Dev Deepawali 2026: Date, Time, Story & Celebration

Quick answer: Dev Deepawali (Dev Diwali) 2026 is on Tuesday 24 November, Kartik Purnima. The Purnima tithi runs from about 11:42 PM on 23 November to 8:23 PM on 24 November (IST). In Varanasi the sun sets at about 5:07 PM, after which lakhs of lamps are lit on the ghats of the Ganga.

Last updated: 19 October 2026

Dev Deepawali, also called Dev Diwali, is the "Diwali of the gods". It is celebrated on Kartik Purnima, the full moon of the month of Kartik, about two weeks after Diwali, when the ghats of Varanasi along the Ganga are lit with lakhs of earthen lamps. Tradition holds that on this night the gods themselves descend to Kashi to bathe in the Ganga and celebrate Lord Shiva's victory over the demon Tripurasura.

Dev Deepawali 2026 falls on Tuesday 24 November 2026. The Purnima tithi runs from about 11:42 PM on Monday 23 November to 8:23 PM on Tuesday 24 November (IST), per Drik Panchang. In Varanasi the sun sets at about 5:07 PM that evening, and the lamps are lit on the ghats in the twilight (pradosh) after sunset.

Dev Deepawali 2026 date and timings

Detail	2026
Dev Deepawali / Dev Diwali	Tuesday 24 November 2026
Hindu date	Kartika Shukla Purnima (Kartik Purnima)
Purnima tithi (IST)	11:42 PM, 23 Nov to 8:23 PM, 24 Nov
Sunrise in Varanasi (approx.)	6:21 AM, for the dawn Ganga snan
Sunset in Varanasi (approx.)	5:07 PM; lamps are lit after sunset
Same day	Kartik Purnima, Tripurari Purnima, Guru Nanak Jayanti, Karthigai Deepam
Main Diwali 2026	Sunday 8 November (Lakshmi Puja)

Sunrise and sunset are calculated for Varanasi and may differ by a minute or two from your panchang. For the Purnima times in other countries, see our Kartik Purnima 2026 guide.

Why Dev Deepawali comes 16 days after Diwali

Diwali falls on the new moon (Amavasya) at the end of Ashwin in the amanta calendar, which was Sunday 8 November in 2026. Dev Deepawali falls on the next full moon, Kartik Purnima, a little over two weeks later. In the purnimanta calendar followed in Varanasi, the whole month of Kartik, with its daily baths and lamp offerings, ends on this night, so Dev Deepawali is the grand finale of the month of lamps.

What is Dev Deepawali?

Dev Deepawali means "the Diwali (row of lamps) of the devas". While Diwali celebrates Lord Rama's return to Ayodhya and the worship of Goddess Lakshmi by people on earth, Dev Deepawali is understood as the festival the gods themselves celebrate. Devotees light lamps on the ghats, in temples and on the river to welcome them and to honour Mother Ganga.

The story behind Dev Deepawali

Lord Shiva as Tripurari

As commonly told, the three sons of the demon Tarakasura won a boon from Lord Brahma and built three flying cities, of gold, silver and iron, known together as Tripura. The cities could be destroyed only when they came into a single line, and only by a single arrow. Protected by this boon, the demons terrorised the three worlds. The gods turned to Lord Shiva, who mounted a chariot made of the earth, with the sun and moon as wheels, Mount Meru as his bow and Lord Vishnu as his arrow. On Kartik Purnima, when the three cities aligned, Shiva destroyed them with one arrow and became known as Tripurari, the enemy of Tripura. The gods celebrated by lighting lamps in Kashi, and that celebration is remembered as Dev Deepawali. See Tripurari Purnima 2026.

Other meanings of the day

Kartik Purnima is also remembered in many traditions as the day of Lord Vishnu's Matsya avatar, and it closes the Kartik vrat and the five-day Bhishma Panchak. The day before, Vaikuntha Chaturdashi, celebrates the meeting of Hari and Hara (Vishnu and Shiva), with the Manikarnika snan at Varanasi. See Vaikuntha Chaturdashi 2026.

How Varanasi celebrates Dev Deepawali

Dawn Ganga snan: pilgrims bathe in the Ganga at sunrise, the holiest bath of the Kartik month.
Lakhs of diyas on the ghats: after sunset, the steps of the ghats from Ravidas Ghat in the south to Raj Ghat in the north are lined with earthen lamps, reflected in the river.
The Ganga Aarti: the evening aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat is held on a grand scale, with priests moving brass lamps in rhythm to bells, conches and hymns.
Floating lamps: small leaf boats carrying lit diyas and flowers are set afloat on the river as offerings to Mother Ganga.
Temples and lanes: temples across Kashi, including Kashi Vishwanath, are decorated and lit, and the lanes of the old city glow with lamps.

For the ghats, the best viewpoints, boat rides, crowd tips and how to get there, see our Varanasi Dev Deepawali 2026 travel guide.

