The mountain · The great festival

Karthigai Deepam live 2026: how to watch online

Cannot be at Tiruvannamalai on 24 November? The Maha Deepam is lit at about 6 PM IST and is widely streamed. Here is the time in your time zone, where the live streams usually appear, and how to find a genuine one.

Jump to: Your time zone · Where to watch · Finding a genuine stream · Keep the festival at home · FAQ

When to tune in: Karthigai Deepam in your time zone

Two moments matter. The Bharani Deepam is lit in the early hours (about 4 AM IST) inside the Arunachaleswarar temple, and the Maha Deepam, the great beacon on the summit of Arunachala, is lit at dusk (about 6 PM IST) on Tuesday 24 November 2026. Here is what that means where you are.

Times are approximate and follow the traditional pattern of the day; the lighting can run a few minutes either way. Streams usually begin earlier, so join 30–45 minutes before.

Where the live streams usually appear

The Maha Deepam is widely broadcast. In a typical year you can expect to find it live on YouTube and social media through the official channels of the temple and the state’s HR&CE department, the main Tamil television and news channels, and local Tiruvannamalai channels, often with views from the temple, the Girivalam road and sometimes the hilltop. The links are normally published only a day or two before the festival, so we do not list a channel here until it is announced.

Search for Karthigai Deepam live Tiruvannamalai on 23–24 November, filter by “Live”, and open a few. If the first one lags or buffers (millions are watching at once), try another channel or watch on a phone with a steady connection. For the full order of the day, see the Karthigai Deepam 2026 guide.

How to find a genuine stream

On a big festival day, search results fill with recycled footage. Prefer a channel with temple or government branding, or a long and verified history; check that the clock, date or banner on screen matches the day and that the stream really started that day; and give a wide berth to anything that asks for money, a login or an app download. If a “live” video is the same flame at the same angle for hours before dusk, it is probably old.

Keep the festival at home

You do not have to be there to take part. In Tamil homes the festival is marked by lighting rows of small oil lamps at dusk, so light yours at your local sunset, or at the moment the Maha Deepam is lit if you are watching live, with the cry “Annamalaiyarukku Arohara!” Many people also read the legend of the column of fire beforehand, which makes the flame on the screen much more than a spectacle.

Thinking of being there in person instead? Read the honest word on crowds in the main guide, see where to stay for the Deepam, and take the Girivalam walking companion with you for the night walk.

The 24 November 2026 date and the festival timings follow current published sources and the traditional pattern of the day; the temple announces the detailed programme close to the festival, so confirm against the official Arunachaleswarar temple (HR&CE) notice. Last updated 13 October 2026.