Telugu Festival
కార్తీక పౌర్ణమి
Karthika Pournami
The most auspicious full moon of the year — Deepotsavam and river bathing 2026
2026 Date
Tuesday, November 3, 2026
ఆశ్వయుజం బహుళ undefined, పరాభవ నామ సంవత్సరం
Panchangam for Karthika Pournami 2026
📍 Hyderabad, IST · November 3, 2026
Tithi
Krishna Paksha undefined
బహుళ undefined
Vara
Tuesday
మంగళవారం
Nakshatra
Yoga
Karana
Timings (Hyderabad IST)
Rahu Kalam
2:52 pm – 4:18 pm
Gulika Kalam
7:41 am – 9:07 am
Yamagandam
9:07 am – 10:33 am
Abhijit Muhurtham
11:36 am – 12:24 pm
Sunrise / Sunset
6:15 am / 5:44 pm
Muhurta Guidance
The pre-sunrise river bath must be completed before sunrise. Lunar eclipse possibilities should be checked — if an eclipse occurs on this Pournami, the snanam gains additional significance but eclipse taboos (sutak) apply. Check the panchangam below for exact moonrise and sunrise times in 2026.
Significance — ప్రాధాన్యత
Karthika Pournami — the full moon of the Karthika month — is considered the most auspicious full moon in the Hindu calendar by many Shaivite and Vaishnava traditions. In 2026, it falls on November 3. The day holds triple significance: it marks the end of Chaturmas (Vishnu's awakening period), falls in Lord Shiva's birth nakshatra (Krittika), and is the occasion of the Deepotsavam (festival of lamps) at sacred rivers across India.
Pilgrims travel to sacred rivers — the Krishna at Vijayawada, the Godavari at Rajahmundry, the Tungabhadra at Hampi — to take the Karthika Snanam (sacred bath) before sunrise. Even a brief immersion on this day is said to bestow the merit of performing a Rajasuyayagam (royal sacrifice).
At Srisailam, the Karthika Pournami Deepotsavam is the biggest event of the year — thousands of lamps are floated on the Krishna river and the temple glows with millions of diyas. The Kashi Vishwanath temple, Varanasi also conducts the famous Dev Deepawali on this day.
Rituals — పూజా విధానం
Pre-dawn ritual bath in a river, pond, or at home — before sunrise is mandatory for the full merit
Light 1008 lamps at a Shiva temple or 100 lamps at home if temple is inaccessible
Float lamps (deepas) on a river, lake, or vessel of water — symbolising illuminating the cosmos
Perform Satyanarayana Puja — widely observed by Vaishnava families on Pournami
Bilva archana to Shiva and tulasi archana to Vishnu
Distribute deepa prasadam (camphor, kumkum, diyas) to those gathered at the river
Observe a one-day fast or restrict to a fruit diet
Chant Shiva Panchakshara or Vishnu Sahasranama through the evening
Telugu Traditions — తెలుగు సంప్రదాయాలు
Akasha Deepam finale — the bamboo pole lamp tradition (see Karthika Masam) concludes on Pournami with an especially tall illuminated pole
River Deepotsavam — clay diyas are filled with sesame oil, lit, and floated on rivers at dusk in a breathtaking visual display at Vijayawada, Rajahmundry and Srisailam
Karthika Pournami at Srisailam — the Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga temple conducts all-night puja; a sea of lamps illuminates the hilltop temple complex
Dev Deepawali equivalents in Telugu areas: Samarakollu, Kotipalli Kothanda Ramaswami, and Draksharamam temples host major lamp festivals
Women carry lighted lamps in clay pots (Karagam) on their heads in procession to the river in some Telangana districts
Traditional Foods — పండుగ వంటలు
Atukulu Payasam
flattened rice kheer prepared on Pournami as Vishnu naivedyam
Pachchi Pulusu
raw tamarind curry
Dry fruits and fresh coconut
Pournami fasting foods
Uddi Vada (Medu Vada)
offered at Shiva temples and distributed as prasadam
Related Festivals
2026 Telugu Calendar
All festivals, Ekadashis, Pournami and auspicious dates