Other · Vishnu, Shiva, Ganga
Kartik Purnima
The full moon of Kartik: holy dips, a river of lamps at Varanasi, and the birthday of Guru Nanak.
Also known as: Dev Deepawali, Tripuri Purnima, Guru Nanak Jayanti
Date and muhurat
✓ 28.6519°N, 77.2315°E · Asia/Kolkata
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When is it observed?
On the full-moon day (Purnima) of the month of Kartik, about fifteen days after Diwali, closing the sacred Kartik month. The tithi that prevails in the evening usually decides the day.
About Kartik Purnima
Kartik Purnima is one of the holiest full moons of the Hindu year. Pilgrims rise before dawn to bathe in the Ganga and other sacred rivers and tanks, then offer lamps, give alms and visit temples. It ends the month of Kartik, which is devoted to bathing, lamp-offering and worship.
The day carries several observances at once. Varanasi celebrates Dev Deepawali, when its ghats glow with lakhs of lamps; Pushkar in Rajasthan holds its famous fair; Shiva temples recall the destruction of Tripura; and Sikhs celebrate the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak.
Significance
The Puranas praise the Kartik bath and lamp-offering as especially merit-giving, and this last day of the month is regarded as its crown. It is traditionally believed that a dip, charity and worship on this day bring spiritual benefit and purify the mind.
Beyond ritual, the day celebrates the victory of light, devotion and compassion. For Sikhs it recalls Guru Nanak's message of one God, honest work, sharing with others and equality, and gurdwaras hold processions, kirtan and langar for all.
Observances of the day
- 1Rise before sunrise and bathe in the Ganga or another sacred river, or add a little Ganga water to the bath at home.
- 2Offer arghya to the Sun and pray with a lamp, incense and flowers at the shrine or temple.
- 3Worship Vishnu with tulsi leaves and yellow flowers, and Shiva with water, bel leaves and milk.
- 4In the evening, float or place lamps on a river, pond or at the temple, and light them at the doorstep and tulsi.
- 5Recite or listen to the Satyanarayan katha, which many families hold on a full-moon day.
- 6Give grain, clothes, sesame, lamps or food to the needy; offering a lamp is especially recommended.
- 7Those who wish may keep a fast, breaking it after the moonrise or the evening worship.
- 8Sikh households visit the gurdwara for kirtan, prayer and langar.
The story
The Shiva Purana tells that the three sons of the demon Tarakasura obtained a boon to build three flying cities, called Tripura, which could be destroyed only by a single arrow when the three aligned. They grew proud and troubled the gods, who approached Shiva.
Shiva rode a chariot built of the cosmos and shot the arrow that burned the three cities in a moment. This is why he is called Tripurari and the day Tripuri Purnima; in Varanasi the gods are said to descend to bathe in the Ganga and light lamps in joy, the origin of Dev Deepawali.
Elsewhere, some traditions link Kartik Purnima with Vishnu's Matsya avatar, and Pushkar's lake is said to have arisen where Brahma's lotus fell, which is why its fair peaks on this full moon. Guru Nanak, the first Sikh Guru, was born in 1469, and his birth anniversary (Prakash Purab) is observed on this full moon by the traditional reckoning, though some early accounts place his birth in spring.
What to do
- ✓Take the holy bath early in the morning, safely and with care at the water.
- ✓Offer lamps at a river, temple or home shrine.
- ✓Give charity according to your means.
- ✓Visit a temple or gurdwara and join the prayers or kirtan.
- ✓Keep the Kartik rules of simple food and devotion through the day.
What to avoid
- ✕Do not eat onion, garlic, meat or alcohol on this day.
- ✕Do not pollute the river with plastic, flowers in bags or waste.
- ✕Avoid anger, gossip and harsh speech.
- ✕Do not risk deep water if you cannot swim.
- ✕Do not cut hair or nails if you keep the vrat, as some families observe.
Around the country
- Varanasi: Dev Deepawali, with lakhs of lamps along the ghats, a grand Ganga aarti and boats on the river.
- Rajasthan: the Pushkar fair, with a holy dip in the lake and the famous camel gathering around the same time.
- Punjab and the Sikh world: Guru Nanak Jayanti, with Prabhat Pheris, nagar kirtan and langar.
- Odisha: Boita Bandana, when small boats are floated on water in memory of the old sea traders.
Frequently asked questions
Is Dev Deepawali the same as Diwali?
No. Diwali is on the new-moon night of Kartik, while Dev Deepawali is on the full moon about two weeks later, and is mainly the festival of Varanasi.
Why is the Kartik bath considered special?
The Puranas praise bathing at dawn throughout Kartik and count the last day as the most meritorious. It is also a season when the weather turns cooler, so the custom helps build discipline.
Is Guru Nanak Jayanti always on Kartik Purnima?
Yes, the Prakash Utsav is traditionally kept on this full moon, though the Sikh calendar can sometimes differ by a day in how it is reckoned.