Quick answer: Karthika Pournami 2026 falls on Tuesday 24 November across the USA (Drik Panchang). It is the full moon of Karthika Masam, which runs from 10 November to 8 December 2026 in the Telugu and Kannada calendar, with Karthika Somavaram Mondays on 16, 23 and 30 November and 7 December. Devuthani Ekadashi is Friday 20 November and Tulsi Vivah Saturday 21 November. Light lamps after local sunset and check exact timings for your city on Drik Panchang. Because 2026 has an extra lunar month, all of these are about three weeks later than last year.

Introduction: the divine festival of lights

Karthika Pournami, also known as Kartika Purnima, Tripurari Purnima or Dev Deepavali – the gods’ festival of lights – is one of the most sacred days of the Hindu year. It is the full moon of the holy month of Karthika, and for Telugu, Kannada, Tamil and North Indian families alike it is a night of lamps, prayer and charity. For Hindu Americans it is also a chance to gather as a community, teach children the stories behind the lamps and stay connected to tradition far from home.

Karthika Masam 2026 key dates for the USA

Observance2026 date (USA)
Karthika Masam begins (Telugu / Kannada calendar)Tue 10 November
Karthika Somavaram (Mondays)16, 23, 30 November and 7 December
Devuthani (Prabodhini) EkadashiFri 20 November
Tulsi VivahSat 21 November
Karthika Pournami / Kartika PurnimaTue 24 November
Karthika Amavasya (month ends)Tue 8 December

Vaikuntha Chaturdashi, when Shiva and Vishnu are worshipped together, falls just before the full moon; Tamil Karthigai Deepam follows the Krittika nakshatra in the month of Karthigai and may fall on a different day from Pournami. Check your temple’s 2026 calendar for both.

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What is Karthika Pournami? Understanding the significance

Karthika Pournami is especially dear to Hindus because it is sacred to both Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu – a day when Shaiva and Vaishnava traditions celebrate together.

Key legends

  • Shiva’s victory: as Tripurantaka, Lord Shiva destroyed the three flying cities of the demon Tripurasura with a single arrow. The gods lit lamps in celebration, which is why the day is called Tripurari Purnima and Dev Deepavali.
  • Matsya avatar: Lord Vishnu is believed to have taken his first incarnation, as Matsya the fish, on this day to save the Vedas from the deluge.
  • Radha–Krishna: in Vaishnava tradition, Radha and Krishna performed the rasa lila with the gopis under the Karthika full moon.
  • Lord Kartikeya: in parts of South India the day is linked with Kartikeya (Murugan), Shiva’s son.

Spiritual benefits

Observing Karthika Pournami with devotion is believed to bring merit equal to many rituals, cleanse past karma and draw the blessings of Shiva, Vishnu and Kartikeya. Charity given on this day is said to bring merit equal to performing ten yajnas.

Essential rituals and traditions

1. Lighting lamps (deepam)

The defining ritual is lighting lamps with ghee or sesame oil at dawn and dusk. Many Telugu families light a lamp of 365 wicks on Pournami – one for each day of the year – and float small lamps on water where possible. Place lamps at the entrance, by the tulasi plant and at the home altar.

2. Holy bath (snana)

A bath before sunrise during Karthika is considered purifying. Add a few drops of Ganga jal to your water if you have it, and chant “Om Namah Shivaya” or the Ganga stotram while bathing.

3. Fasting (vrata)

  • Full fast from sunrise to moonrise or the evening puja
  • Partial fast with fruit, milk and water
  • A sattvic, grain-free diet for the day

4. Temple visits and puja

Visit a Shiva or Vishnu temple, or both. Carry bilva leaves for Shiva, tulasi for Vishnu, flowers, fruit, a coconut, incense and camphor. Many Telugu families perform the Satyanarayana Vratam on Karthika Pournami, either at home or in a temple group puja.

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5. Charity and annadanam

Food, grains, clothing and lamps (deepa daanam) are the traditional gifts. In the US, sponsoring a temple annadanam or donating to a local food bank honours the same spirit.

City-wise Karthika Pournami celebrations across the USA

The temples below are long-established centres that traditionally mark Karthika Masam and Pournami with abhishekam, deepotsavam, Satyanarayana Vratam or bhajans. Programmes and timings change every year and are not listed here – check each temple’s website or newsletter for 2026.

California

  • Malibu Hindu Temple (Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple), serving Los Angeles
  • Sunnyvale Hindu Temple and the Shiva Vishnu Temple in Livermore, serving the Bay Area
  • BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Chino Hills

Texas

  • Hindu Temple of The Woodlands, near Houston
  • Austin Hindu Temple & Community Center
  • DFW Hindu Temple (Ekta Mandir), Irving

Texas has large Telugu and Tamil communities, and temples often run several Satyanarayana puja batches so working families can attend.

North Carolina

The Sri Venkateswara Temple in Cary is one of the most prominent Hindu temples in the Southeast and a major centre for Karthika observances, with lamp-lighting, pujas and cultural programmes.

