Karthika Pournami 2026 in Europe: Date, Purnima Time and Sunset for 21 Cities, and Deepam Guide

Quick answer: Karthika Pournami 2026 Europe date is Tuesday 24 November 2026 in all 21 cities in our table. In most of central Europe, Purnima tithi begins at 7:13 PM on Monday 23 November and ends at 3:54 PM on Tuesday 24 November (local time). Dublin and Lisbon are one hour earlier, Helsinki one hour later. Because Purnima starts on Monday evening and, in most cities, ends before Tuesday's sunset, both evenings matter: follow your temple or family custom.

Monday 23 November is also a Karthika Somavaram, and Karthigai Deepam falls on Tuesday 24 November. Below you will find local Purnima times and sunsets for 21 cities, an explanation of the two evenings, and a guide to the 365-wick deepam, Jwala Thoranam, Satyanarayana vratam and deepa daanam in European homes.

Please note: the European dates and times are calculated by HinduTone using the Drik Panchang method. They match Drik Panchang in our checks for other countries, but small differences are possible. Please confirm on Drik Panchang for your city. All times are local time; do not use India's clock times in Europe.

Karthika Pournami 2026 Europe: Purnima time and sunset by city

Purnima begins and ends at the same instant everywhere, so the local clock time depends only on your time zone. Sunset varies much more, from about 3 PM in Stockholm to almost 6 PM in Madrid.

Monday evening or Tuesday evening?

Karthika Pournami is fixed on Tuesday 24 November because Purnima is the tithi at sunrise that day. That is the festival date in panchangs and temple calendars. But the lamp-lighting tradition belongs to the evening, and Europe's clock creates a choice.

• Monday 23 November, after Purnima begins: in every city, Purnima starts after sunset on Monday (7:13 PM in most cities, 6:13 PM in Dublin and Lisbon, 8:13 PM in Helsinki). This evening is also a Karthika Somavaram. Families who want the Pournami deepam lit while Purnima is current often choose this night.
• Tuesday 24 November, morning and early afternoon: Purnima is running from sunrise. Karthika snanam, a Satyanarayana vratam or a temple visit fit into this window.
• Tuesday 24 November, evening: the calendar festival day and the Karthigai Deepam day. Many temples and homes light lamps at dusk on Tuesday.

A northern exception: in Stockholm, Oslo, Copenhagen, Warsaw and Helsinki, the sun sets on Tuesday before Purnima ends, so dusk lamps on Tuesday 24 November fall inside Purnima tithi. In Copenhagen the margin is only two minutes. In all the other cities, from Dublin to Vienna, Purnima ends before sunset on Tuesday.

There is no single right answer. Follow your temple or family custom, and ask your priest which evening they observe. Many households simply light lamps on both evenings.

Rituals of Karthika Pournami

Karthika Pournami is the brightest night of the Karthika month. As commonly told, it marks Shiva's victory over the three demon cities (Tripurasura), which is why it is also called Tripurari Pournami. Shaiva and Vaishnava families both honour it.

365-wick deepam (365 vattula deepam)

Many Telugu families light one lamp with 365 cotton wicks twisted together, one for each day of the year. As commonly told, lighting it on Pournami brings the merit of a lamp lit every day of the year. See our complete guide to the 365-wick deepam.

Jwala Thoranam

In many Shiva temples of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, a frame of straw or cloth (the thoranam) is set alight on Pournami night and the deity is carried beneath it. It is a temple ritual. If a temple near you holds one, it will announce it; check the temple's official website for details.

Satyanarayana vratam

Pournami is a favoured day for the Satyanarayana vratam and katha. In Europe families often hold it at home on Tuesday 24 November, or on the nearest weekend so that friends can join. Ask your priest about timing.

Deepa daanam and Karthika snanam

Gifting a lit lamp (deepa daanam) is a traditional act of the day. A warm bath at home before puja stands in for the river bath of India; please do not bathe in cold rivers or lakes in a European November. See Karthika snanam and deepa daanam 2026.

