Kartik Purnima 2026 and 2027: date, muhurat and meaning
Kartik Purnima 2026
24 November 2026
Tuesday
21 days to go
Kartik Purnima 2027
14 November 2027
Sunday
376 days to go
Quick answer
Kartik Purnima 2026 falls on Tuesday, 24 November 2026 (Delhi). Kartik Purnima, the full moon of Kartik, is a day for holy river baths, lamp offerings and charity, and coincides with Dev Deepawali in Varanasi and Guru Nanak Jayanti for Sikhs.
Key takeaways
- 2026: Tuesday, 24 November 2026
- 2027: Sunday, 14 November 2027
- Each year's section explains which rule gave the date and how the muhurat was cut to the tithi.
- All times are for Delhi; abroad the tithi follows local time, so the date can differ by a day.
What is Kartik Purnima?
Kartik is considered the holiest month of the Hindu year, and its full moon closes a month of early-morning baths, fasting and lamp offerings. One story says Shiva destroyed the three flying cities of the demon Tripurasura on this day, so it is also called Tripurari Purnima. The gods are said to have lit lamps in celebration, which is the root of Dev Deepawali, the 'Diwali of the gods'.
Many also believe Vishnu took his Matsya (fish) avatar on this day. For Sikhs it is Gurpurab, the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. In Rajasthan the Pushkar fair peaks with a holy dip in Pushkar lake, associated with Brahma. In Odisha, people float little boats made of banana stems for Boita Bandana, remembering the seafaring traders of old Kalinga.
How Kartik Purnima is observed
Before dawn, devotees bathe in the Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Narmada or any sacred river or lake. Those who cannot travel add a few drops of Ganga water to their bath at home. Charity follows: grain, clothes, blankets and lamps are given away. Many families hold a Satyanarayan katha, a storytelling puja, and some fast through the day, offering water to the moon in the evening.
At dusk, lamps are lit on riverbanks, in temples and beside the tulsi plant. In Varanasi, the ghats glow with countless diyas for Dev Deepawali, drawing crowds from around the world. Gurdwaras hold akhand path, a continuous reading of the Guru Granth Sahib, along with kirtan, processions and langar, the free community kitchen open to all. Gurdwaras and temples abroad, from Southall to Surrey, light up for the day.
Kartik Purnima 2026: date and muhurat (Delhi)
Tuesday, 24 November 2026
Purnima (Shukla Paksha) is present at sunrise on this day (udaya tithi).
- Tithi
- 23 Nov, 11:42 PM – 24 Nov, 8:23 PM
- Sunrise / sunset
- 6:51 AM / 5:25 PM
- Rahu kaal (this day)
- 2:46 PM – 4:05 PM
We do not compute a separate puja window for this festival; the tithi timing and sunrise are given here.
Kartik Purnima is kept on the day the purnima tithi is present at sunrise, since bathing and charity are morning acts. Brahma muhurat, the pre-dawn period before sunrise, is considered the most meritorious time for the holy bath. Lamp offerings and Dev Deepawali belong to the evening pradosh kaal, so Varanasi sometimes celebrates Dev Deepawali on the evening purnima covers pradosh, which can differ from the bathing day.
Kartik Purnima 2027: date and muhurat (Delhi)
Sunday, 14 November 2027
Purnima (Shukla Paksha) is present at sunrise on this day (udaya tithi).
Central government holiday (Delhi/New Delhi, DoPT): Guru Nanak's Birthday, Sunday 14 November 2027.
- Tithi
- 13 Nov, 9:55 AM – 14 Nov, 8:55 AM
- Sunrise / sunset
- 6:43 AM / 5:28 PM
- Rahu kaal (this day)
- 4:07 PM – 5:28 PM
We do not compute a separate puja window for this festival; the tithi timing and sunrise are given here.
Kartik Purnima wishes
May the Kartik full moon bring calm to your mind, and may the glow of countless lamps light up your path. Warm wishes on Kartik Purnima and Dev Deepawali.Send this on WhatsApp
More wishes will be added here soon.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best time for Kartik Purnima snan?
The holy bath, or snan, is considered most meritorious in brahma muhurat, the pre-dawn period before sunrise. If that is not possible, bathing after sunrise while purnima is still in force is also accepted. Since brahma muhurat is calculated from local sunrise, it falls at a different time in each city, so check the panchang for your own location.
What is Dev Deepawali in Varanasi?
Dev Deepawali, the 'Diwali of the gods', is celebrated on the evening of Kartik Purnima, mainly in Varanasi, when every ghat along the Ganga is lined with diyas. It is believed the gods descend to Kashi to celebrate Shiva's victory over Tripurasura. Visitors watch the grand Ganga aarti and the glowing riverfront from boats on the river.
Why is Guru Nanak Jayanti on Kartik Purnima?
Sikh tradition celebrates the prakash purab, or birth anniversary, of Guru Nanak Dev Ji on Kartik Purnima. Two days before, gurdwaras begin an akhand path, and a day earlier a nagar kirtan procession moves through the streets. On Gurpurab itself, early-morning prabhat pheris, kirtan, ardas and langar take place, and everyone is welcome regardless of faith.
What should be donated on Kartik Purnima?
Grain, jaggery, sesame, clothes, blankets, lamps and ghee are traditional gifts. Many people feed the poor or send fodder to a cow shelter. Deepdaan, floating or lighting a lamp at a river or temple, is the signature offering of the day. Tradition holds that giving within your means to someone in genuine need is what matters most.
Can I take the Kartik Purnima bath at home?
Yes. Tradition values the sincerity of the bath over the place. Those who cannot reach a river, including the elderly and families living abroad, can add a little Ganga water to their bathwater. Offering water to the sun, lighting a lamp and giving something in charity afterwards completes the day's observance at home.
What is the Pushkar fair and when does it peak?
The Pushkar fair in Rajasthan runs from Kartik Shukla Ekadashi to Kartik Purnima, peaking with a holy dip in Pushkar lake on the full moon. The lake is associated with Brahma, and bathing there on this day is considered especially meritorious. The fair is famous for its camel and livestock trading, folk music and colourful competitions, drawing visitors from across the world.