Kartik Purnima 2026 is on Tuesday, 24 November. It is the tradition to bathe in the Ganga or another sacred river before sunrise, give in charity and offer lamps (deepdaan) in the evening. Varanasi celebrates Dev Deepawali on Kartik Purnima, and in tradition it is the day of Shiva’s victory over Tripurasura, Tripurari Purnima. See the time for your city below.
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Every Ganga Snan day of 2026-27, with the time for the bath
At a glance
- Tithi
- Kartik Purnima
- Also called
- Tripuri Purnima, Tripurari Purnima, Dev Deepawali
- Main rites
- Holy bath before sunrise, charity and deepdaan
- Story
- Shiva destroys Tripurasura
- Kashi
- Dev Deepawali on the Ganga ghats
- Sikh tradition
- Prakash Parv of Guru Nanak Dev Ji
- Fairs
- Pushkar (Rajasthan), Sonepur (Bihar), Garhmukteshwar (Uttar Pradesh)
- Completion
- Last day of the Kartik snan and of Bhishma Panchak
One full moon, many festivals
Tripurari Purnima
According to the Shiva Purana, Shiva destroyed the three cities (Tripura) of the three sons of Tarakasura with a single arrow and came to be called Tripurari. In tradition, this victory is linked to Kartik Purnima.
Shiva Purana, Rudra Samhita, Yuddha Khanda; traditionDev Deepawali
In Varanasi, lakhs of diyas are lit on the Ganga ghats on this evening. It is believed that the gods themselves come to Kashi to celebrate a Diwali in honour of Shiva’s victory over Tripurasura.
Tradition of KashiGuru Nanak Jayanti
In Sikh tradition, the Prakash Parv (Gurpurab) of Guru Nanak Dev Ji is celebrated on Kartik Purnima; gurdwaras hold an Akhand Path, kirtan and langar.
Sikh traditionPushkar fair
In Pushkar, Rajasthan, the Kartik fair ends on Purnima with a bath in Pushkar lake. The Srishti Khanda of the Padma Purana describes Pushkar as the tirth of Brahma’s yajna.
Padma Purana, Srishti Khanda; folk traditionThe Kartik snan and deepdaan
The Kartik Mahatmya in the Uttara Khanda of the Padma Purana gives special glory to bathing at dawn, offering lamps and worshipping Lord Vishnu in the month of Kartik. In North India many people bathe before sunrise throughout the month of Kartik, and this practice is completed with the bath on Kartik Purnima. On this day it is the tradition to bathe in the Ganga, the Yamuna or another sacred river or lake, to give grain and clothes in charity, and in the evening to float lamps on the river or light lamps at home and in temples.
Regional traditions
Odisha: Boita Bandana
People float small boats of banana stem or paper with lamps on the water, in memory of Kalinga’s ancient sea trade; Cuttack’s Bali Jatra also begins on this day.
Folk traditionBihar: Sonepur fair
The fair of Harihar Kshetra, at the confluence of the Gandak and the Ganga, begins with the bath on Kartik Purnima.
Folk traditionJain tradition: Palitana
After Chaturmas, the pilgrimage to Mount Shatrunjaya (Palitana) in Gujarat reopens on this day.
Jain traditionHow to perform the puja
- Step 1
Bath at dawn
Before sunrise, bathe in the Ganga, another sacred river or a lake; if you are at home, add a little Ganga water to your bathwater.
- Step 2
Arghya and puja
After bathing, offer arghya to the Sun and worship Lord Vishnu and Shiva; many homes hold a Satyanarayan Katha.
- Step 3
Charity
Give grain, clothes, lamps or money in charity, according to your means.
- Step 4
Deepdaan
In the evening, float lamps on a river or pond, or light lamps at home, beside the Tulsi and in the temple.
- Step 5
Moon darshan
In many families, it is the custom to offer arghya to the full moon at night.
