The Karthika Pournami date and timings for 2026 fall on Tuesday, 24 November, the full-moon night of the sacred Karthika month. Many devotees regard this as the holiest full moon of the Hindu year, so they mark it with a pre-dawn river bath, rows of oil lamps, and puja to both Shiva and Vishnu.
Because the day carries such weight, the exact date and tithi window matter before you plan a fast or a temple trip. This guide gives you the verified 2026 date and the precise tithi timing. It also covers the rituals step by step and the regional differences that most calendars skip.
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Karthika Pournami 2026 at a Glance
- Date: Tuesday, 24 November 2026
- Purnima tithi (New Delhi): begins 23 Nov at 11:42 PM, ends 24 Nov at 8:23 PM IST
- Also called: Kartik Purnima, Tripuri Purnima, Dev Diwali, Maha Kartika
- Main deities: Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu
- Key rituals: Karthika snanam (holy bath), deepa danam (lamp offering), Satyanarayana Vratam, Shiva abhishekam
- Public holiday: observed in Odisha and Telangana
Karthika Pournami date and timings in 2026
The Karthika Pournami date and timings in 2026 point to Tuesday, 24 November, because the Purnima tithi prevails at sunrise that day. For New Delhi, the full-moon tithi starts on 23 November at 11:42 PM and ends on 24 November at 8:23 PM IST. Since the tithi covers dawn on the 24th, devotees observe the fast, the bath, and the evening lamp offering on that day.
These clock times shift by a few minutes across cities, since moonrise and sunrise differ by location. So a devotee in Hyderabad, Chennai, or Mumbai should treat the New Delhi window as a close reference. Always cross-check the tithi start and end for your own city before you fix a muhurat.
| Detail | Karthika Pournami 2026 |
|---|---|
| Festival day | Tuesday, 24 November 2026 |
| Purnima tithi begins | 23 November 2026, 11:42 PM IST |
| Purnima tithi ends | 24 November 2026, 8:23 PM IST |
| Holy bath (Karthika snanam) | Before sunrise on 24 November |
| Lamp offering (deepa danam) | At moonrise and dusk on 24 November |
Tithi timings above apply to New Delhi, so please confirm your own city’s panchang.
How the Karthika Pournami date and timings are decided
The Karthika Pournami date and timings depend on the moon, not on a set calendar day. Pournami, or Purnima, is the full-moon tithi, which falls on the fifteenth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Karthika. Because the Hindu calendar is lunar, the English date shifts every year, which is why the festival lands on 24 November in 2026 but on different dates in other years.
A tithi does not follow simple midnight-to-midnight timing. Instead it begins and ends at specific clock moments, and it can spread across two English dates. When the Purnima tithi covers sunrise, that sunrise day becomes the festival day. Panchangam authors apply this rule, so the observed date can differ from a plain full-moon listing.
When the Krittika nakshatra also meets this full moon, tradition calls it Maha Kartika, an especially powerful day. This detail explains why some years feel more significant to devotees than others. Elders often watch the panchang closely for this alignment, because they believe a bath and puja on Maha Kartika multiply the merit of the day.
Why some websites show the wrong Karthika Pournami date and timings
Several calendars list Karthika Pournami 2026 on 15 November, and that figure misleads readers. The confusion arises from Karthika Masam start-and-end dates, which vary between the Amanta and Purnimanta systems. The full-moon day itself, though, stays on 24 November 2026 across the major panchang authorities.
A second common mix-up involves Karthigai Deepam, the Tamil festival of lamps. That celebration follows the Krittika nakshatra in the Tamil month of Karthigai, so it usually falls a little later, in early December. It remains a separate festival, even though the two names sound almost identical.
You can verify the full-moon date yourself on Drik Panchang. If a page shows a date that clashes with two established panchangs, then treat that page as unreliable and move on.
The story behind Karthika Pournami
Karthika Pournima also goes by the name Tripuri Purnima, and that name points straight to its legend. According to the Puranas, Lord Shiva destroyed the demon Tripurasura on this full-moon day. The gods felt such relief that they lit lamps in celebration, so illumination sits at the very heart of the festival.
Lord Vishnu shares the day too. Tradition links this full moon to his Matsya avatar, the first of his ten incarnations. Because both Shiva and Vishnu receive worship together, devotees of Hari and Hara treat the day as uniquely unifying. That dual devotion is rare, and it gives the festival its special standing.
Karthika Pournami date and timings across India’s regions
The Karthika Pournami date and timings across India’s regions stay on the same full moon, yet the customs change sharply from state to state. In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, families light rows of lamps and complete their month-long Karthika Masam observances on this day. The government even marks it as a public holiday in Telangana and Odisha.
In Tamil Nadu, the day drives one of the country’s grandest fire rituals. At the Arunachaleswarar Temple in Tiruvannamalai, priests light the Maha Deepam, a giant ghee beacon, atop Arunachala hill at dusk. Tens of thousands of pilgrims then circle the hill on foot, a 14-kilometre walk called Girivalam. The Tamil Nadu HR&CE department administers this temple.
Further north, the same night becomes Dev Diwali, when the ghats of Varanasi glow with countless lamps. In Rajasthan, the famous Pushkar fair winds down on Kartik Purnima with a mass holy dip. Sikhs, meanwhile, honour Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary on this very full moon.
