Kartik Purnima 2026 – The Full Moon of Lamps & Dev Deepawali
कार्तिक पूर्णिमा
When is Kartik Purnima in 2026?
Kartik Purnima falls on Tuesday, 24 November 2026. It is the full moon of the Hindu month of Kartik and one of the most sacred days for a river bath (Kartik Snan). The same night is celebrated in Varanasi as Dev Deepawali, when lakhs of oil lamps line the Ganga ghats.
Kartik Purnima is the full moon that closes the holy month of Kartik, and for many Hindus it is the single most auspicious day of the year for a river bath. It is also called Tripurari Purnima, marking the evening Lord Shiva destroyed the three flying cities of the demon Tripurasura. In Varanasi the same night becomes Dev Deepawali, the “Diwali of the gods”, when the stone ghats along the Ganga are covered with lakhs of earthen lamps. Sikhs observe it as the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, and Jains keep it too.
Kartik Purnima 2026-2028: Dates & Calendar
Kartik Purnima 2026 falls on Tuesday, 24 November. The date shifts each year because it is fixed to the full moon (Purnima) of the lunar month of Kartik, not the Western calendar.
| Year | Date | Day | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 24 November | Tuesday | Next occurrence · Dev Deepawali in Varanasi |
| 2027 | 13 November | Saturday | Kartik full moon |
| 2028 | 1 November | Wednesday | Kartik full moon |
At Varanasi, Dev Deepawali is occasionally kept on the evening before the exact full moon, depending on when the Purnima tithi and moonrise align. Check local panchang timings before booking a ghat-side seat, as the lamp lighting is an evening event.
Why Kartik Purnima Is Celebrated
Kartik Purnima is celebrated as the day Shiva slew the demon Tripurasura, as a supreme day for holy bathing and charity, and in Varanasi as Dev Deepawali when the gods are believed to descend to the Ganga.
Tripurari Purnima
The main story gives the festival its other name. The demon Tripurasura ruled three fortified cities that could only be destroyed by a single arrow at a precise cosmic moment. On this full moon Shiva loosed that arrow and burned the three cities, which is why he is honoured here as Tripurari, the enemy of Tripura.
The holiest Kartik bath
The whole month of Kartik is set aside for early-morning river baths, and its full moon is the peak. A dip in the Ganga, Yamuna or any sacred river at dawn on Kartik Purnima, followed by lamp offerings and charity, is held to wash away accumulated sins and carry great merit.
Dev Deepawali in Varanasi
In Kashi the day is kept as Dev Deepawali, the Diwali of the gods, fifteen days after Diwali. Devotees believe the deities themselves come down to bathe in the Ganga, so the ghats from Ravidas Ghat to Rajghat are lit with lakhs of diyas and a grand collective Ganga aarti is performed.
Matsya and Guru Nanak
Many hold that Vishnu took his first incarnation, the fish Matsya, on this day to rescue the Vedas and the seed of life from the great flood. For Sikhs the same full moon is Guru Nanak Gurpurab, the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, so the day carries meaning across traditions.
Deities & Figures Worshipped
Kartik Purnima honours Shiva as Tripurari and Vishnu in his Matsya form, alongside the river goddess Ganga; for Sikhs it centres on Guru Nanak.
Shiva (Tripurari)
The festival’s core is Shiva’s destruction of the three demon-cities of Tripurasura, which is why the day is also called Tripurari Purnima. Shiva temples hold special abhishekams and evening lamp offerings.
Vishnu (Matsya)
Many devotees mark this as the day Vishnu appeared as Matsya, the fish avatar, to save creation from the flood. It is also seen as an auspicious full moon for Vishnu worship and the tulsi plant.
Ganga
The river goddess is central to the day’s bathing and to Dev Deepawali. Lamps are floated and set along the Varanasi ghats in her honour, accompanied by a mass Ganga aarti.
Guru Nanak
For Sikhs the full moon of Kartik is Gurpurab, the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, the first Sikh Guru, observed with prayer, kirtan and langar at gurdwaras.
Key Rituals, Step by Step
The day runs from a pre-dawn holy bath to an evening of lamps, especially along the Ganga at Varanasi.
- Kartik Snan at dawn. Bathe in the Ganga, Yamuna or another sacred river (or add a little river water at home) before sunrise while chanting the names of Shiva and Vishnu.
- Offer arghya to the sun. Face the rising sun and offer water, then light incense and pray at the riverbank or home shrine.
- Worship Shiva and Vishnu. Perform abhishekam and offer bilva leaves to Shiva and tulsi to Vishnu, remembering the burning of Tripura and the Matsya avatar.
- Give in charity (daan). Donate food, clothes, sesame, or lamps to the needy and to priests; charity on this full moon is considered especially fruitful.
- Light deepdaan at dusk. Float or place rows of earthen lamps on the water and along the banks as an offering to Ganga and the gods.
- Attend the Ganga aarti. In Varanasi, join the grand evening Dev Deepawali aarti as the ghats fill with lakhs of diyas.
