting there: check special trains on the National Train Enquiry System and special buses on TNSTC. See how to reach.
• Where to watch: see the viewing advice on the Maha Deepam page.
• Temple entry: controlled by passes and queues on the day. Watch the official website for how they are issued.
• Girivalam: the full-moon tithi falls around the Deepam this year. The Pournami calendar lists the exact window.

Crowds and safety

Several million people are widely reported to visit for the festival. Agree a meeting point with your group, keep children close with your phone number in their pocket, carry water and a torch, and follow police instructions on one-way routes.