Quick answer
- Karthika Purnima 2026
- Tuesday, 24 November 2026
- Tithi
- Kartik PurnimaKartika Purnima (amanta)
- Observed for
- Merit (punya), family well-being and the blessings of Shiva and Vishnu
- Karthika snanam
- Tue, 24 Nov · Before sunrise 04:50 AM – 06:26 AM
- Dev Deepawali (Varanasi)
- Tue, 24 Nov · Sunset 05:40 PM
What is it? The full moon of Kartika, the most sacred month for Shiva and Vishnu worship.
Why is it observed? Shiva destroyed the three demon cities (Tripura) on this day, and Vishnu took the Matsya avatar; lamps lit now are said to bring lasting merit.
How is it observed? A pre-dawn bath, a fast or simple meal, Shiva abhishekam or Satyanarayana vratham, and lamps lit at dusk — floated on water or placed on the doorstep.
Karthika Purnima 2026 date & muhurat
| Purnima tithi begins | Mon, 23 Nov, 11:43 PM |
|---|---|
| Purnima tithi ends | Tue, 24 Nov, 08:23 PM |
| Sunrise | 06:26 AM |
| Pradosh Kaal | 05:40 PM – 08:13 PM |
| Moonrise | 05:22 PMWatch the eastern sky; hills or buildings can delay the first sighting by a few minutes. |
Day by day
- Tue, 24 Nov
Karthika snanam · Before sunrise 04:50 AM – 06:26 AM
A bath before sunrise in a river, the sea or at home with a little Ganga water.
- Tue, 24 Nov
Karthika deepam & Shiva puja · Pradosh 05:40 PM – 08:13 PM
Lamps are lit at home and in temples at dusk; 365 wicks are lit together in many Telugu homes.
- Tue, 24 Nov
Dev Deepawali (Varanasi) · Sunset 05:40 PM
The ghats of Varanasi are lit with lakhs of diyas after sunset.
Why is Karthika Purnima observed?
Religious
Shiva is worshipped as Tripurari, the destroyer of the demon Tripurasura’s three cities, which is why the day is also called Tripuri Purnima. Vaishnavas mark it as the day of the Matsya avatar.
Karthika masam
In the Telugu states the whole month of Karthika is kept with daily lamps, Monday fasts and Shiva temple visits; the Purnima is its peak.
Other traditions
Guru Nanak Jayanti (Gurpurab) usually falls on this full moon, and in Odisha boats of lamps are floated for Boita Bandana.
Karthika Purnima katha
Characters: Lord Shiva, Tarakasura’s three sons (Tripurasura), The devas, Lord Vishnu and Brahma
The three sons of the demon Tarakasura won a boon from Brahma: three cities that flew through the sky — of gold, silver and iron — which could only be destroyed by a single arrow when all three came into one line.
Safe in their cities, the brothers harassed the three worlds. The devas went to Shiva, who prepared for battle with the earth as his chariot, the Sun and Moon as its wheels, Mount Meru as his bow and Vishnu himself as the arrow.
At the moment the three cities aligned, on the full moon of Kartika, Shiva released the arrow and burnt them in one stroke. The devas celebrated by lighting lamps — the origin, it is said, of the lamps of Dev Deepawali.
Message: Patience and the right moment, guided by devotion, overcome what seems unconquerable.
Karthika Purnima puja vidhi
Before the puja
- 1Bathe before sunrise; add a few drops of Ganga water or a tulsi leaf to the bath water at home.
- 2Take a sankalp for the day’s puja or vratham.
During the puja
- 1Do Shiva abhishekam with water, milk and bilva leaves, or perform the Satyanarayana vratham with the family.
- 2Read or listen to the Karthika Purana or chant Om Namah Shivaya.
- 3At dusk light lamps at the tulsi, the doorstep and the puja room; many families light 365 wicks together.
After the puja
- 1Float a lamp on a leaf or banana stem in a river or tank, or keep it in a bowl of water at home.
- 2Give food, a lamp or clothes in charity (deepa daanam).
