Pan-India · November–December
Also known as Dev Diwali · Tripurari Purnima · Kartika Pournami
When it’s celebrated
The exact date shifts each year — it’s fixed from the panchang. Cast your free kundli or check the calendar for this year’s muhurat.
Significance
Kartik Purnima is a highly sacred full-moon day venerated in Hindu, Sikh and Jain traditions. For Hindus it commemorates Shiva's destruction of the demon Tripurasura and is celebrated as Dev Diwali, the 'Diwali of the gods', with thousands of lamps lit on river ghats. It is regarded as one of the most auspicious days for holy bathing, charity and worship of both Shiva and Vishnu.
The story
Kartik Purnima is celebrated as Tripurari Purnima, marking the day Lord Shiva, as Tripurari, destroyed the three flying fortress-cities (Tripura) of the demon Tarakaksha and his brothers, who had become invincible and tyrannical — restoring cosmic order with a single fiery arrow. The day is also linked to Vishnu's Matsya (fish) avatar and to the birth of Kartikeya. By tradition, the gods descended to earth to celebrate Shiva's victory by lighting lamps, giving rise to Dev Diwali.
Rituals
Across India
Kartik Purnima is celebrated grandly as Dev Diwali in Varanasi, where the ghats blaze with countless lamps, and is the occasion of the famous Pushkar Camel Fair and holy bath in Rajasthan. In Odisha it is marked as Boita Bandana with miniature boats commemorating ancient maritime trade. The same full moon is observed by Sikhs as Guru Nanak Jayanti (when the lunar reckoning aligns) and is sacred to Jains as well.
Questions
Kartik Purnima celebrates Lord Shiva's destruction of the demon Tripurasura and is observed as Dev Diwali, the festival of lights of the gods. It is one of the most auspicious days for holy bathing, charity and worship of Shiva and Vishnu.
Lord Shiva (as Tripurari) is central to the festival, alongside Vishnu (in his Matsya avatar). The day is also associated with the birth of Kartikeya.
Kartik Purnima falls on the full moon (Purnima) of the month of Kartik, usually in November or December. The date changes each year with the Hindu lunar calendar.
Dev Diwali, the 'Diwali of the gods', is the celebration on Kartik Purnima when the gods are believed to have descended to earth to light lamps for Shiva's victory over Tripurasura. The ghats of Varanasi are famously illuminated with thousands of lamps.
Devotees take holy dips in sacred rivers and lakes, light rows of lamps on the ghats for Dev Diwali, worship Shiva and Vishnu, perform Ganga aarti and give charity. The same full moon is also observed by Sikhs as Guru Nanak Jayanti.
Book a pooja in your name, find the muhurat, or read the day’s panchang — bring the festival into your own practice.
