Kartik Purnima 2026: Date, Snan Muhurat, Deep Daan and Significance

Kartik Purnima 2026 falls on Tuesday, 24 November 2026. The Purnima tithi begins at 11:42 PM on 23 November and ends at 8:23 PM on 24 November (IST, New Delhi timings as published by Drik Panchang), so the holy dip, puja and deep daan are all observed on the 24th. Below you will find the timings, the best window for snan, what the day means, how to do deep daan at home, and what happens at Pushkar, Varanasi and other big centres that day.

Updated November 2026. Muhurat and sunrise times vary by city; check your local panchang or temple calendar for exact timings.

Kartik Purnima 2026: Date and Timings at a Glance

Detail	2026
Date	Tuesday, 24 November 2026
Purnima tithi begins	11:42 PM, Monday 23 November 2026
Purnima tithi ends	8:23 PM, Tuesday 24 November 2026
Hindu month	Kartik, Shukla Paksha, Purnima (15th tithi)
Same-day observances	Dev Deepawali (Varanasi), Guru Nanak Jayanti, end of Kartik snan and Pushkar Fair

Why the 24th and not the 23rd? The tithi starts late at night on the 23rd, so at sunrise on the 24th it is Purnima. Festivals that follow the sunrise (udaya tithi) rule are kept on that day, and the Dekho Panchang festival page also lists 24 November 2026. Because the tithi ends at 8:23 PM, aim to finish evening lamp offerings before then if you follow tithi-based timing strictly.

Snan Muhurat: When to Take the Holy Dip

The Kartik Purnima bath is traditionally taken before sunrise, in Brahma Muhurta, or as close to sunrise as possible. Brahma Muhurta is the period roughly 96 to 48 minutes before sunrise. Using sunrise times published for 24 November 2026, the approximate windows are:

City	Sunrise on 24 Nov 2026	Approximate Brahma Muhurta
Delhi	6:50 AM	About 5:14 AM to 6:02 AM
Mumbai	6:51 AM	About 5:15 AM to 6:03 AM
Kolkata	5:54 AM	About 4:18 AM to 5:06 AM

These are calculated from sunrise and are approximate. Your temple, family priest or local panchang may give slightly different times, and many families simply bathe at sunrise. Both are accepted practice.

Why Kartik Purnima Matters

Kartik is considered the holiest month of the Hindu calendar for many devotees, and its full moon is the high point. Several traditions meet on this one day:

• Tripuri Purnima: Lord Shiva is believed to have destroyed the demon Tripurasura and his three cities on this day, which is why it is also called Tripurari Purnima. The gods are said to have celebrated with lamps, and that story is behind Dev Deepawali, the “Diwali of the gods”.
• Vishnu’s Matsya avatar: many Vaishnava traditions associate the day with Vishnu’s first incarnation as a fish.
• End of Kartik snan: devotees who bathe in a river every morning through Kartik complete the vow on Purnima.
• Guru Nanak Jayanti: Sikhs celebrate the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji (Gurpurab) on the Kartik full moon, with prabhat pheris, akhand path and langar.
• Jain observance: for many Jains the day marks the reopening of the Shatrunjaya pilgrimage at Palitana after the monsoon months.

Kartik month in 2026: why dates differ by region

India uses two ways of counting lunar months. In the purnimanta system, common in North India, a month ends on the full moon, so the Kartik month started on 27 October 2026 and ends with Kartik Purnima on 24 November. In the amanta system, followed in Gujarat, Maharashtra and much of South India, a month ends on the new moon, so Karthika Masam runs from about 10 November to 8 December 2026 and the Purnima falls in its middle. The full moon itself is the same day everywhere; only the month labels around it change. That is why a Telugu calendar and a Hindi calendar may describe the weeks around this festival differently.

The days leading up to Purnima

Kartik Purnima closes a run of observances. Dev Uthani (Prabodhini) Ekadashi, when Vishnu is believed to wake from his four-month rest, comes a few days earlier and is followed in many homes by Tulsi Vivah. Some devotees keep Bhishma Panchak, a five-day observance from Ekadashi to Purnima. Families that have kept a daily Kartik lamp or a morning bath all month complete the practice on Purnima, often with a small feast and charity.

How to Do Deep Daan on Kartik Purnima

Deep daan means offering lamps. It is done at dusk, at a river bank, a temple, a tulsi plant or simply at your home’s entrance. The idea is light, gratitude and charity, not expense.

What you need

• Clay diyas (5, 11 or 21 are common; any number is fine)
• Ghee or sesame oil and cotton wicks
• Flowers, rice grains, a little kumkum or haldi
• A leaf boat or small plate if you plan to float a lamp
• A matchbox and something to shield the flame from wind

Simple step-by-step deep daan at home

1. Clean the puja area and the entrance in the afternoon.
2. After sunset, light the first diya in front of your deity and offer a short prayer.
3. Place lamps near the tulsi, at the main door, on the kitchen window and on the balcony or terrace.
4. If you are near a river or lake, float one diya on a leaf with a prayer. In cities, a bowl of water at home is a perfectly good substitute and avoids pollution.
5. Give something away: food, warm clothes, a blanket or a donation to a temple kitchen or gurdwara langar.
6. Many families end with Satyanarayan katha or aarti and share prasad.

Eco-friendly tips

• Use plain clay diyas and leaf boats, not plastic or thermocol.
• Do not float lamps where boats, swimmers or fishermen are working.
• Collect unused flowers for composting instead of throwing them into the river.

