Festival companion · Tuesday 24 November 2026

Karthika Deepam

Rows of lamps on the full moon. Everything for one festival in one place: the story to tell, the puja, a recipe, a craft for children and a shopping list.

Tell the story

The Story of Karthika Deepam

Long ago, Brahma and Vishnu argued about which of them was greater. Suddenly a pillar of fire appeared between them, so tall that neither could see its top or its bottom. Vishnu became a boar and dug down; Brahma became a swan and flew up. Neither found the end.

The pillar was Shiva, the light without beginning or end. Humbled, both bowed before it. That is why, on the full moon of Karthika, a great flame is lit on the hill at Tiruvannamalai, and families everywhere light lamps to remember the endless light.

In the north the same night is Dev Deepavali, the Diwali of the gods, when the ghats of Varanasi glow with thousands of lamps.

How families celebrate

On the full moon of Karthika, homes in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra and Kerala are lit with rows of clay lamps from the doorstep to the roof. At Tiruvannamalai a great flame is lit on top of the hill, and in Varanasi the same night is Dev Deepavali, when the ghats glow with lamps for the gods.

Rows of agal vilakku lamps at dusk, Karthigai appam and pori urundai, Tulsi puja, and a lamp floated on water in the north.

At home

The Puja

A home puja anyone can follow, step by step, with the words to say.

Before you begin

  1. Prepare

    Bathe, wear clean clothes and clean the puja place. Set out a lamp, incense, flowers, kumkum, turmeric, rice, water in a small vessel with a spoon, a bell and the naivedya (food offering).

  2. Light the lamp

    Light the lamp with ghee or oil and fold your hands.

    SayShubham karoti kalyanam arogyam dhana sampadah, shatru buddhi vinashaya deepa jyotir namostute

  3. Pray to Ganesha first

    Every puja begins with Ganesha, so the rest goes without obstacles. Offer a flower or a little rice.

    SayVakratunda mahakaya suryakoti samaprabha, nirvighnam kuru me deva sarva karyeshu sarvada

  4. Achamana and sankalpa

    Sip a spoon of water three times. Then hold a little water, rice and a flower and say, in your own language, who you are, where you are, and why you are doing this puja today. Let it fall in a plate.

    SayOm Keshavaya namah · Om Narayanaya namah · Om Madhavaya namah

Step by step

  1. Clean and draw a kolam

    Clean the house and draw a kolam at the door and around the puja place.

  2. Puja at dusk

    At sunset, worship Shiva (or your family deity) with flowers and a lamp.

    SayOm Namah Shivaya

  3. Light the lamps

    From the altar lamp, light rows of agal lamps at the doorstep, windows and balcony.

    SayShubham karoti kalyanam arogyam dhana sampadah, shatru buddhi vinashaya deepa jyotir namostute

  4. Offer appam and pori

    Offer karthigai appam, pori urundai and fruit.

  5. Float a lamp

    In the north, float a small lamp on a bowl of water as a Dev Deepavali offering.

Closing

  1. Naivedya

    Place the food before the deity, sprinkle a little water around it and offer it with your hands open.

    SayOm pranaya svaha · Om apanaya svaha · Om vyanaya svaha · Om udanaya svaha · Om samanaya svaha

  2. Aarti

    Wave the camphor or ghee lamp clockwise in front of the deity, ringing the bell, while the family sings an aarti or bhajan.

  3. Pradakshina and namaskara

    Turn around once clockwise where you stand, then bow or prostrate. Ask forgiveness for anything done wrongly.

    SayYani kani cha papani janmantara kritani cha, tani tani vinashyanti pradakshina pade pade

  4. Share the prasada

    Share the naivedya with everyone at home and with neighbours.

The 16 offerings

Most home pujas follow the sixteen offerings, the shodashopachara. When you have little time, offer flowers, a lamp and food with love; that is enough.

  1. DhyanaThink of the deity
  2. AvahanaInvite the deity
  3. AsanaOffer a seat (a flower or rice)
  4. PadyaWater to wash the feet
  5. ArghyaWater to wash the hands
  6. AchamaniyaWater to sip
  7. SnanaA bath (sprinkle water, or abhisheka)
  8. VastraClothes (a cloth or cotton thread)
  9. Yajnopavita / AbharanaSacred thread or ornaments
  10. GandhaSandal paste, turmeric and kumkum
  11. PushpaFlowers and leaves
  12. DhupaIncense
  13. DeepaA lamp
  14. NaivedyaFood
  15. TambulaBetel leaf and nut, or fruit
  16. Nirajana and namaskaraAarti, flowers and bowing

Print

A printable version of this puja is on its way. Until then, use the Print button.

This is a simple home puja. Every family and region has its own customs, so follow your elders or priest where they differ.

Cook together

Karthigai Appam (Nei Appam)

More recipes →
Tamil Nadu, Kerala · Karthika Deepam

Karthigai Appam (Nei Appam)

Sweet rice and banana fritters: nei appam in Tamil, unni appam in Malayalam, gulittu in some Kannada homes

  • 30 min (+1 hr soaking)
  • Serves 20 small appams
Ingredients and method

Ingredients

  • 1 cup rice flour (or soaked, ground rice)
  • ¾ cup grated jaggery, melted in ¼ cup water and strained
  • 1 ripe banana, mashed
  • 2 tbsp grated coconut
  • ¼ tsp cardamom powder, a pinch of salt
  • Ghee for the appe pan

Method

  1. Mix the rice flour, jaggery syrup, banana, coconut, cardamom and salt into a thick, pourable batter. Rest 30 minutes.
  2. Heat an appe (paniyaram) pan and put ½ tsp ghee in each hole.
  3. Fill each hole three-quarters full and cook on medium-low heat until golden underneath.
  4. Turn with a skewer and cook the other side. Serve warm.

Abroad, an "aebleskiver" pan from a Danish kitchen shop is the same as an appe pan.

For children

Make a lamp tray for the doorstep

You need

  • 6 to 12 small clay diyas or tea lights
  • A metal tray or baking sheet
  • Rangoli powder or rice flour
  • Marigold petals

Steps

  1. Draw a simple kolam on the tray with rice flour.
  2. Arrange the lamps along the lines of the kolam.
  3. Scatter petals between them.
  4. An adult lights the lamps at dusk; keep the tray away from curtains.

Get ready

Shopping List

Tick things off as you go, or print the list for the Indian store.

Shopping list

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