Tips if you are going to Varanasi

Book rooms and boats well ahead; Dev Deepawali is one of the busiest nights of the year in Kashi.
Reach the ghats by mid-afternoon; roads to the riverfront are usually closed to vehicles in the evening.
Follow the instructions of police and boat operators, wear a life jacket on boats, and keep children close in the crowds.
Check the local administration's announcements for traffic, boat and aarti arrangements closer to the date.

How to celebrate Dev Deepawali at home

You do not have to be in Varanasi to take part. A simple home observance:

Morning: bathe before sunrise with a few drops of Ganga jal in the water, and offer water to the rising sun.
Puja: worship Lord Shiva with water, milk and bilva leaves, and Lord Vishnu with tulsi leaves. Many families also perform the Satyanarayan katha on this Purnima.
Evening deep daan: after sunset, light earthen lamps with ghee or sesame oil at the doorway, before the Tulsi plant, in the puja room and on the balcony or terrace. If there is a river, lake or temple tank nearby and it is safe and permitted, float a lamp on a leaf.
Prayer for Ganga: remember Mother Ganga and the holy rivers, and chant a few names of Shiva and Vishnu.
Charity: give food, warm clothes or lamps to those in need.

Keep lamps away from curtains and children, and never leave them burning unattended.

Dev Deepawali for families abroad

Dev Deepawali is on Tuesday 24 November 2026 in the USA, Canada, the UK, the UAE and Australia as well; the full moon is current at sunrise there that day.
It is a working day in most countries, so light your lamps in the evening after work, and join your temple's Kartik Purnima, deepotsavam or Satyanarayan puja programme, which many hold on the weekend.
A video call to watch the Varanasi aarti with family in India, or a family lamp-lighting with children, keeps the tradition alive.

Dev Deepawali mantras

ॐ नमः शिवाय (Om Namah Shivaya): the five-syllable mantra of Lord Shiva, the hero of the Tripura story.

ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय (Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya): the twelve-syllable mantra of Lord Vishnu.

शुभं करोति कल्याणम् आरोग्यं धनसंपदा। शत्रुबुद्धिविनाशाय दीपज्योतिर्नमोऽस्तु ते॥ (Shubham karoti kalyanam arogyam dhanasampada, shatrubuddhi-vinashaya deepajyotir namostu te): a prayer to the lamp's flame, which brings auspiciousness, health and prosperity and destroys ill will.

Dev Deepawali 2026 wishes

Happy Dev Deepawali 2026! May the lamps of Kashi light up your life with peace, health and prosperity.
On this Diwali of the gods, may Lord Shiva and Mother Ganga bless you and your family. Har Har Mahadev!
Wishing you a blessed Dev Diwali and Kartik Purnima. May every diya you light remove darkness from your path.
May the glow of a lakh lamps on the Ganga fill your heart with devotion and joy. Shubh Dev Deepawali!

Conclusion

Dev Deepawali turns the ghats of Kashi into a river of light and closes the holy month of Kartik with gratitude to Lord Shiva and Mother Ganga. On Tuesday 24 November 2026, whether you stand on the steps of Dashashwamedh Ghat or light a single diya at home, may the light of Dev Deepawali bring peace and blessings to your family.

Frequently asked questions

When is Dev Deepawali 2026?

Dev Deepawali (Dev Diwali) 2026 is on Tuesday 24 November 2026, Kartik Purnima. The Purnima tithi runs from about 11:42 PM on 23 November to 8:23 PM on 24 November (IST).

What time are the lamps lit on Dev Deepawali?

The lamps are lit after sunset, in the evening twilight (pradosh). In Varanasi the sun sets at about 5:07 PM on 24 November 2026.

Why is Dev Deepawali celebrated?

It celebrates Lord Shiva's victory over the demon Tripurasura on Kartik Purnima, after which, as commonly told, the gods lit lamps in Kashi. Tradition holds that the gods descend to bathe in the Ganga on this night.

What is the difference between Diwali and Dev Deepawali?

Diwali (8 November 2026) is celebrated on the new moon with Lakshmi Puja and recalls Rama's return to Ayodhya. Dev Deepawali comes on the next full moon, Kartik Purnima, and is the gods' festival of lights, celebrated above all on the ghats of Varanasi.

Is Dev Deepawali the same as Kartik Purnima?

They fall on the same day. Kartik Purnima is the full moon itself; Dev Deepawali is the festival of lamps held on it, especially in Varanasi.

Can I celebrate Dev Deepawali at home?

Yes. Bathe at dawn with Ganga jal, worship Shiva and Vishnu, light lamps at home after sunset and give in charity.

Editor's note (19 October 2026)

Written by HinduTone. The date and Purnima times are from Drik Panchang (HinduTone's Karthika Masam 2026 data). Varanasi sunrise and sunset were calculated for the city and may differ by a minute or two from published panchangs. The Tripurari story is given as commonly told. Aarti, boat and traffic arrangements are announced locally each year.