Diya Festival guide
Dev Deepawali and Kartik Purnima 2026: Date, Story and Meaning
Kartik Purnima and Dev Deepawali 2026 fall on Tuesday, November 24. Why Varanasi lights its ghats, Shiva's victory over Tripurasura, and how to observe it.
The short answer
Kartik Purnima 2026 is on Tuesday, November 24, 2026, the full moon of the month of Kartik.
The same day is Dev Deepawali, the "Diwali of the gods", celebrated above all in Varanasi, where the steps of the ghats along the Ganges are lit with lamps at dusk. It marks Shiva's victory over the demon Tripurasura, which is why it is also called Tripurari Purnima. Devotees bathe in a holy river and light lamps in the evening.
When is Kartik Purnima and Dev Deepawali 2026?
Kartik Purnima 2026 is on Tuesday, November 24, 2026, by Drik Panchang's calendar for New York, and it is the same date in BAPS's 2026 calendar. Dev Deepawali is celebrated on Kartik Purnima.
| Festival | Date (US) |
|---|---|
| Kartik Purnima | Tuesday, November 24, 2026 |
| Dev Deepawali (Varanasi) | On Kartik Purnima |
What is Dev Deepawali?
Dev Deepawali (Dev Diwali), "the Diwali of the gods", is the great festival of the holy city of Varanasi. It celebrates the victory of Lord Shiva over the demon Tripurasura, which is why the day is also called Tripurari Purnima or Tripurotsav. When dusk falls, the steps of the ghats along the Ganges, and the temples of the city, are lit with countless earthen lamps, so the whole riverfront glows. Tradition says the gods themselves come down to Kashi to celebrate.
How is Kartik Purnima observed?
- Holy bath. On Kartik Purnima devotees take a dip in the Ganges or another holy river at dawn.
- Lamps. In the evening they light earthen lamps (diyas), at home, at temples and on the water.
- The end of Kartik. The whole month of Kartik is sacred to Vishnu and Shiva, and Kartik Purnima is its last and holiest day.
- Tulsi Vivah season, which begins on Prabodhini Ekadashi, closes on this day. See Tulsi Vivah 2026.
Celebrating Kartik Purnima in the US
Far from Varanasi, you can keep the spirit of Dev Deepawali at home: light a row of diyas at dusk, chant a mantra to Shiva such as Om Namah Shivaya, and if you can, visit a temple for the evening aarti. See how to use a diya at home safely.
Diya, the app, lets you light a diya and chant along with Shiva's mantras every day. Diya is available for iPhone. See the Diya app.
Related reading
Questions people ask
When is Kartik Purnima in 2026?
Tuesday, November 24, 2026, in Drik Panchang's calendar for New York and in BAPS's 2026 calendar.
What is Dev Deepawali?
The "Diwali of the gods", held on Kartik Purnima, fifteen days after Diwali. In Varanasi the ghats and temples are lit with lamps to celebrate Shiva's victory over the demon Tripurasura.
Is Dev Deepawali the same as Diwali?
No. Diwali is on the new moon of Kartik; Dev Deepawali is on the full moon that follows, about two weeks later.
What else is celebrated on Kartik Purnima?
It also closes the month of Kartik, when many devotees bathe at dawn and offer lamps daily, and it marks the end of the period from Prabodhini Ekadashi in which Tulsi Vivah is performed.
Research notes
Sources
Follow the reading behind this article through the references below. Each source represents its own author, institution, or tradition.
- 2026 Purnima dates for New York City
Drik Panchang
- 2026 Dev Diwali, Dev Deepawali date and time
Drik Panchang
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