Why does the date change every year?

Hindu festivals are fixed by the lunar month and tithi, which don't line up with the Gregorian calendar. The date therefore drifts each year, and shifts further in a year carrying an intercalary (adhika) month. In 2027 it falls on 14 November, 10 days earlier than this year.

How was this date computed?

Purnima tithi of the Shukla paksha in purnimanta Kartika, prevailing at sunrise. Computed from the sidereal (Lahiri) panchang for New Delhi.

Kartik Purnima 2026 - Date and How It's Fixed

Kartik Purnima in 2026

Kartik Purnima falls on 24 November 2026, a Tuesday in 2026. In 2027 it falls on 14 November, 10 days earlier than this year.

What Kartik Purnima is

The full moon closing Kartika, kept as Dev Diwali and as Guru Nanak's birth anniversary. The Ganga bath at Varanasi and Pushkar's fair both fall here.

How this date was worked out

The rule: Purnima tithi of the Shukla paksha in purnimanta Kartika, prevailing at sunrise. The date is derived from the panchang - the same computation that drives this site's daily pages. Note that the day is fixed by the tithi running during the observance window, not the one at sunrise; that is why several festivals land on a day whose sunrise tithi is something else entirely.

Regional variation

These dates are computed for New Delhi and follow the north-Indian (purnimanta) convention. Tamil, Bengali and Kerala traditions differ on several festivals, and a tithi boundary falling near a window edge can shift the day for a distant city. Check a local panchang before committing to a fast or an event.

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Frequently asked

What date is Kartik Purnima in 2026?: 24 November 2026, a Tuesday.
Why does the date change every year?: Hindu festivals are fixed by the lunar month and tithi, which don't line up with the Gregorian calendar. The date therefore drifts each year, and shifts further in a year carrying an intercalary (adhika) month. In 2027 it falls on 14 November, 10 days earlier than this year.
How was this date computed?: Purnima tithi of the Shukla paksha in purnimanta Kartika, prevailing at sunrise. Computed from the sidereal (Lahiri) panchang for New Delhi.

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