Where to Be on Kartik Purnima 2026

Place	What happens	Planning tip
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh	Dev Deepawali: the ghats are lit with lakhs of diyas, with Ganga aarti in the evening	Boat seats and riverside rooms sell out early; book ahead and expect heavy crowds
Pushkar, Rajasthan	The Pushkar Fair ends with the holy dip in Pushkar Sarovar	The Rajasthan Tourism Pushkar Fair page has visitor information
Garhmukteshwar and other Ganga ghats	Large Kartik Purnima snan melas	Go early; follow police and volunteer instructions
Sonepur, Bihar	The traditional Sonepur Mela is associated with Kartik Purnima at the Ganga-Gandak confluence	Check Bihar government notices for the 2026 mela dates
Cuttack, Odisha	Bali Jatra and Boita Bandana, remembering Odisha’s ancient sea voyages; people float small paper or banana-bark boats	Morning boat-floating at water bodies; fair grounds busy all week
Amritsar and gurdwaras everywhere	Guru Nanak Jayanti: kirtan, illuminations and langar	Volunteer at a langar if you want to join in

Visiting Varanasi for Dev Deepawali

• Book early: hotels and guesthouses near the ghats, and boat seats for the evening, fill up weeks ahead. Confirm what time the boat leaves and returns, and how many people it carries.
• Reach early: the ghats get packed by late afternoon. Pick your spot well before sunset and stay put.
• Expect traffic restrictions: vehicles are usually stopped some distance from the ghats, so plan to walk and wear comfortable shoes.
• Watch from a boat or a quieter ghat if you are with elderly family members; the main ghats can be overwhelming.
• Carry little: a small bag, a power bank, some cash and a shawl. Mobile networks often slow down in big crowds.

If you are heading to Rajasthan for the fair, our guide to the Pushkar Camel Fair 2026 covers stays, transport and the day-wise programme.

Kartik Purnima Puja Vidhi: A Simple Home Routine

1. Early morning: bath before or at sunrise. At home, add a few drops of Ganga jal to your bucket.
2. Arghya: offer water to the Sun with a copper lota.
3. Puja: worship Vishnu, Shiva or your family deity with flowers, tulsi (for Vishnu), bel leaves (for Shiva), incense and a lamp.
4. Fast, if you keep one: some people keep a phalahar fast and break it after the evening moon puja.
5. Daan: donate food, clothes, til, jaggery or money according to your means.
6. Evening: deep daan, then offer arghya to the moon after moonrise.

A simple satvik bhog menu

Many families prepare a light, onion-free meal for the evening offering and dinner: kheer made with rice and milk, puri or plain phulka, a dry aloo sabzi, seasonal fruit and a few pieces of jaggery or til laddoo. Keep it simple and make enough to share with neighbours or anyone working on the festival day, such as security guards or domestic help.

Do’s and don’ts

• Do keep the day calm: avoid arguments, and spend some time in prayer, reading or quiet.
• Do give to people in genuine need; warm clothes and food matter most in late November.
• Do not leave lit diyas unattended near curtains, dry leaves or children.
• Do not throw plastic, puja waste or idols into rivers and lakes.

Fasting is a personal choice. Anyone who is pregnant, elderly, diabetic or on regular medicines should consult a doctor before fasting.

Safety Tips for River Snan in November

November mornings are cold across North India and river banks are crowded on Purnima.

• Bathe only at designated ghats where lifeguards or boats are present. Avoid deep or fast-flowing stretches.
• Keep children and elderly family members within arm’s reach; agree on a meeting point in case you are separated.
• Carry a dry change of clothes and a shawl. Do not stay in cold water long.
• Leave valuables at home; keep only a phone in a waterproof pouch and a little cash.
• Follow announcements from police and the mela administration about traffic diversions and parking.

Kartik Purnima Wishes You Can Share

• “May the light of Kartik Purnima fill your home with peace and good health. Happy Dev Deepawali.”
• “Wishing you and your family a blessed Kartik Purnima. May every diya you light today bring a little more happiness.”
• “On this Gurpurab and Kartik Purnima, wishing you seva, simplicity and joy.”

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Kartik Purnima in 2026?

Tuesday, 24 November 2026. The Purnima tithi begins at 11:42 PM on 23 November and ends at 8:23 PM on 24 November, IST.

Is Dev Deepawali on the same day as Kartik Purnima in 2026?

Yes. Dev Deepawali in Varanasi is celebrated on Kartik Purnima, which is 24 November 2026.

Is Guru Nanak Jayanti on 24 November 2026?

Yes, Guru Nanak Jayanti is observed on the Kartik full moon, which falls on 24 November 2026. Check your state’s holiday list for office and bank closures.

Can I take the Kartik snan at home?

Yes. Many people bathe at home before sunrise with a little Ganga jal in the water. The intent and the discipline matter more than the location.

What should I donate on Kartik Purnima?

Common offerings are food, rice, til, jaggery, warm clothes, blankets and lamps. Give what is useful to the person receiving it, especially in winter.

What time should deep daan be done?

After sunset on 24 November. If you follow tithi timing strictly, complete it before the Purnima tithi ends at 8:23 PM.

Light a Lamp, Share a Meal

Kartik Purnima does not need an elaborate plan. Wake early on 24 November and bathe at sunrise, light diyas at dusk, and give something to someone who needs it. If you are travelling to Varanasi, Pushkar or a Ganga ghat, book early and stay safe in the crowds. Check your local panchang for exact city timings, and enjoy one of the most beautiful full moons of the year.