Kartik Purnima 2026: Date, Time, Snan, Deep Daan & Puja

Quick answer: Kartik Purnima 2026 is on Tuesday 24 November. In New Delhi the Purnima tithi runs from about 11:42 PM on 23 November to 8:23 PM on 24 November (IST). Devotees take a dawn holy bath, offer lamps (deep daan) in the evening, worship Vishnu and Shiva and give in charity. Dev Deepawali, Tripurari Purnima, Karthigai Deepam and Guru Nanak Jayanti fall on the same day.

Last updated: 19 October 2026

Kartik Purnima, the full moon of the holy month of Kartik, is one of the most sacred days of the Hindu year. It closes a month of early-morning baths and lamp offerings, and brings together several great festivals on a single day: Dev Deepawali on the ghats of Varanasi, Tripurari Purnima for Lord Shiva, Karthigai Deepam and Karthika Pournami in the South, the great fairs of Pushkar and Sonepur, and Guru Nanak Jayanti for Sikhs.

Kartik Purnima 2026 falls on Tuesday 24 November 2026. In New Delhi, 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. Because the full moon is current at sunrise on the 24th, the holy bath, puja and lamp offerings are all observed that day.

Kartik Purnima 2026 date and timings

Detail	2026
Kartik Purnima	Tuesday 24 November 2026
Purnima tithi (New Delhi)	11:42 PM, 23 Nov to 8:23 PM, 24 Nov (IST)
Moonrise (Hyderabad)	About 5:22 PM on 24 November
Hindu date	Kartika Shukla Purnima
Same day	Dev Deepawali, Tripurari Purnima, Karthigai Deepam, Guru Nanak Jayanti, end of Bhishma Panchak and of the Kartik Snan month (purnimanta calendar)
Day before	Vaikuntha Chaturdashi and Manikarnika Snan, Monday 23 November

Full details for the day are in our panchangam for 24 November 2026.

Kartik Purnima 2026 around the world

Country (city)	Purnima begins	Purnima ends	Kartik Purnima
India (New Delhi)	Mon 23 Nov, 11:42 PM	Tue 24 Nov, 8:23 PM	Tuesday 24 November
UAE (Dubai)	Mon 23 Nov, 10:12 PM	Tue 24 Nov, 6:53 PM	Tuesday 24 November
UK (London)	Mon 23 Nov, 6:12 PM	Tue 24 Nov, 2:53 PM	Tuesday 24 November
USA and Canada (Eastern)	Mon 23 Nov, 1:12 PM	Tue 24 Nov, 9:53 AM	Tuesday 24 November
Australia (Sydney)	Tue 24 Nov, 5:12 AM	Wed 25 Nov, 1:53 AM	Tuesday 24 November

The tithi is the same instant everywhere, shown here in local time. In every listed country the full moon is current at sunrise on Tuesday 24 November, so that is the day of the bath and puja. Families on the US West Coast, and those in other cities, should check Drik Panchang for their location. Country guides: USA, UK, UAE, Singapore and Europe.

Why Kartik Purnima is so sacred

Kartik is the holiest month for many Hindus, and its full moon is its crowning day. Several traditions meet on it:

Tripurari Purnima: as commonly told, Lord Shiva destroyed the three flying cities of the demon Tripurasura on this day and became Tripurari, the enemy of Tripura. The gods celebrated with lamps, which is one of the stories behind Dev Deepawali. See Tripurari Purnima 2026.
Dev Deepawali, the Diwali of the gods: tradition holds that the gods descend to bathe in the Ganga at Kashi on this night, and the ghats of Varanasi are lit with countless lamps.
The end of Kartik Snan: in the purnimanta calendar of North India, the month of daily dawn baths and lamp offerings that began at Sharad Purnima ends on this day. See Kartik Snan and Deepdaan 2026.
Matsya avatar: many traditions remember Kartik Purnima as the day Lord Vishnu took his first avatar, Matsya, the fish.
Bhishma Panchak: the five-day Vaishnava vrat that began on Devutthana Ekadashi ends on the full moon. See Bhishma Panchak 2026.

Kartik Purnima rituals: what to do on 24 November 2026

1. Kartik Purnima snan (holy bath)

Bathing at dawn in the Ganga, Yamuna, a sacred lake or a temple tank is the central ritual. Pilgrims crowd the ghats of Varanasi, Prayagraj, Haridwar and Garhmukteshwar, and the lake at Pushkar. If you cannot reach a river, bathe at home before sunrise with a few drops of Ganga jal in the water, and remember the holy rivers as you bathe. See Pushkar Kartik Purnima Snan 2026.

2. Deep daan (offering lamps)

In the evening, offer ghee or sesame-oil lamps: at a river or lake (often floated on leaf boats), at a temple, before the Tulsi plant and at the doorway of your home. Many families light a lamp of 365 wicks to cover the whole year. Never leave lamps burning unattended, and keep floating lamps clear of crowds.

3. Worship of Vishnu and Shiva

Worship Lord Vishnu with tulsi leaves and Lord Shiva with bilva leaves, water and milk. Many families perform the Satyanarayan katha and puja on this Purnima; see the Satyanarayana vratham at home guide.

4. Charity (daan)

Giving food, warm clothes, lamps, grain or money to people in need is considered especially meritorious on Kartik Purnima. Feeding cows and helping at temple kitchens are popular forms of seva.

5. Purnima vrat

Many devotees fast until the evening puja or eat one simple meal. Fasting customs vary; anyone with a medical condition, older people, pregnant women and children should keep only a light, safe observance.

