About Deepotsavam
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- 🙏 Deity: Vishnu (Venkateswara), Shiva (Jyotirlinga)
- 📅 Deepotsavam 2026 date:
- ⏳ Duration: Full Karthika month (30 days), with grand climax on Karthika Purnima
- 🌙 Lunar month: Karthika
- 🗺️ Celebrated in: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka — especially Tirumala, Hampi, Tiruvannamalai
Deepotsavam — meaning "festival of light" (deepa: lamp, utsavam: festival) — is one of the most visually magnificent celebrations in the Hindu temple calendar. Unlike Diwali, which is a household celebration, Deepotsavam is principally a temple festival, transforming massive sacred complexes into seas of flickering light during the auspicious Karthika month (October–November). The entire month of Karthika is considered sacred to both Shiva and Vishnu, and the tradition of lighting lamps at temples throughout this month forms the spiritual backbone of Deepotsavam.
The most celebrated Deepotsavam in India is the one held at Tirumala — the Karthika Deepotsavam at the Sri Venkateswara temple. On specific nights during Karthika, all eleven gopurams (towering gateway pyramids) of the Tirumala temple complex are illuminated with thousands of oil diyas, creating an otherworldly spectacle visible from miles around. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims gather on the hills of Tirumala to witness this breathtaking event. The festival symbolizes Lord Venkateswara (Vishnu) as the supreme light of consciousness illumining the universe.
In Karnataka, the Hampi Deepotsava is held at the ancient Virupaksha temple complex (a Shiva temple) and the ruins of Hampi, where diyas are lit along the Tungabhadra riverbanks, on temple steps, and across the archaeological landscape. This festival simultaneously honours the Shaiva heritage of Hampi and the memory of the Vijayanagara empire. Across Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, all major Shiva and Vishnu temples observe Karthika Deepam by lighting lamps on their gopurams throughout the month, with a grand climax on Karthika Purnima. The individual act of lighting a lamp in the Karthika month — whether at home, at a temple, or under a tulsi plant — is considered an act of profound spiritual merit.
Significance of Deepotsavam
Deepotsavam carries spiritual significance that runs from the devotional to the cosmological:
Deities worshipped on Deepotsavam
Follow the links to explore each deity’s mantras, stories, and temples on Temples.bio.
Lord Vishnu
Primary deity of Tirumala Deepotsavam — Lord Venkateswara worshipped as Jyoti Swarupa (form of divine light) during gopuram illumination
The Preserver of the Universe — the all-pervading Supreme Being who descends to Earth in divine avatars whenever righteousness declines and evil rises.
View deity →
Lord Shiva
Central deity of Hampi Deepotsava and Tiruvannamalai Deepam — worshipped as the infinite Jyotirlinga whose light beacon is lit atop Annamalai hill
The Supreme Destroyer and Transformer of the Universe — The Adiyogi, Lord of Lords, and the First Yogi.
View deity →
Goddess Lakshmi
Goddess of prosperity and light, invoked alongside Vishnu during Deepotsavam as the auspicious light that enters illuminated temples
The Invincible Mother Goddess — Supreme Feminine Power who destroys evil, protects the righteous, and embodies the divine energy of the entire universe.
View deity →Deepotsavam honours both Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva, reflecting the dual sacred character of the Karthika month. At Tirumala, Lord Venkateswara — a form of Vishnu — is the supreme deity. His eleven gopurams being illuminated during Karthika Deepotsavam represents him as the Jyoti Swarupa (form of divine light), the Paramatman whose radiance pervades all worlds. Goddess Lakshmi, ever-present with Vishnu, is also invoked during the lamp festival as the light of prosperity and auspiciousness descends upon the illuminated temple. At Hampi and most South Indian Shiva temples, Deepotsavam honours Lord Shiva, specifically in his Lingobhava aspect — where he appeared as an infinite pillar of light (Jyotirlinga) to humble both Brahma and Vishnu. At Arunachaleswarar temple in Tiruvannamalai (another major site of Karthika light festivals), Lord Shiva himself is said to take the form of fire on the Karthika Purnima Deepam day — when the beacon lit atop Annamalai Hill is believed to be the God himself. Goddess Tulsi (the sacred basil plant) is also venerated by lighting lamps near her during the Karthika month as a daily practice.
How to celebrate Deepotsavam 2026
1. For the full month of Karthika, light a ghee or sesame oil lamp every evening at home — near the tulsi plant, at the front door, and in the puja room.
2. Visit your nearest Shiva or Vishnu temple every evening during Karthika for the deepotsavam aarti — the experience of hundreds of lamps lit together is the essence of the festival.
3. For the Tirumala Deepotsavam: Book your pilgrimage during Karthika month, especially targeting the nights when the gopuram illumination takes place. Arrive by sunset to witness the full lighting ceremony from the viewing areas.
4. Perform the Karthika Deepam puja at home: Place 365 small diyas (representing each day of the year) around the tulsi plant on Karthika Purnima evening.
