Karthigai Deepam Tiruvannamalai

கார்த்திகை தீபம் திருவண்ணாமலை

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Religious & SpiritualTiruvannamalai
DatesDates TBACheck locally before booking
DurationAnnualEstimate from available data
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forCeremony, pilgrimageThe Maha Deepam is a genuine mega-beacon: a
LanguageHindi, English, and local languagesCurrency: INR
CategoryReligious & SpiritualFestival type
The story

Karthigai Deepam Tiruvannamalai in Tiruvannamalai

A ten-day Tamil festival of lights at Tiruvannamalai's Arunachaleswarar Temple, culminating when a massive ghee-fed beacon, the Maha Deepam, is lit atop Arunachala hill on the full moon of the Tamil month Karthigai. The flame is said to be visible for miles and marks Shiva's appearance as an infinite column of light.

At sunset on the full-moon night of the Tamil month of Karthigai, priests atop Arunachala hill in Tiruvannamalai light a giant beacon fed with gallons of ghee and camphor inside a copper cauldron, a flame the Arunachaleswarar Temple's tradition holds is visible for many kilometers across the plains below.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

The Maha Deepam is a genuine mega-beacon: a huge copper cauldron atop Arunachala hill filled with hundreds of kilograms of ghee and a wick of cloth soaked further in camphor, lit at the moment the Karthigai star rises alongside the full moon, and kept burning for days afterward

02

The mystery stays covered

Unlike temple festivals timed to fixed Gregorian dates, Karthigai Deepam follows the Tamil lunisolar calendar and the star Krittika's position, so its date shifts each year within the Tamil month of Karthigai

03

The city starts moving

Pilgrims also perform girivalam, a barefoot walk around the fourteen-kilometer base of the hill, timing it to coincide with the lighting

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

Ten nights of processions carry the temple deity through Tiruvannamalai on different vehicles

Water and renewal

Living ritual

culminating in the Maha Deepam lighting atop Arunachala hill

The sacred route

Living ritual

Pilgrims perform girivalam

The local code

Living ritual

a barefoot circuit of the hill's base

Tradition 5

Living ritual

both around the festival and on ordinary monthly full-moon days

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA

Getting around

For Karthigai Deepam Tiruvannamalai, plan transport around the exact Tiruvannamalai venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.

What to wear

Simple, modest clothing suitable for outdoor crowds and heat; many pilgrims dress traditionally in cotton veshtis and sarees. Footwear is removed for temple entry and for the barefoot...

Safety

Watch local behavior before photographing, filming, or entering sacred spaces.

Where to stay

For Karthigai Deepam Tiruvannamalai, stay near the part of Tiruvannamalai you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Tickets/cost

Public ritual moments are often free, but donations, transport, or temple access may vary.

Language/currency

INR

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map12.23 N, 79.07 EOpen in Google Maps

Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, India

Nearest airportMAA — Chennai
TransportFor Karthigai Deepam Tiruvannamalai, plan transport around the exact Tiruvannamalai venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.
Stay areaFor Karthigai Deepam Tiruvannamalai, stay near the part of Tiruvannamalai you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Tiruvannamalai via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Tiruvannamalai, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for festival season.Compare faresFestival gearSimple, modest clothing suitable for outdoor crowds and heat; many pilgrims dress traditionally in cotton veshtis and sarees. Footwear is removed for temple entry and for the barefoot girivalam walk.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for India and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Karthigai Deepam Tiruvannamalai?

Karthigai Deepam Tiruvannamalai is listed for Multiple months. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Karthigai Deepam Tiruvannamalai take place?

The festival is listed in Tiruvannamalai, India. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

Annual is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, India

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLbharatabharati.in
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA
Source statusOfficial source linked
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