The Tamil month of Karthigai takes its name from the Krittika star. The festival is the night when that star rules the full moon. In 2026 that is Tuesday 24 November. Clay lamps, agal vilakku, go along the step. At Thiruvannamalai the flame on the hill is the night the temple days have been walking toward. A Delhi panchang gives the nakshatra window for that Tuesday.