The destruction of Tripurasura
According to the Shiva Purana, after Tarakasura was slain, his three sons, Tarakaksha, Kamalaksha and Vidyunmali, performed severe tapas and received a boon from Brahma. The asura Maya built three cities for them: one of gold in heaven, one of silver in the sky and one of iron on earth. By the terms of the boon, the cities could be destroyed only when, once in a thousand years, all three came into a line and were pierced by a single arrow. The gods, tormented by the asuras, sought refuge with Shiva. They built a divine chariot for Shiva, with Brahma as its charioteer; Mount Meru became the bow and Vishnu himself became the arrow. As soon as the three cities came into line, Shiva burned them to ashes with one arrow and came to be called Tripurari.
Shiva Purana, Rudra Samhita, Yuddha KhandaRead the full kathaVerses
गङ्गे च यमुने चैव गोदावरि सरस्वति।नर्मदे सिन्धु कावेरि जलेऽस्मिन् सन्निधिं कुरु॥इमं मे गङ्गे यमुने सरस्वति शुतुद्रि स्तोमं सचता परुष्ण्या।असिक्न्या मरुद्वृधे वितस्तयार्जीकीये शृणुह्या सुषोमया॥Kartik Purnima: relations
See in the knowledge graphDeities, figures and sages 2
Festivals 1
- Dev Uthani Ekadashi · First day of Bhishma PanchakTradition
Frequently asked questions
When is Kartik Purnima 2026?
On Tuesday, 24 November.
When is Ganga Snan in 2026?
The Kartik Ganga Snan is on Kartik Purnima, which this time is on Tuesday, 24 November (the full moon after Diwali). By tradition the bath is taken before sunrise; see your city’s sunrise above. Large fairs are held on the riverbanks at Garhmukteshwar (Uttar Pradesh) and Sonpur (Bihar) on this day.
What is the best time for the bath on Kartik Purnima, 24 November?
Traditionally before sunrise, in the Brahma muhurat. Brahma muhurat on Tuesday, 24 November 2026: New Delhi 5:03–5:57 AM, Lucknow 4:46–5:39 AM, Jaipur 5:07–6:00 AM, Patna 4:27–5:20 AM, Chandigarh 5:08–6:02 AM, Indore 5:01–5:53 AM, Mumbai 5:08–6:00 AM, Kolkata 4:10–5:03 AM, Bengaluru 4:42–5:32 AM. Every city’s time is on the Ganga Snan page.
What is Dev Deepawali?
The festival of lighting lakhs of diyas on the Ganga ghats of Varanasi on the evening of Kartik Purnima. It is believed that on this day the gods come to Kashi to celebrate Diwali. Sometimes, for example when an eclipse falls, its date in Kashi is changed; check the local announcement.
Why is it called Tripurari Purnima?
According to the story in the Shiva Purana, Shiva destroyed the three cities of Tripurasura with one arrow and came to be called Tripurari; in tradition, this victory is linked to this full moon.
Why does the date of Guru Nanak Jayanti change every year?
In Sikh tradition, the Prakash Parv of Guru Nanak Dev Ji is celebrated on Kartik Purnima, which is a lunar tithi; so its date in the Gregorian calendar changes every year.
How is deepdaan done on Kartik Purnima?
In the evening, place diyas of flour or clay in leaf cups and float them on a river or pond, or light lamps at home, beside the Tulsi and in the temple.
Sources
- Shiva Purana, Rudra Samhita, Yuddha Khanda (the slaying of Tripurasura)
- Padma Purana, Uttara Khanda (Kartik Mahatmya)
- Padma Purana, Srishti Khanda (Pushkar)
- Rigveda 10.75.5 (Nadi Sukta)
- Traditions of Kashi, Sikh and Jain traditions; folk tradition
- Muhurat and moonrise: SanatanBodh panchang calculation, checked against Drik Panchang (New Delhi, 2026–27)
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