November 2026 Kartik Purnima and Kartik Amavasya Dates: Tithi Timings, Rituals and Significance

November 2026 Kartik Purnima and Kartik Amavasya: November brings two important lunar observances in the Hindu calendar: Kartik Amavasya, associated with Diwali and prayers for ancestors, and Kartik Purnima, a sacred full Moon day celebrated as Dev Diwali in many parts of India. In 2026, Kartik Amavasya falls around November 8–9, while Kartik Purnima will be observed on Tuesday, November 24.

Kartik Amavasya is associated with Lakshmi Puja, lighting diyas and traditional rituals performed during Diwali. Kartik Purnima, meanwhile, is considered auspicious for holy bathing, charity, temple visits and prayers. The full Moon day also coincides with Guru Nanak Jayanti, making November 24 significant for multiple religious communities.

Here is everything to know about the November 2026 Kartik Purnima and Kartik Amavasya dates, tithi timings, rituals and religious significance.


Also Read: November 2026 Hindu Festival Calendar: Diwali, Chhath Puja, Dev Diwali and Other Important Dates

November 2026 Kartik Purnima and Kartik Amavasya: Dates and Timings

Lunar observance	Date	Significance
Kartik Amavasya	November 8–9, 2026	Diwali, Lakshmi Puja and new Moon observances
Kartik Purnima	November 24, 2026, Tuesday	Dev Diwali, holy bathing, charity and worship

The Hindu lunar calendar determines festival observances according to the prevailing tithi, or lunar day. In 2026, Diwali and Lakshmi Puja fall on November 8, while Kartik Amavasya is also listed on November 9 in some calendar calculations. Kartik Purnima falls on November 24.

Exact Amavasya and Purnima tithi start and end times depend on the location used for the Panchang calculation. Devotees should check a local Panchang for the precise timings applicable to their city before planning religious rituals.

Kartik Amavasya 2026: Date and Significance

Kartik Amavasya is the new Moon day associated with Diwali, one of the most widely celebrated Hindu festivals. In 2026, Diwali falls on Sunday, November 8, and the Kartik Amavasya observance extends across the November 8–9 calendar period, depending on the specific tithi calculation.

The day is particularly important for the worship of Goddess Lakshmi, who is revered as the deity of wealth, prosperity and abundance. Families clean and decorate their homes, light diyas and perform Lakshmi Puja to seek blessings for financial stability, happiness and auspicious beginnings.

Amavasya is also associated with remembrance of ancestors in Hindu tradition. Depending on family customs, devotees may offer prayers, perform Tarpan or make charitable donations in memory of departed relatives.

Kartik Amavasya 2026: Tithi Timings

The Amavasya tithi is expected to span November 8 and November 9, 2026, according to the calendar dates listed for the Diwali period. The festival date and the full duration of the tithi are not necessarily identical. For the precise Amavasya tithi start and end times, devotees should refer to a Panchang calculated for their city. The timing of Lakshmi Puja should also be checked separately because the recommended evening muhurat depends on local sunset and traditional calculations.

Kartik Amavasya Rituals

Kartik Amavasya is observed through several religious and household traditions.

Lakshmi Puja: Families worship Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha in the evening. Offerings may include flowers, sweets, fruits, incense and traditional lamps.

Lighting diyas: Earthen lamps are placed near entrances, windows, balconies and places of worship. The practice symbolises the victory of light over darkness.

Cleaning and decorating homes: Many households clean their homes before Diwali and decorate them with rangoli, flowers and lights as a gesture of welcome and auspiciousness.

Ancestor prayers: Some families perform Tarpan or other ancestral observances according to their traditions.

Charity and donations: Giving food, clothes or other necessities to people in need is considered a meritorious practice in many Hindu traditions.

Why Kartik Amavasya Is Important

Kartik Amavasya combines the religious significance of the new Moon with Diwali's message of hope, renewal and prosperity. The occasion encourages families to pray for well-being, strengthen relationships and begin a new phase with positivity. The association with Goddess Lakshmi makes the day particularly important for households and business communities. Many traders perform Chopda Puja, worship account books and seek blessings for success in the coming year.