Karthigai Deepam on the same day

Tamil households, including Europe's sizeable Sri Lankan Tamil community, celebrate Karthigai Deepam on Tuesday 24 November 2026 with rows of small lamps. As commonly told, it recalls the endless column of fire in which Shiva appeared to Brahma and Vishnu. See Karthigai Deepam 2026.

Lamp safety in European flats

Many Europeans live in older apartment buildings with wooden floors, heavy curtains and smoke detectors, and rental contracts often restrict open flames. The 365-wick lamp burns with a large flame.

• Place lamps on a metal tray on a stable, heat-proof surface, away from curtains, radiators covered with cloth, flowers and paper decorations.
• Keep lamps away from smoke detectors and never disable them.
• Open a window slightly when burning ghee or oil, especially in small, well-sealed winter rooms.
• Do not put lamps on balconies on windy nights, or in stairwells and shared hallways.
• Never leave a lit lamp alone, and keep children and pets away.
• If your building or tenancy rules forbid open flames, use LED diyas. A sincere offering matters more than the type of light.

Tips for NRI families in Europe

• Monday 23 and Tuesday 24 November are working days across Europe. Monday's Purnima start is after most people reach home, so a Monday evening lamp is easy to fit in.
• If you want to perform puja while Purnima is running on Tuesday, plan it for the morning or early afternoon in most cities.
• Community celebrations are often held on the weekend after Pournami. Check your local temple's website or notice board.
• Karthika Masam in most European cities runs from Tuesday 10 November to Tuesday 8 December 2026 (Dublin and Lisbon begin on Monday 9 November).

For temples, see Shiva temples for Karthika Masam 2026 in Europe. For the full month, see Karthika Masam 2026 in Europe, city by city.

Frequently asked questions

When is Karthika Pournami 2026 in Europe?

Karthika Pournami 2026 is on Tuesday 24 November in all 21 European cities in our table. In most of central Europe, Purnima tithi runs from 7:13 PM on Monday 23 November to 3:54 PM on Tuesday 24 November, local time. Dublin and Lisbon are one hour earlier and Helsinki one hour later. These are calculated times; please confirm on Drik Panchang for your city.

Should I light the Pournami lamps on Monday or Tuesday evening in Europe?

Both evenings are followed. Monday evening after Purnima begins (7:13 PM in most cities) is inside Purnima tithi. Tuesday 24 November is the calendar festival day, but in most cities Purnima ends in the afternoon, before sunset. Follow your temple or family custom, and ask your priest if unsure.

In which European cities is Purnima still running at sunset on Tuesday?

By our calculation, in Stockholm, Oslo, Copenhagen, Warsaw and Helsinki the sun sets on Tuesday 24 November before Purnima ends, so lamps lit at dusk that day fall inside Purnima. In the other cities in our table, Purnima ends before sunset on Tuesday.

Is Monday 23 November a Karthika Somavaram in Europe?

Yes, in all 21 cities. Monday 23 November is a Karthika Somavaram, and its evening also falls inside Purnima tithi once Purnima begins.

Is Karthigai Deepam on the same day in Europe?

Yes. Karthigai Deepam also falls on Tuesday 24 November 2026 in our calculation for Europe.

Can I light the 365-wick lamp in a European flat?

Yes, with care. Use a heavy brass or steel lamp on a metal tray, keep it away from curtains and smoke detectors, open a window slightly, and never leave it alone. If your building or tenancy does not allow open flames, an LED diya is a sincere alternative.

Editor's note

Editor's note (6 October 2026): This guide has been restored at its original address after the earlier version was lost. The European dates, Purnima times and sunsets are calculated by HinduTone with the Drik Panchang method and are shown in local time for each city. Please confirm them on Drik Panchang for your city. We have not listed temple events or timings; check your local temple directly.

Related guides

• Karthika Pournami 2026: Deepotsavam, Jwala Toranam and story
• Karthika Masam 2026 in Europe, city by city
• Shiva temples for Karthika Masam 2026 in Europe
• Karthika Somavaram 2026 in Europe: dates and vratam
• Karthika Pournami celebrations in Germany 2026
• Ksheerabdi Dwadashi and Tulasi Vivah 2026 in Europe
• Karthigai Deepam 2026