Karthigai Month 2026: Tamil Festival Dates, Karthigai Deepam, Somavarams and Ayyappa Mala

Quick answer: Karthigai month 2026 runs from Tuesday 17 November to Tuesday 15 December 2026 (calculated). Its high point is Karthigai Deepam on Tuesday 24 November 2026 (Drik Panchang). The month also brings four Karthigai Somavarams (Mondays), the start of the Sabarimala Mandala season and the Ayyappa mala on 17 November, and the Maha Deepam at Thiruvannamalai.

Karthigai is the eighth month of the Tamil solar calendar. It is a month of lamps, Shiva worship and pilgrimage. This guide lists its key days in 2026, explains the main customs, and shows how it differs from the Telugu and Kannada Karthika Masam.

Karthigai month 2026 dates

A Tamil month starts with a solar sankranti, when the sun enters a new sign. The Vrischika Sankranti is on Monday 16 November 2026 at about 7:29 PM IST (calculated; Drik lists it on 16 November). Because it falls after sunset, the month begins the next day.

The month's start and end dates are calculated by HinduTone and should be confirmed with a Tamil panchangam. Festival dates are India dates.

Karthigai Deepam: the festival of lamps

Karthigai Deepam falls when the Karthigai (Krittika) nakshatra joins the full moon of the month. In 2026 it is on Tuesday 24 November. At dusk, Tamil homes are lit with rows of small clay lamps called agal vilakku, at the doorway, on the steps, along the walls and in the kolam.

The festival is linked with the story of Lingodbhava, as commonly told. Brahma and Vishnu argued about who was greater. A column of fire appeared before them with no beginning and no end. Vishnu went down to find its base and Brahma went up to find its top, but neither could. Shiva then appeared from the column. The lamps of Karthigai remember this endless light.

In many temples, a bonfire of dried palm leaves called sokkapanai is lit on Karthigai Deepam night. See Karthigai Deepam 2026.

Thiruvannamalai Maha Deepam

The greatest Karthigai Deepam is held at the Arunachaleswara temple in Thiruvannamalai, one of the Pancha Bhoota Sthalams, where Shiva is worshipped as fire. Traditionally, the Bharani Deepam is lit in the temple early on the festival day. At dusk, the Maha Deepam is lit in a huge vessel on top of the Annamalai hill, and it can be seen from far away. Many pilgrims also walk the girivalam path around the hill.

The festival draws very large crowds. The temple and district administration announce the festival schedule and crowd arrangements, so check the temple's official website before you travel. See Arunachaleswara Temple guide and Pancha Bhoota Sthalams guide.

Karthigai Somavaram: Mondays for Shiva

Mondays in Karthigai are special days for Lord Shiva. In 2026 they fall on 23 November, 30 November, 7 December and 14 December. Many Shiva temples perform Shankhabhishekam, an abhishekam with water from many conch shells, on these Mondays. Devotees fast during the day, visit a Shiva temple and light a lamp in the evening.

A simple home practice is to offer water or milk to a Shiva lingam, offer bilva leaves and chant "Om Namah Shivaya" 108 times. Monday 7 December is also Masik Shivaratri, so many devotees keep a longer vigil that night.

Sabarimala season and the Ayyappa mala

Karthigai 1, Tuesday 17 November 2026, is the day many Ayyappa devotees wear the sacred mala and begin the 41-day vratham. Drik Panchang lists Mandala Pooja Begins on the same day, which is also the first day of the Malayalam month Vrischikam.

• Devotees wear black, blue or saffron clothes and a tulsi or rudraksha mala.
• They follow a simple vegetarian diet, celibacy and daily prayer, and they call each other "Swami".
• The vratham prepares them for the pilgrimage to Sabarimala with the irumudi kettu.

The Travancore Devaswom Board announces the temple's opening days and pilgrimage rules. See Sabarimala Mandalam-Makaravilakku 2026-27 season guide and Ayyappa deeksha for NRIs.

Other observances in Karthigai

• Kaisika Ekadashi: Tamil Vaishnava temples traditionally observe the Shukla Ekadashi of Karthigai as Kaisika Ekadashi. Drik lists the Vaishnava Ekadashi on Saturday 21 November 2026; follow your temple's calendar.
• Kalabhairava Ashtami: Tuesday 1 December 2026, a day for worship of Kalabhairava, the guardian form of Shiva. See Kalabhairava Jayanti 2026.
• Utpanna Ekadashi: Friday 4 December 2026. See Utpanna Ekadashi 2026.
• Sankashti Chaturthi: Friday 27 November 2026, a fast for Lord Ganesha broken after moonrise.

Karthigai vs Telugu Karthika Masam

Tamil Karthigai and Telugu or Kannada Karthika Masam share a name, but they are counted differently.

Because the two months overlap, both Tamil and Telugu families celebrate the great full moon of lamps on the same day in 2026. See Karthika Masam 2026 and Karthika Masam 2026 calendar day by day.

Karthigai for Tamil families abroad

• Check a Tamil panchangam made for your country. The first day of the month and festival days can differ from India.
• Light agal lamps at the doorway and windows on Karthigai Deepam. In flats, use a metal tray and keep lamps away from smoke alarms.
• Many temples abroad hold Karthigai Deepam and Somavaram abhishekam. Check the temple's official website for the programme.
• Ayyappa devotees abroad can begin the mala with their local temple or guru swami and follow the vratham at home.

Frequently asked questions

When does Karthigai month 2026 start and end?

Karthigai month 2026 runs from Tuesday 17 November to Tuesday 15 December 2026. This is calculated: the Vrischika Sankranti falls after sunset on Monday 16 November, so Karthigai 1 is 17 November, and Margazhi begins on Wednesday 16 December. Please confirm with a Tamil panchangam.

When is Karthigai Deepam 2026?

Karthigai Deepam is on Tuesday 24 November 2026, per Drik Panchang. The same day is Kartika Purnima and Thrikarthika in Kerala.

What are the Karthigai Somavaram dates in 2026?

The Mondays of Karthigai 2026 are 23 November, 30 November, 7 December and 14 December. Many Shiva temples hold special abhishekam on these days.

When can I wear the Ayyappa mala in 2026?

Many devotees wear the Ayyappa mala on the first day of Karthigai, Tuesday 17 November 2026. Drik Panchang lists Mandala Pooja Begins on the same day. Your guru swami or local temple will guide you on the exact day and rules.

Is Karthigai month the same as Karthika Masam?

No. Karthigai is a Tamil solar month that begins when the sun enters Vrischika (Scorpio): 17 November to 15 December 2026. Telugu and Kannada Karthika Masam is a lunar month: 10 November to 8 December 2026. Both include Karthigai Deepam and Karthika Pournami on 24 November 2026.

Are the dates different for Tamil families abroad?

They can be. The first day of a Tamil month depends on when the sankranti happens in your local time, and festival days depend on local sunrise. Check a Tamil panchangam made for your country or ask your local temple, and do not convert India's times.

Editor's note

Editor's note (6 October 2026): This guide has been restored at its original address after the earlier version was lost. The start and end of Karthigai (17 November to 15 December 2026) and the sankranti time are calculated by HinduTone; please confirm them with a Tamil panchangam. Festival dates are India dates from Drik Panchang. We do not list temple timings or event schedules; check official sources. Stories are given as commonly told.

Related guides

• November 2026 Hindu festival calendar
• Thrikarthika 2026 in Kerala
• Karthika Pournami 2026
• Skanda Sashti 2026
• Karthika Masam 2026 in Singapore
• November 2026 festivals state-wise