Dev Diwali 2027

Dev Diwali 2027 falls on Sunday, 14 November, the full moon of Kartik (Kartik Purnima). On this night the ghats of Varanasi are lit with lakhs of earthen lamps, because tradition holds that the gods descend to the Ganga to celebrate. The festival honours Shiva‘s destruction of the three demon cities of Tripura, which is why the day is also called Tripuri or Tripurari Purnima. It falls fifteen days after Diwali.

Dev Diwali 2027 date

Dev Diwali and Kartik Purnima 2027 are on Sunday, 14 November 2027; Guru Nanak Jayanti falls on the same day. In 2026 they fall on Tuesday, 24 November. The Purnima tithi can begin the evening before; check a local panchang for the bath and deep daan time.

The story of Tripurasura

The Shiva Purana and the Karna Parva of the Mahabharata tell of the three sons of the demon Taraka, who won a boon of three flying cities of gold, silver and iron that could be destroyed only when aligned and only by a single arrow. When their tyranny grew unbearable, the gods turned to Shiva. The earth became his chariot, the sun and moon its wheels, Mount Meru his bow and Vishnu the arrow. When the cities aligned, Shiva burned all three with one shot, and the gods lit lamps in joy. Read the full story in Dev Diwali and the story of Tripurasura.

How Dev Diwali is observed

• Kartik snan: a holy bath before sunrise in the Ganga, Yamuna or at Pushkar.
• Deep daan: lamps floated on rivers and lit in rows at home and in temples.
• Varanasi: diyas on more than eighty ghats and a grand Ganga aarti.
• Worship and charity: Shiva and Vishnu puja, the Satyanarayan katha and gifts of food and lamps.
• Fairs: the Pushkar and Sonepur fairs peak around this full moon.

The meaning of Dev Diwali

Dev Diwali carries Diwali’s message to the heavens: light conquers darkness, and pride cannot shield those who torment the world. It closes the Kartik season that began with Tulsi Vivah. See all festivals on the Hindu festival calendar.

Frequently asked questions