Karthigai Deepam: dates, muhurat and meaning.
The next Karthigai Deepam is on Monday, 23 November 2026. The date is computed from the classical panchang for Delhi (rule: classical festival table — tithi prevailing at local noon). Below are the Karthigai Deepam dates for 2026 and 2027, the day's shubh muhurat windows, and what the festival celebrates.
Karthigai Deepam dates
What is Karthigai Deepam?
The legend is the lingodbhava: Shiva as the endless pillar of light that Brahma and Vishnu could not measure. The Arunachala beacon — a cauldron of ghee visible for miles — rekindles it yearly.
Every Tamil home lights rows of agal vilakkus at sunset; the festival predates and parallels the northern Diwali in the Tamil calendar.
Muhurat on Karthigai Deepam
Lamps are lit at dusk as Krittika nakshatra rises — the nakshatra is the timing key. The day's Abhijit Muhurat above serves daytime worship.
| Window — 23 November 2026 | Time (IST) |
|---|---|
| Abhijit Muhurat (shubh for all works) | 11:46 AM – 12:28 PM |