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Kartik Purnima (Tripuri Purnima, Tripurari Purnima, Dev-Diwali or Dev-Deepawali)

Kartik Purnima, also known as Tripuri Purnima, Tripurari Purnima, Dev Deepawali, or Dev Diwali, is one of the most auspicious full moon festivals in Hinduism. It is observed on the 15th lunar day (Purnima) of the month of Kartik, which is considered the holiest month in the Hindu lunar calendar. According to Hindu mythology, this day marks the victory of Lord Shiva over the powerful demon Tripurasura. Tripurasura had conquered the three worlds and created three celestial cities known as Tripura. Lord Shiva destroyed all three cities with a single arrow, restoring balance to the universe. The devas celebrated this victory with lamps, giving rise to the festival of illumination now known as Dev Deepawali.



🌟 Significance of Kartik Purnima

Kartik Purnima is highly auspicious for spiritual cleansing, charity, and worship. Devotees believe that performing rituals on this day brings:

  • Liberation from negative karma
  • Prosperity and divine blessings
  • Purification of mind, body, and soul
  • Protection from evil forces

Kartik Snan (Holy Bath)

Devotees wake up before sunrise and take a sacred dip in the Ganga or any holy river. This is known as Kartik Snan, believed to wash away sins and purify the soul.

If visiting a holy river is not possible (as during pandemic restrictions), devotees mix Ganga Jal in bathwater at home and take a ritual bath symbolically.

The day is also ideal for:

  • Lighting diyas (inside and outside the home)
  • Offering kheer as bhog to Lord Vishnu
  • Performing havan and charity (daan)
  • Observing fasts for spiritual upliftment

🕉 Deity Worshipped

  • Lord Vishnu (chief deity of Kartik Purnima)
  • Lord Shiva (Tripurari form, destroyer of Tripurasura)

🙏 Rituals & Puja Vidhi

✔ Morning Rituals

  • Take a pre‑sunrise holy bath (Kartik Snan).
  • Light lamps inside and outside the house.
  • Offer tulsi leaves, flowers, incense, and kheer to Lord Vishnu.
  • Perform havan or homa at home for purification.

✔ Temple Rituals

  • Devotees light rows of diyas to celebrate Lord Vishnu’s symbolic return to Vaikuntha.
  • Many devotees carry images or idols of Lord Shiva in processions before immersing them in holy rivers.
  • Temples distribute Annakut Prasad (a feast of multiple food items).

✔ Charity & Annadaan

Offering food, clothes, or money on Kartik Purnima is believed to bring abundance and blessings.

🎉 Celebrations Across Regions

Kartik Purnima is observed in different ways across India and by Jains and Sikhs as well:

Hindu Traditions Across India

Odisha – Boita Bandana

People set afloat miniature boats made of banana stems or coconut sticks, decorated with diyas and betel leaves, to honor ancient maritime heritage.

Tamil Nadu – Karthigai Deepam

Homes are lit with rows of oil lamps. In Tiruvannamalai, a giant fire lamp is lit atop the Annamalai Hill as a divine symbol of Shiva as Deepam.

Andhra Pradesh & Telangana – Karthika Masam

Celebrations begin from Diwali and continue all month.
On Kartik Purnima, devotees light 365-wick lamps in Shiva temples.

Jain Tradition

For Jains, Kartik Purnima marks the highly auspicious Shatrunjay Teerth Yatra. Devotees walk barefoot up the Shatrunjay hills in Palitana to worship Lord Adinath.
This pilgrimage is considered spiritually transformative.

Sikh Tradition

Kartik Purnima often coincides with Guru Nanak Jayanti, the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Sikhs celebrate by:

  • Reciting Asa‑di‑Var at dawn
  • Singing hymns
  • Reading scriptures
  • Preparing and serving Langar (community meal)

🍽️ How to Celebrate Kartik Purnima (Food & Fasting)

Fasting

Many devotees observe a sattvic fast, consuming:

  • Fruits
  • Milk
  • Light vegetarian foods without onion or garlic

A strict nirjala vrat (fast without water) is not recommended for the elderly, ill, or pregnant women.

Traditional Offerings

  • Kheer
  • Prasad items for Annakut
  • Sweets made of jaggery and sesame

Pushkar Mela

The famous Pushkar Fair ends on Kartik Purnima.

  • Pilgrims take a holy dip in Pushkar Lake
  • Devotees visit the only Brahma Temple in India

🌏 Best Places to Experience Kartik Purnima

  • Odisha (Boita Bandana)
  • Tamil Nadu (Karthigai Deepam)
  • Pushkar, Rajasthan
  • Varanasi (Dev Deepawali – Ganga ghats lit with millions of lamps)

📅 Date & Time of Kartik Purnima 2026

Kartik Purnima is celebrated on the full moon day of the month of Kartik, the seventh month of the Hindu lunar calendar.

Kartik Purnima - Tuesday, November 24, 2026

Purnima Tithi begins - 11:42 PM, November 23, 2026

Purnima Tithi ends - 08:23 PM, November 24, 2026

🏛 Public Holiday

Kartik Purnima/Dev Deepawali is widely recognized and observed in several states.