When is Kartik Purnima?
The answer
Tuesday, 24 November 2026
Dev Deepawali on the Ganga.
Why that day
- The tithi it is
- Kartika Shukla Purnima
Read the ordinary way: the day whose SUNRISE this tithi is running at.
And after that
Sunday, 14 November 2027
Kartika Shukla Purnima
Thursday, 2 November 2028
Kartika Shukla Purnima
How this date is worked out
A festival is a position, not a date. The lunar month is named by the sidereal sign the Sun stands in at the new moon that opens it, and the tithi is the Moon's distance from the Sun in twelve-degree steps. Both come from the same ephemeris this site casts birth charts with.
North India reckons a month from full moon to full moon, so the dark fortnight carries the next month's name — the same day is Shravana Krishna Tritiya in Pune and Bhadrapada Krishna Tritiya in Delhi. These dates use the northern reckoning, and the tithi is printed above so there is nothing to take on trust.
Why it is kept
The full moon of Kartika — the day Shiva killed Tripurasura, which is why it is called Tripurari Purnima and Dev Deepavali. The devas are said to come down to the ghats of Kashi that night and light lamps. It is also Guru Nanak's Prakash Parv, and the last day of the whole month of Kartik snan. Vishnu wakes on Devuthani Ekadashi and the Matsya avatar is tied to this purnima — so the day belongs to Shiva and to Vishnu at once.
The story behind it
Three cities
Tarakasura's three sons won a boon: their three flying cities of gold, silver and iron could be destroyed only when all three came into one line, and only by a single arrow.
Once in a thousand years
The three cities lined up once in a thousand years. On that strength they took all three worlds.
One moment
At the devas' prayer, Shiva waited. The instant the three came into line he loosed the Pashupata.
Tripurari
All three burned at once and Shiva was called Tripurari. That day is Kartik Purnima.
Dev Deepavali
The devas lit lamps in Kashi in thanks — and that is still done every year, and called Dev Deepavali.
What to keep ready
- Clay lamps and sesame oil, for the deepdan on the river
- A leaf bowl or a boat of banana leaf
- Ganga water and a copper lota
- Bel leaves, white flowers, datura — for Shiva
- Tulsi leaves — for Vishnu
- Black sesame and barley, for the bath and the giving
- Grain, cloth and jaggery to give away
- Camphor, incense, sandal
How the puja is done
1
The bath
In Brahma muhurta, in a river or tank — the last and largest day of Kartik snan. At home, put Ganga water and sesame in the bucket.
2
Shiva and Vishnu
Bel and water for Shiva, tulsi for Vishnu. Both on the same day — that is what this purnima is.
3
Deepdan
In the evening float lamps on a river, a tank, or a vessel of water at home. The tradition says 365, or as many as you can. That is Dev Deepavali.
4
The lamp at the tulsi
Keep one lamp burning by the tulsi all night.
5
Giving
Grain, cloth, sesame and jaggery. What is given today is counted in the tradition as the equal of a year of giving.
6
Satyanarayan katha
Many houses hold the Satyanarayan katha today; the purnima is its own day.
What to do
- Bathe in Brahma muhurta — this closes the month of Kartik snan.
- Worship both Shiva and Vishnu; this is one of the few days on which both are worshipped together.
- Do the deepdan in the evening and use clay lamps. Set the wick and oil properly before floating them.
- Keep one lamp burning by the tulsi through the night.
- Give something today — grain, cloth, or sesame and jaggery.
- It is Guru Nanak Jayanti too; going to the gurudwara or serving at the langar belongs to this day.
What not to do
- No meat, no drink and no tamasik food today; the whole month of Kartik runs on that rule.
- Do not float plastic or thermocol lamps — clay or leaf only.
- Do not pluck tulsi leaves today; pluck them the day before if you need them.
- No harsh words and no quarrels today — the purnima vrat rests on that.
- No cutting of hair or nails today.
The aarti
Om Jai Shiv Omkara
ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा, स्वामी जय शिव ओंकारा।
ब्रह्मा विष्णु सदाशिव, अर्द्धांगी धारा॥
एकानन चतुरानन पंचानन राजे।
हंसासन गरुड़ासन वृषवाहन साजे॥
दो भुज चार चतुर्भुज दस भुज ते सोहे।
तीनों रूप निरखता त्रिभुवन जन मोहे॥
अक्षमाला वनमाला मुण्डमाला धारी।
त्रिपुरारी कंसारी कर माला धारी॥
श्वेताम्बर पीताम्बर बाघम्बर अंगे।
सनकादिक गरुड़ादिक भूतादिक संगे॥
कर के मध्य कमंडल चक्र त्रिशूलधारी।
सुखकारी दुखहारी जगपालनकारी॥
ब्रह्मा विष्णु सदाशिव जानत अविवेका।
प्रणवाक्षर के मध्ये ये तीनों एका॥
त्रिगुण स्वामी जी की आरती जो कोई नर गावे।
कहत शिवानंद स्वामी मनवांछित फल पावे॥
The sky has a calendar. So do you.
The same engine reads your own birth moment — every house, every graha, every period with dates.