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Hindu festival · San Francisco Bay Area
Karthigai Deepam
Dates for the Bay Area
- Monday, 23 November 2026Major Tamil festivalnext
- Saturday, 11 December 2027Major Tamil festival
Why it matters
The Tamil festival of lamps honors Shiva as limitless divine light and also has strong associations with Murugan and the Krittika stars.
The story behind it
At Tiruvannamalai, the great beacon on Arunachala recalls the story of Shiva appearing as an endless column of fire.
Prayers and worship
Lighting rows of lamps, Shiva or Murugan worship, “Om Namah Shivaya,” devotional hymns such as Tevaram, and arati are common.
Fasting and devotional customs
Fasting and household customs vary; follow the temple or family tradition for this observance.
What is typically offered
Oil lamps, flowers, pori and traditional sweets, vibhuti and deepam arrangements.
Visiting a temple that day
Temples may light hundreds of lamps. Observe fire-safety instructions and keep pathways clear.
Spiritual themes
Divine light, humility, knowledge and devotion.
Request this pooja
Sri Kumar Gurukkal performs Karthigai Deepam observances at your home, at a temple, or with family joining remotely.
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Maha ShivaratriPanguni UthiramKarwa ChauthDev DeepavaliArudra DarshanAll Pūrṇimā datesAll Pradoṣam datesThis date was derived for the Fremont anchor from standard tithi, nakṣatra and solar-ingress rules. Dates are compiled for the Fremont / Bay Area location and checked against Northern-California Panchāṅgam references. They can differ from a calendar computed for another city or another sampradāya. Please confirm any date on which you plan a ceremony with Sri Kumar Gurukkal. How these dates are calculated →