- Keep a fast or sattvic diet. Many observe a full or partial fast through the day, breaking it after the moon rises.
Special Foods of Kartik Purnima
Because many people fast or eat simply, the day’s foods are light and sattvic, with regional sweets for the evening.
Sattvic vrat food
Those fasting eat fruit, milk, and grain-free dishes such as sabudana (tapioca) khichdi or kuttu (buckwheat) items, breaking the fast after moonrise.
Kheer and rice sweets
Rice-and-milk kheer, often with jaggery, is a common full-moon offering and prasad, sometimes left out overnight in the moonlight.
Sugarcane and seasonal produce
Falling near the sugarcane harvest, the day sees offerings of fresh cane, new season fruit and til (sesame) sweets.
Langar at gurdwaras
On Guru Nanak Gurpurab, gurdwaras serve a free community meal (langar) of dal, roti, vegetables and kada prasad to all visitors.
Regional Names & Variations
The same full moon carries different names and customs across India.
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
Kashi keeps the day as Dev Deepawali, the most spectacular version, with the entire riverfront lit by lamps, a mass Ganga aarti, and lakhs of visitors on the ghats.
Pushkar, Rajasthan
Kartik Purnima is the culmination of the Pushkar fair and camel mela, when pilgrims take a holy dip in Pushkar Lake at the height of the celebrations.
Odisha
Coastal Odisha marks Boita Bandana, floating small paper and banana-stem boats at dawn to recall the state’s ancient maritime traders sailing to distant lands.
South India
In Tamil Nadu and Kerala the day overlaps with Karthigai Deepam observances, with rows of lamps lit in and around homes and temples.
Sikh gurdwaras
Across India and the diaspora, Sikhs observe Guru Nanak Gurpurab with nagar kirtan processions, akhand path readings and langar.
Kartik Purnima Do's and Don'ts
Simple guidance to keep the day meaningful and respectful.
Do
- Bathe early, ideally in a river, before sunrise
- Light lamps at dusk as deepdaan to Ganga and the gods
- Give food, clothes or lamps in charity
- Keep a light, sattvic diet or a fast if you can
- Reach Varanasi ghats early and follow crowd-control instructions for Dev Deepawali
Avoid
- Do not eat onion, garlic, meat or alcohol on this day
- Do not pollute the river with plastic or non-biodegradable lamps
- Do not skip charity, which is a core part of the observance
- Do not push or block others at crowded ghats
- Do not guess exact evening timings – confirm the local panchang first
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Kartik Purnima in 2026?
Kartik Purnima 2026 falls on Tuesday, 24 November 2026. It is the full moon of the Hindu month of Kartik and the day Varanasi celebrates Dev Deepawali. The lamp lighting and Ganga aarti take place in the evening.
When is Kartik Purnima in 2027 and 2028?
Kartik Purnima will be on Saturday, 13 November 2027 and on Wednesday, 1 November 2028. The date changes each year because it is tied to the full moon (Purnima) of the lunar month of Kartik rather than the Western calendar.
Why is Kartik Purnima celebrated?
Kartik Purnima is celebrated as the day Shiva destroyed the three demon-cities of Tripurasura, which is why it is also called Tripurari Purnima. It is also one of the holiest days for a river bath and charity, and in Varanasi it is kept as Dev Deepawali, the Diwali of the gods.
What is Dev Deepawali in Varanasi?
Dev Deepawali, the Diwali of the gods, is the way Varanasi celebrates Kartik Purnima, fifteen days after Diwali. On this night the ghats along the Ganga are lit with lakhs of earthen lamps and a grand collective Ganga aarti is performed, as devotees believe the gods descend to bathe in the river.
Which god is worshipped on Kartik Purnima?
Kartik Purnima chiefly honours Shiva as Tripurari, the destroyer of the three demon-cities, along with Vishnu in his Matsya (fish) avatar and the river goddess Ganga. For Sikhs the same full moon is Guru Nanak Gurpurab, the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak.
What do people do on Kartik Purnima?
On Kartik Purnima people take a holy pre-dawn bath in a sacred river, worship Shiva and Vishnu, give food and lamps in charity, and light rows of earthen lamps (deepdaan) at dusk. In Varanasi many join the Dev Deepawali lamp lighting and Ganga aarti on the ghats.
Is Kartik Purnima the same as Guru Nanak Jayanti?
Kartik Purnima and Guru Nanak Jayanti fall on the same full moon of Kartik. For Sikhs this day is Gurpurab, the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, marked with kirtan, nagar kirtan processions and langar, so the two observances coincide.
Which is the best place to see Kartik Purnima celebrations?
Varanasi is the most famous place to experience Kartik Purnima, where it is celebrated as Dev Deepawali with lakhs of lamps along the Ganga ghats. Pushkar in Rajasthan is also celebrated for its holy dip and camel fair that peaks on this day.
May the lamps of Kartik Purnima light your path with peace and merit. Shubh Kartik Purnima!