Karthika Purnima puja samagri
Essential
| Item | Quantity | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Clay or brass diyas | 11 or more | Karthika deepam |
| Ghee or sesame oil and cotton wicks | As needed | Lamps (365 wicks for the traditional offering) |
| Bilva leaves and white flowers | 1 bunch | Shiva puja |
| Milk, curd, honey and water | A little of each | Abhishekam |
| Tulsi leaves | A few | Vishnu puja |
| Fruits and a sweet for naivedyam | 1 plate | Offering |
Karthika Purnima vrat rules
Before the vrat
- Eat a light sattvic meal the evening before.
Breaking the vrat
- Most families break the fast after the evening lamps and puja.
Many keep a partial fast with fruit and milk; the elderly, the unwell and pregnant women should eat as their health needs.
Do's and don'ts
✅ Do
- Bathe before sunrise.
- Light lamps at dusk at the doorstep, tulsi and puja room.
- Give a lamp or food in charity.
❌ Avoid
- Leave lamps unattended near curtains or children.
- Eat non-vegetarian food on the day, as most families avoid it.
Karthika Purnima mantras
Deepa mantra
शुभं करोति कल्याणम् आरोग्यं धनसम्पदा।
शत्रुबुद्धिविनाशाय दीपज्योतिर्नमोऽस्तु ते॥
తెలుగు లిపిలో
శుభం కరోతి కల్యాణమ్ ఆరోగ్యం ధనసమ్పదా।
శత్రుబుద్ధివినాశాయ దీపజ్యోతిర్నమోఽస్తు తే॥
śubhaṃ karoti kalyāṇam ārogyaṃ dhanasampadā| śatrubuddhivināśāya dīpajyotirnamo’stu te||
Meaning: Salutations to the lamp’s light, which brings auspiciousness, health and wealth and removes ill will.
Panchakshari
ॐ नमः शिवाय
తెలుగు లిపిలో
ఓం నమః శివాయ
oṃ namaḥ śivāya
Meaning: Salutations to Shiva.
Karthika Purnima across India
Telugu states
Karthika deepalu are floated on banana stems in tanks and rivers; Shiva temples light the Jwala Thoranam, and many families do the Satyanarayana vratham.
Varanasi
Dev Deepawali: the ghats are lit with diyas and the Ganga aarti is at its grandest.
Tamil Nadu
Karthigai Deepam, on the Krittika nakshatra of the same month, lights the beacon on Tiruvannamalai hill.
Odisha
Boita Bandana: small boats with lamps are floated to remember sea-faring ancestors.
Perform Karthika Purnima puja with Rutviju
Online pujas are performed at the temple in your name — you receive photos and video from the pandit. Offline pujas are performed at your home by a verified pandit.
Sources & method
- Karthika Purana (Karthika Mahatmyam), as read in Telugu households during Karthika masam.
- The Tripura story as told in the Shiva Purana (Rudra Samhita).
Dates and muhurtams on this page are calculated for Hyderabad from the positions of the Sun and Moon (Lahiri ayanamsa, IST). Printed panchangams can differ by a minute or two, and a few festivals are kept on different days in different traditions — follow your family's panchangam and pandit where they differ.
Frequently asked questions
When is Karthika Purnima 2026?
Karthika Purnima 2026 is on Tuesday, 24 November 2026. Kartik Purnima (Kartika Purnima in the amanta calendar) runs from Mon, 23 Nov, 11:43 PM to Tue, 24 Nov, 08:23 PM, IST, as calculated for Hyderabad.
Is the Karthika Purnima date the same in every city?
Usually, but not always. Sunrise, sunset and moonrise differ from city to city, and the festival is kept on the day its tithi prevails at the right time of day, so the muhurtams — and occasionally the date — can change. Choose your city above to see local timings.
Why are 365 wicks lit on Karthika Purnima?
Lighting 365 wicks together is said to give the merit of lighting a lamp every day of the year. It is a Telugu household custom; any number of lamps lit with devotion is equally welcome.
Is Karthika Purnima the same as Dev Deepawali?
Yes — Dev Deepawali is how Varanasi celebrates the same full moon, fifteen days after Diwali.
Can I do the Satyanarayana vratham on Karthika Purnima?
Yes, it is one of the most popular days for it. The puja is usually done in the evening; a pandit can perform it at home.
What time should the lamps be lit?
At dusk, in Pradosh Kaal — the timings for your city are shown above.