What devotees do on Karthika Pournami
Karthika Pournami rewards simple, sincere acts more than elaborate ones. Most devotees build the day around four practices, so you can follow them at home or at a temple. Each one carries its own meaning in the tradition.
Karthika snanam (holy bath)
Devotees take a bath before sunrise, ideally in a river or a temple tank. Where that is not possible, a bath at home with a little Ganga water works too. Tradition holds that this pre-dawn bath during Karthika carries the merit of many pilgrimages.
Deepa danam (offering lamps)
At dusk, families light rows of oil lamps at home, on riverbanks, and in temples. Some float lamps on water, and that sight gives Dev Diwali its name. The lamp stands for inner light, so devotees offer it with a quiet prayer.
Satyanarayana Vratam and Shiva abhishekam
Many households observe a fast and then perform the Satyanarayana Vratam, reciting the katha to Lord Vishnu. Shaiva devotees offer a milk abhishekam to Lord Shiva, along with bilva leaves. Because the day honours both gods, one family can combine both without any conflict.
Karthika Pournami fasting: how devotees observe the vratam
The Karthika Pournami vratam usually runs from sunrise until the moon rises. Many devotees keep a full fast, while others take only fruit, milk, or a single sattvic meal after the evening puja. Choose the level that suits your health, since sincerity matters more than strictness here.
Throughout Karthika Masam, families often avoid onion, garlic, and non-vegetarian food. On Pournami itself, they add extra lamps and a longer puja. If you are new to the vratam, start gently and build the discipline over the years rather than forcing a hard fast in one go.
Health and safety notes for the day
A pre-dawn river bath in late November can feel genuinely cold, so dress warmly and step in carefully where banks turn slippery. Elderly devotees, pregnant women, and anyone with a heart or blood-pressure condition should avoid icy water and heavy fasting. If you plan a day-long fast, then keep water and simple fruit on hand, and break it sensibly.
Big temple towns such as Tiruvannamalai draw enormous crowds on this day. So keep children close, carry any regular medication, and note the nearest medical camp. These rituals are matters of faith and tradition; they never replace medical care when you truly need it.
Karthika Pournami date and timings in the coming years
Because the Karthika Pournami date and timings follow the moon, the festival shifts each year. The upcoming dates below come from published panchang calendars. Confirm the exact day closer to the time, since regional panchangs can differ by a day.
| Year | Karthika Pournami date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Tuesday, 24 November |
| 2027 | Saturday, 14 November (confirm nearer the date) |
Confirm the Karthika Pournami date and timings before your visit
If you plan to visit a temple, then check the Karthika Pournami date and timings for that specific town first. Popular shrines open early and stay crowded through the day, so an early darshan saves hours in the queue. Book any travel and stay well ahead, because rooms near big temples fill fast on this full moon.
Carry a small kit for the day. Pack a torch for the pre-dawn bath, warm clothes, drinking water, and a few coins for lamps. Reach the ghat or temple tank before sunrise to catch the quiet, sacred hour.
The Karthika Pournami date and timings rarely change at the last minute. Even so, a quick local panchang check the night before removes any doubt. That one habit keeps your fast, bath, and puja perfectly on schedule.
Before You Observe Karthika Pournami
Karthika Pournami in 2026 lands on 24 November, and the day rewards devotion far more than spectacle. Plan a pre-dawn bath, light a few lamps at dusk, and offer a simple puja to Shiva or Vishnu. If you are travelling to a temple, then confirm the local tithi and darshan timings first, and keep the safety notes above in mind. For the fuller monthly context, see our guide to the Karthika Masam start and end dates and the Karthika Masam festival list.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Karthika Pournami date and timings in 2026?
Karthika Pournami falls on Tuesday, 24 November 2026. The Purnima tithi begins on 23 November at 11:42 PM and ends on 24 November at 8:23 PM IST for New Delhi. Confirm the exact window for your own city.
Why do some calendars show the wrong Karthika Pournami date and timings?
Some list 15 November, but that usually reflects a Karthika Masam end-date in one calendar system, not the full-moon day. The actual Kartik Purnima full moon stays on 24 November 2026 across the major panchangs. Trust the full-moon date over a masam listing.
Is Karthika Pournami the same as Karthigai Deepam?
No, they are two different festivals. Karthika Pournami is the Karthika full moon, while Karthigai Deepam follows the Krittika nakshatra in the Tamil month and usually falls in early December. The names sound alike, yet the days differ.
What should I do on Karthika Pournami?
Take a holy bath before sunrise, light oil lamps at dusk, and offer puja to Shiva and Vishnu. Many devotees also fast and perform the Satyanarayana Vratam. Tradition treats even a single sincere lamp as highly auspicious.
Which deities do people worship on Karthika Pournami?
The day honours both Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu, which is rare in the Hindu calendar. Shiva earns worship for defeating the demon Tripurasura, while tradition links Vishnu to his Matsya avatar. Devotees can worship either or both.
Is Karthika Pournami a public holiday?
It is a gazetted holiday in Odisha and Telangana, though not nationwide. Elsewhere people observe it as a religious occasion rather than an official day off. Check your state calendar if you need leave.
Where is Karthika Pournami celebrated most grandly?
Tiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu hosts the spectacular Maha Deepam on Arunachala hill, drawing huge crowds. Varanasi glows for Dev Diwali, while Pushkar in Rajasthan holds its famous fair. Each place marks the same full moon in its own way.