Karthigai Deepam 2026 | Maha Deepam Date, Traditions and Special Recipes

 Karthigai Deepam 2026 Festival Date

 Karthigai Deepam is one of the oldest festivals in the Tamil calendar, celebrated centuries before Diwali assumed its modern form. It is observed on the full-moon night of the Tamil month of Karthigai, when the Karthigai, or Krittika, star shines alongside the moon. In 2026, the festival falls on Tuesday, 24 November.

You may also like: Traditional Recipes for Karthigai Deepam

On this auspicious evening, families light rows of small clay lamps, known as agal vilakku, and place them along doorways, walls, balconies, and temple corridors. The grandest celebration takes place at Thiruvannamalai, where a great cauldron of ghee is lit atop Arunachala Hill. Its magnificent flame can be seen from miles away, symbolising divine light, spiritual awakening, and the triumph of good over darkness.

This year Karthigai Deepam will be celebrated on Tuesday, 24 November 2026. Its date changes each year because it is determined by the alignment of the Karthigai star with the full moon, or Pournami, during the Tamil month of Karthigai, which usually falls between mid-November and mid-December.

At Tiruvannamalai, the festival marks the grand finale of a ten-day Brahmotsavam. On the morning of the main celebration, the smaller Bharani Deepam is lit. After sunset, at around 6 p.m., its sacred flame is carried to the summit of Arunachala Hill, where it is used to kindle the magnificent Maha Deepam.

Special Recipes for Karthigai Deepam

1. PoriUrundai: Puffed-rice balls held together with molten jaggery syrup and delicately flavoured with dry ginger and cardamom, pori urundai is a signature Karthigai Deepam delicacy. These traditional sweets are often prepared as an offering and presented at the shrine before being shared with family.

                                   

Click here to view the recipe: PoriUrundai

2. Sweet Appam / Inippu Appam: a traditional South Indian delicacy prepared with rice, jaggery, and ripe banana.

                                   

Click here to view the recipe: Sweet Appam

3. Milagu Adai: Milagu Adai is a traditional savoury rice-and-lentil pancake prepared as an offering during Karthigai Deepam. Flavoured with black pepper, cumin, curry leaves, and coconut, this crispy and wholesome adai is enjoyed with butter, jaggery, or coconut chutney.             

                       

Click here to view the recipe: Milagu Adai

4. Rice jaggery payasam: This is one of the traditional festival recipe of Tamilnadu which tastes well and is good for health. 

Click here to view the recipe: Arisi vella payasam