5. Light diyas in a row at the entrance to your home (similar to Diwali), specifically with sesame oil and cotton wicks as prescribed for Karthika.
6. Recite the Karthika Deepam shloka and the Shiva Jyotirlinga stotra while lighting lamps.
7. At Shiva temples, offer bilva leaves and light camphor diyas before the Shivalinga as part of the Karthika Abhishek.
8. If near Tiruvannamalai on Karthika Purnima, witness or participate in the Girivalam (circumambulation of Annamalai Hill, approximately 14 km) — the beacon on the hill is lit on this night.
9. Offer lamps at a river or lake ghat in the evening, floating them on the water as an offering to water deities and ancestors.
10. Conclude the Deepotsavam month on Karthika Purnima with a complete home lamp ceremony and temple visit for Maha Aarti.
Rituals & regional traditions
Spiritual benefits
Mantras & sacred chants
DEEPAJYOTI PARABRAHMA DEEPAJYOTI JANARDHANA, DEEPO HARATI PAPANI SANDHYADEEPA NAMOSTUTE
Sanskrit: दीपज्योतिः परब्रह्म दीपज्योतिर्जनार्दनः। दीपो हरति पापानि संध्यादीप नमोऽस्तुते॥
Meaning: The light of the lamp is Parabrahman (supreme reality), the light of the lamp is Janardana (Vishnu). The lamp destroys sins — salutations to the lamp of the sandhya (twilight). This is the primary mantra chanted when lighting any lamp during Karthika Deepotsavam.
OM NAMAH SHIVAYA JYOTILINGAYA
Sanskrit: ॐ नमः शिवाय ज्योतिलिङ्गाय
Meaning: Salutations to Shiva, the Jyotirlinga (infinite pillar of light) — chanted at Shiva temples during Deepotsavam, invoking the form of Shiva who appeared as limitless divine light to demonstrate his supremacy to Brahma and Vishnu.
SRIYAH KANTE SHRIMAT NARAYANA SRIDHARA SRIPATIH SHRINIVASAH, SHRI VENKATESHARAYA NAMAH
Sanskrit: श्रीयः कान्ते श्रीमन्नारायण श्रीधर श्रीपतिः श्रीनिवासः। श्रीवेङ्कटेशाराय नमः॥
Meaning: Salutations to Lord Venkateswara — the beloved of Sri (Lakshmi), the one who bears Lakshmi on his chest, the divine abode of Sri. Chanted during the Tirumala Karthika Deepotsavam as the gopurams are illuminated.
Deepotsavam 2026 — FAQs
Deepotsavam 2026 is celebrated throughout the Karthika month, with the grand climax on Karthika Purnima falling on November 15, 2026. The Tirumala Karthika Deepotsavam and Tiruvannamalai Deepam also fall on this date.
Tirumala Karthika Deepotsavam is the spectacular illumination of all eleven gopurams of the Sri Venkateswara temple complex with thousands of oil diyas during the Karthika month. It is one of the most magnificent temple light festivals in India, drawing lakhs of pilgrims to Tirumala.
Diwali is primarily a household festival of lamps celebrated on Amavasya (new moon) in Kartik month, associated with Lakshmi and the return of Lord Rama. Deepotsavam is a temple festival celebrated throughout the Karthika month, focused on gopuram illumination, Shiva and Vishnu worship, and the sacred significance of lamp-lighting in temples.
Hampi Deepotsava is an annual festival at the historic Virupaksha temple and the ruins of Hampi in Karnataka, where thousands of diyas are lit along the Tungabhadra riverbanks and across the temple complex during the Karthika month, celebrating the Shaiva heritage of the Vijayanagara empire.
The Skanda Purana declares Karthika to be the holiest month of the year for both Shiva and Vishnu worship. A single lamp lit in Karthika is said to bestow the merit of thousands of lamps in other months. The month is especially sacred for honouring both deceased ancestors and the divine light of consciousness.
Girivalam is the ritual circumambulation of the sacred Annamalai hill at Tiruvannamalai (approximately 14 km). On Karthika Purnima, a massive beacon (Mahadeepam) is lit atop the hill, representing Lord Shiva as the infinite pillar of light. Over a million pilgrims walk the Girivalam path on this night to receive his blessings.
Light a ghee or sesame oil lamp every evening of Karthika at the tulsi plant and puja room. On Karthika Purnima, light 365 diyas around the tulsi plant. Offer floating lamps at a nearby river or lake. Chant the Deepajyoti mantra when lighting each lamp. Visit your nearest Shiva or Vishnu temple for the evening Deepotsavam aarti.
Major Deepotsavam celebrations include Tirumala Venkateswara temple (Andhra Pradesh), Arunachaleswarar temple Tiruvannamalai (Tamil Nadu), Virupaksha temple Hampi (Karnataka), and virtually all major Shiva and Vishnu temples across South India during the Karthika month.