Illinois and Michigan

  • Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago, Lemont – Rudrabhishekam, Vishnu Sahasranama and lamp-lighting traditions
  • BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Bartlett
  • Bharatiya Temple, Troy, Michigan

New York and New Jersey

  • Hindu Temple Society of North America (Sri Maha Vallabha Ganapati Devasthanam, the Ganesh Temple), Flushing – one of the oldest traditional Hindu temples in the US
  • Sri Venkateswara Temple, Bridgewater, New Jersey – a major hub for the Telugu community
  • Many temples in the Edison and Iselin area serve the large Indian community of central New Jersey

Florida

The Hindu Society of Central Florida, near Orlando, and other temples across the state hold Karthika programmes and community meals.

Pacific Northwest

The Hindu Temple & Cultural Center in Bothell serves the Seattle area. Programmes in the Northwest tend to be evening-focused for working professionals.

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Other metro areas

  • Washington DC area: Sri Siva Vishnu Temple, Lanham, Maryland
  • Pennsylvania: Sri Venkateswara Temple, Pittsburgh
  • Minnesota: Hindu Society of Minnesota, Maple Grove
  • Georgia: Hindu Temple of Atlanta, Riverdale

How Hindu Americans adapt the celebration

  • Weekend programmes: with Pournami on a Tuesday in Thanksgiving week, some temples may add events on the nearest weekend.
  • Virtual participation: many temples livestream abhishekam and offer online archana bookings.
  • Eco-friendly lamps: clay diyas rather than plastic, natural oils and LED lamps where flames are not allowed.
  • Passing it on: children’s storytelling about Tripurasura and Matsya, and English explanations of rituals for second-generation families and interfaith guests.

Celebrating Karthika Pournami at home

Morning

  • Wake before sunrise (check your local time) and bathe with prayers.
  • Clean and decorate the puja space with flowers and rangoli.
  • Light the first lamp and read from the Shiva Purana, Karthika Puranam or Bhagavad Gita.

Evening

  • After local sunset, prepare a 365-wick lamp or a row of small diyas.
  • Offer flowers, fruit and prasad, light the lamps and perform aarti.
  • Chant “Om Namah Shivaya” and “Om Namo Narayanaya”, sing bhajans and share prasad.
  • Watch the full moon rise with your family.

Apartments and small spaces

Where open flames are prohibited, use electric diyas or LED lights. A compact altar, portable puja kit and recorded bhajans work well in a studio. Keep any real flame on a heat-proof tray, away from smoke detectors and curtains.

Traditional prasadam

Popular offerings include sweet and savoury pongal, vada, payasam or kheer, coconut laddoos, rava kesari and panakam (jaggery drink). For fasting: fruit, milk and curd, nuts and sabudana dishes.

Community organisations

Telugu organisations such as the Telugu Association of North America (TANA), Tamil Sangams, the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHPA) have long supported Karthika and Deepotsav programmes, youth activities and charity drives. The Hindu American Foundation offers educational resources about Hindu festivals for schools and workplaces.

Tips for first-time visitors

  • Wear traditional or modest clothing and remove shoes before entering.
  • Arrive early, silence your phone and follow each temple’s photography rules.
  • Main programmes usually last two to three hours; plan for busy parking.
  • Non-Hindus and interfaith families are warmly welcome – volunteers are happy to explain the rituals.

The lamp and its meaning

The diya represents knowledge dispelling ignorance, the presence of the divine in the home, and countless individual lights making one brilliant whole. Whether you light a single lamp in a Manhattan studio or join hundreds of devotees at a temple in Texas, your lamp joins a tradition that spans millennia. Om Namah Shivaya | Om Namo Narayanaya | Om Saravanabhavaya Namah.

Frequently asked questions

When is Karthika Pournami 2026 in the USA?

Karthika Pournami (Kartika Purnima) falls on Tuesday 24 November 2026 in all US time zones, according to Drik Panchang for the USA. Evening lamp-lighting is done after your local sunset.

What time should I light the lamps?

Light lamps at dawn and, most importantly, after local sunset on 24 November. Sunset differs between New York, Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles, so check the Purnima and sunset timings for your own city on Drik Panchang rather than using Indian times.

Is Karthika Pournami a working day this year?

Yes, 24 November 2026 is a Tuesday, two days before Thanksgiving. Many families light lamps after work, and some temples may hold additional programmes on the nearest weekend – check your temple’s calendar.

What if my apartment doesn’t allow open flames?

Use electric or LED diyas. Devotion matters more than the medium. If you can, light one small ghee lamp on a safe, heat-proof tray under supervision, or light your lamps at the temple.

Do I need to fast the entire day?

Fasting is a personal choice. Many devotees take only fruit and milk until moonrise or the evening puja. Elders, children, pregnant women and anyone with a medical condition should not undertake strict fasts.

Why is Karthika Pournami so late in 2026?

The Hindu lunar calendar has an extra month in 2026, so Karthika Masam and its full moon fall about three weeks later than last year.

Editor’s note (4 October 2026)

This guide has been fully updated for 2026. Dates follow Drik Panchang for the USA and the Telugu Karthika Masam calendar. Previous versions included Purnima start and end times, temple addresses and event schedules for a past year; these have been removed, and temples whose details we could not confirm have been left out. Please check your local temple for 2026 programmes and Drik Panchang for your city’s timings.