Kartik Purnima 2026: Date and Significance

Kartik Purnima will be observed on Tuesday, November 24, 2026. It falls on the full Moon day of the Hindu month of Kartik and is considered highly auspicious for worship, pilgrimage, charity and spiritual practices.

The day is also celebrated as Dev Diwali, often described as the Diwali of the gods. In Varanasi, the occasion is famous for the illumination of the ghats along the River Ganga, where devotees light thousands of lamps and participate in religious ceremonies.

Kartik Purnima is also associated with Tripurari Purnima, which commemorates Lord Shiva's victory over the demon Tripurasura in Hindu tradition. The festival therefore holds special significance for devotees of Lord Shiva as well as those who worship Lord Vishnu.

In 2026, Kartik Purnima also coincides with Guru Nanak Jayanti, the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, making the date important for both Hindu and Sikh religious observances.

Kartik Purnima 2026: Tithi Timings

Kartik Purnima falls on November 24, 2026. The exact Purnima tithi start and end times should be checked against a city-specific Panchang before planning a ritual or religious visit.

The date of a festival is determined by traditional rules governing the tithi and the relevant observance. A lunar tithi may begin on one Gregorian calendar day and end on the next, so the festival date does not always match the full duration of the tithi. For holy bathing, temple visits and other observances, devotees should follow the local Panchang and the customs of their religious tradition.

Kartik Purnima Rituals

Kartik Purnima is marked by devotional practices across India. Common rituals include:

Holy bathing: Devotees take a ritual bath in sacred rivers or other holy water bodies. A dip in the Ganga is particularly associated with Kartik Purnima.

Deep Daan: Lighting and offering lamps is an important part of the observance. At Varanasi, the riverfront ghats are illuminated during Dev Diwali.

Worship of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu: Devotees visit temples, offer flowers and perform prayers according to their family traditions.

Charity and donations: Donating food, clothes and other essential items is considered auspicious on this day.

Fasting and prayers: Some devotees observe a fast or undertake additional devotional practices during the day.

Temple visits and pilgrimage: Many devotees visit sacred places to participate in special prayers, religious gatherings and bathing rituals.

Dev Diwali 2026: Why Varanasi Celebrates Kartik Purnima

Dev Diwali is among the most prominent celebrations associated with Kartik Purnima. In Varanasi, the festival transforms the ghats into a spectacular display of light, with rows of earthen lamps illuminating the steps leading to the Ganga.

According to Hindu tradition, Dev Diwali commemorates the gods celebrating Lord Shiva's victory over Tripurasura. The occasion is marked by Ganga Aarti, lighting diyas, temple worship and devotional gatherings. The festival attracts pilgrims and visitors who come to witness the illuminated riverfront and participate in the religious atmosphere. Dev Diwali is celebrated in other regions as well, though the scale and customs vary.

Kartik Purnima and Guru Nanak Jayanti 2026

November 24, 2026, is significant because Kartik Purnima and Guru Nanak Jayanti fall on the same day. Guru Nanak Jayanti, also known as Gurpurab, commemorates the birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism and the first Sikh Guru. Sikh communities observe the occasion through prayers at gurdwaras, kirtan, processions and langar, the community meal served to visitors. Although the two observances belong to different religious traditions, their shared date makes November 24 an important day for devotional activities and community gatherings across India.

Kartik Amavasya vs Kartik Purnima: Key Differences

Kartik Amavasya and Kartik Purnima represent two different phases of the lunar cycle and have distinct religious associations.

Feature	Kartik Amavasya	Kartik Purnima
Lunar phase	New Moon	Full Moon
November 2026 date	November 8–9 calendar period	November 24
Major festival association	Diwali and Lakshmi Puja	Dev Diwali
Common observances	Lakshmi Puja, lighting diyas, family prayers	Holy bathing, Deep Daan, charity and temple worship
Religious focus	Prosperity, renewal and ancestral remembrance in some traditions	Devotion, pilgrimage, charity and the worship of Shiva and Vishnu

Both observances are important in the Hindu calendar, but their rituals and significance differ according to regional customs and family traditions.