Kartik Purnima, the full moon of the holy month of Kartik, is one of the most sacred days of the Hindu year for a river bath, lamp offerings and charity. In Varanasi it is Dev Deepawali, “the Diwali of the gods”, when every ghat on the Ganga is lit with earthen lamps. In 2026, Kartik Purnima and Dev Deepawali fall on Tuesday, 24 November.
Kartik Purnima 2026 at a glance
| New Delhi, 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Date | Tuesday, 24 November |
| Purnima tithi | Until 8:23 PM, 24 Nov |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:50 AM / 5:24 PM |
| Moonrise | About 5:01 PM |
| Also | Dev Deepawali (Varanasi), Tripurari Purnima, Guru Nanak Jayanti, Pushkar mela |
The stories behind the day
Tripurari Purnima. The demon Tripurasura ruled three flying cities of gold, silver and iron that could be destroyed only when they lined up in the sky, with a single arrow. On this full moon, Lord Shiva drew his bow and destroyed all three at once, earning the name Tripurari. The gods celebrated with lamps, the first Dev Deepawali.
Matsya avatar. Many traditions hold that Vishnu took his first avatar, Matsya the fish, on Kartik Purnima to save the Vedas and Manu from the great flood.
The end of Kartik. The whole month of Kartik, from Sharad Purnima to Kartik Purnima, is a month of early baths and lamps for devotees. This full moon is its completion.
Dev Deepawali in Varanasi
Fifteen days after Diwali, Varanasi holds its own festival of lights. At dusk, lakhs of diyas are lit on more than 80 ghats from Ravidas Ghat to Raj Ghat, the river fills with floating lamps, and a grand Ganga aarti is performed at Dashashwamedh Ghat. The best views are from a boat on the Ganga; boats are booked out days ahead, so plan early. Combine it with darshan at Kashi Vishwanath, and read our tips on visiting Kashi with elderly parents, because the crowds on this night are enormous.
How to observe Kartik Purnima
- Kartik snan: bathe before sunrise, in a holy river if you can (the Ganga at Varanasi, Haridwar or Garhmukteshwar, the Yamuna, the Pushkar lake), or at home with a few drops of Ganga jal in your water.
- Deep daan: in the evening, offer lamps at a river, a temple, the Tulsi plant and your doorstep. Floating a leaf-cup lamp on the water is a beautiful custom.
- Satyanarayan katha: many families hold the katha and sing Om Jai Jagdish Hare.
- Daan: give food, warm clothes or lamps to those in need; charity on this day is considered especially meritorious.
- Some keep a fast and break it after moonrise with arghya to the moon.
Kartik Purnima across India
Pushkar holds its famous camel and cattle fair, ending with a holy dip in the lake beside the Brahma temple. In Odisha it is Boita Bandana, when people float small boats to remember their seafaring ancestors. In Tamil Nadu, the Karthigai Deepam is lit on the Arunachala hill at Tiruvannamalai around this time. And for Sikhs it is Guru Nanak Jayanti (Gurpurab), celebrated with prabhat pheris, kirtan and langar.
Before it
Four days earlier is Dev Uthani Ekadashi and Tulsi Vivah (20 November), when Lord Vishnu wakes and the wedding season begins.
Frequently asked questions
When is Kartik Purnima in 2026?
Kartik Purnima is on Tuesday, 24 November 2026. Purnima tithi lasts until 8:23 PM that day (New Delhi), covering the morning holy bath and the evening lamp offerings.
What is Dev Deepawali?
Dev Deepawali, "the Diwali of the gods", is celebrated in Varanasi on Kartik Purnima. The gods are believed to descend to bathe in the Ganga, and lakhs of earthen lamps are lit on all the ghats from Ravidas Ghat to Raj Ghat, with a grand Ganga aarti at Dashashwamedh.
Why is Kartik Purnima called Tripurari Purnima?
On this full moon, Lord Shiva destroyed the three flying cities (Tripura) of the demon Tripurasura with a single arrow, becoming Tripurari. The gods celebrated by lighting lamps, which is remembered as Dev Deepawali.
What should be done on Kartik Purnima?
Take a holy dip (Kartik snan) in a river or with Ganga jal at home before sunrise, offer lamps (deep daan) at a river, temple or Tulsi, give food and clothes in charity, and listen to the Satyanarayan katha. It is also Guru Nanak Jayanti, the birth anniversary of the first Sikh Guru.