Simple Kartik Purnima puja vidhi at home

Wake before sunrise, bathe (with Ganga jal if you have it) and wear clean clothes.
Offer arghya (water) to the rising sun.
Light a lamp before Lord Vishnu or Krishna, and offer tulsi, flowers, fruits and a sweet.
Offer water, milk and bilva leaves to a Shiva Linga, or pray to Lord Shiva.
Read the Satyanarayan katha, a chapter of the Kartik Mahatmya or the Bhagavad Gita, or chant the names of Vishnu and Shiva.
In the evening, light lamps around the home and at the Tulsi plant, and offer a lamp to the Ganga or any water body if you can do so safely.
Give something in charity and share prasad with family and neighbours.

Kartik Purnima across India

Varanasi: Dev Deepawali, when every ghat glows with lamps and the Ganga aarti draws huge crowds. See Dev Deepawali in Varanasi 2026.

Rajasthan: the Pushkar Mela reaches its climax with the holy dip in Pushkar Lake, and Kolayat holds its own fair.

Bihar: the Sonepur Mela at the confluence of the Ganga and the Gandak begins around Kartik Purnima. See Sonepur Mela 2026.

Uttar Pradesh: the Garhmukteshwar Ganga Mela and holy baths at Prayagraj, Ayodhya and Mathura.

Odisha: families float small boats (boitas) with lamps at dawn in Boita Bandana, remembering the sea voyages of Kalinga's merchants.

Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka: Karthika Pournami, with rows of lamps, Jwala Thoranam and crowded Shiva temples. See Karthika Pournami 2026.

Tamil Nadu: Karthigai Deepam and the Maha Deepam on Arunachala Hill at Tiruvannamalai. See Karthigai Deepam 2026.

Assam: Raas Purnima, with Raas Leela performances on Majuli. See Raas Purnima 2026 in Assam.

Sikh tradition: Guru Nanak Jayanti (Gurpurab), the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, is celebrated on Kartik Purnima. See Guru Nanak Jayanti 2026.

For the great fairs, see Kartik Purnima melas 2026.

Kartik Purnima mantras

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

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

गङ्गे च यमुने चैव गोदावरि सरस्वति। नर्मदे सिन्धु कावेरि जलेऽस्मिन् सन्निधिं कुरु॥ (Gange cha Yamune chaiva Godavari Sarasvati, Narmade Sindhu Kaveri jale'smin sannidhim kuru): recited while bathing, inviting the seven holy rivers into the water.

Kartik Purnima for families abroad

Use the date for your city; in the USA, UK, Canada, the UAE and Australia it is Tuesday 24 November 2026.
Take the morning bath with a few drops of Ganga jal, light lamps at home in the evening, and offer one at a safe water body only if local rules allow.
Many temples abroad hold Satyanarayan puja, deepotsavam or Karthika Pournami programmes on the nearest weekend.
Gurdwaras celebrate Gurpurab with kirtan and langar; see Guru Nanak Jayanti 2026 abroad.

Kartik Purnima 2026 wishes

Happy Kartik Purnima 2026! May the light of a thousand lamps fill your home with peace, health and prosperity.
On this sacred full moon, may Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva bless you and your family with joy and divine grace.
Wishing you a blessed Dev Deepawali and Kartik Purnima. May every lamp you light remove darkness from your life.
Shubh Kartik Purnima! May the holy waters and the glowing diyas bring purity, hope and new beginnings.

Conclusion

Kartik Purnima gathers the devotion of a whole month into one luminous day: the dawn bath, the evening lamps, worship of Vishnu and Shiva, charity and celebration, from the ghats of Varanasi to the hill at Tiruvannamalai. On Tuesday 24 November 2026, whether you bathe in a holy river or at home, light a single diya or a hundred, may the light of Kartik bring peace and blessings to your family.

Frequently asked questions

When is Kartik Purnima in 2026?

Kartik Purnima 2026 is on Tuesday 24 November. In New Delhi the Purnima tithi runs from about 11:42 PM on 23 November to 8:23 PM on 24 November (IST), per Drik Panchang.

What time is the Kartik Purnima snan in 2026?

The holy bath is traditionally taken at dawn, in Brahma Muhurta or around sunrise, on Tuesday 24 November 2026, when the full moon tithi is current.

Is Kartik Purnima the same as Dev Deepawali?

They fall on the same day. Kartik Purnima is the full moon of Kartik; Dev Deepawali is Varanasi's festival of lamps for the gods held on that full moon.

Is Kartik Purnima the same as Karthika Pournami?

Yes, they are the same full moon. Karthika Pournami is the South Indian name, celebrated with Deepotsavam and Jwala Thoranam; Karthigai Deepam is the Tamil festival of lights on the same day in 2026.

Is Guru Nanak Jayanti on Kartik Purnima?

Yes. Sikhs celebrate Guru Nanak Jayanti (Gurpurab) on Kartik Purnima, which in 2026 is Tuesday 24 November.

What should I donate on Kartik Purnima?

Food, warm clothes, lamps, grain or money given to those in need are traditional, as are feeding cows and seva at temple kitchens. Give according to your means.

Editor's note (19 October 2026)

Written by HinduTone. Dates and Purnima times are from Drik Panchang (New Delhi and New York instants converted to each local time zone, from HinduTone's Karthika Masam 2026 data); the Hyderabad moonrise is from our panchangam for 24 November 2026. Stories are given as commonly told. Mela and temple schedules are announced locally.