Kartik Purnima 2026 in the USA: Date, Purnima Times and Dev Deepawali (Why the Bay Area Differs)

Kartik Purnima is the holiest full moon of the year, and in 2026 it lands on different days on the two US coasts. New York, Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles keep it on Tuesday, November 24. The Bay Area and Seattle keep it on Monday, November 23. Here's why, and what this exalted Taurus full moon means for you.

When is Kartik Purnima 2026?

• Most of the USA and Canada (East Coast, Central, Mountain, Los Angeles, Toronto): Tuesday, November 24, 2026
• Bay Area (San Francisco, San Jose) and Seattle: Monday, November 23, 2026
• India: Tuesday, November 24, 2026

Kartik Purnima is Kartika Shukla Purnima, the 15th lunar day, when the Moon is exactly opposite the Sun. Computed with the NASA JPL DE421 ephemeris, the engine behind our free Vedic birth chart:

Drik Panchang gives exactly the same minutes for New York and New Delhi.

Why the West Coast splits. A Hindu day is named for the tithi running at sunrise. On Tuesday, Purnima ends at 6:53 AM Pacific. Los Angeles sees the sun at about 6:34 AM, so Purnima is still there at sunrise and LA keeps Tuesday. San Jose's sunrise is about 6:56 AM and Seattle's about 7:27 AM, a few minutes too late, so Purnima never touches a sunrise there and the observance moves back to Monday. Drik Panchang's San Francisco and Seattle calendars list Monday, November 23 for the same reason.

What Kartik Purnima means for all of us

This full moon is special in the sky, not just on the calendar. The Moon is in Taurus, its sign of exaltation, in Krittika, the nakshatra of Agni (fire) and of Kartikeya. The Sun sits opposite in Scorpio. An exalted full moon in a fire star is why this night is about lamps, light and purification.

• It is the finish line of the holiest month. The daily Kartik snan (dawn bath) that began on Sharad Purnima, Bhishma Panchaka and the Tulsi Vivah season that began on Dev Uthani Ekadashi all end today.
• Light wins over darkness. Shiva destroyed the demon Tripurasura on this day, so it's also called Tripuri Purnima, and the gods' own Diwali, Dev Deepawali, is celebrated with lamps on the ghats of Varanasi.
• Emotions are full, and mostly kind. An exalted Moon steadies the mind. It's a good night for gratitude, family, charity (deep daan) and making peace.
• Guru Nanak Jayanti (Gurpurab) falls on Kartik Purnima: November 24 in India. Many US gurdwaras hold the main celebration on the nearest weekend, so check with yours.
• The shadow is excess. Taurus loves comfort and Scorpio loves intensity. Full moons amplify whatever is already there, so skip the big confrontation and the second dessert.

When to bathe, fast and light lamps in the US

Kartik snan (holy bath): before sunrise on the Kartik Purnima day for your city (Tuesday in most places, Monday in the Bay Area and Seattle).

Purnima vrat and Satyanarayan puja: on your city's Kartik Purnima day. Drik Panchang's Los Angeles calendar keeps the upavasa (fast) on Monday, November 23, because Purnima is gone by Tuesday mid-morning; follow your family or temple calendar if it differs.

Dev Deepawali lamps: these belong to Purnima at dusk (Pradosh). In the US, the only evening with Purnima is Monday, November 23, from sunset for about two and a half hours. By Tuesday evening, Purnima has ended everywhere in North America. In India, Dev Deepawali is Tuesday evening, November 24.

The full Moon rises close to sunset on Monday (about 3:30 PM in New York, 3:58 PM in the Bay Area), so it's already up when you light the lamps.

How to read this full moon for yourself

Vedic astrology reads the sky from your Moon sign (Rashi), not your Western Sun sign. If you don't know yours, the Moon-sign finder on this page or the free birth chart gives it to you in seconds. Count Taurus from your Moon sign: that's the house the full Moon lights up, and the Sun shines on the house opposite it.

Effects for each Moon sign

Aries Moon (full Moon in your 2nd). Money, food and family. A good night to settle a family matter and start a savings habit; watch your words.

Taurus Moon (full Moon in your 1st). The exalted Moon sits on your own Moon. You feel seen and emotional. Rest, dress up, and don't take on everyone's needs.

Gemini Moon (full Moon in your 12th). Sleep, dreams, letting go. Perfect for a quiet puja, charity or simply going to bed early.

Cancer Moon (full Moon in your 11th). Friends, gains and wishes. Say what you want out loud; someone in your network can help.

Leo Moon (full Moon in your 10th). Career and reputation light up, with Jupiter now in your sign too. A visible moment at work is likely.

Virgo Moon (full Moon in your 9th). Faith, teachers and luck. The most natural sign for a temple visit, pilgrimage or calling a mentor.

Libra Moon (full Moon in your 8th). Hidden feelings and shared money surface. Go gently with a partner and do the paperwork.

Scorpio Moon (full Moon in your 7th). The Sun is in your sign and the Moon faces you. Relationships and partners are the story; listen more than you argue.

Sagittarius Moon (full Moon in your 6th). Health, routines and work. Finish a lingering task and treat your body well.

Capricorn Moon (full Moon in your 5th). Children, romance and creativity. A happy, warm full moon for you.

Aquarius Moon (full Moon in your 4th). Home and mother. Light the lamp at home and call your mom.

Pisces Moon (full Moon in your 3rd). Courage, writing and siblings. Send the message you have been drafting.

Your dasha matters more than one full moon

A full moon is a single night of weather; your Vimshottari dasha is the season you are living through. The same Taurus full moon feels very different in a Moon or Venus period than in a Rahu or Saturn period, and it matters which house Taurus is in your birth chart. You can ask my AI astrologer about your own chart: your first 3 questions are free, and it reads your exact dasha, not just your Moon sign.

Kartik 2026: the key dates

The exact full moon (Sun and Moon 180° apart) is at about 9:53 AM Eastern on Tuesday, November 24, with the Moon at about 8° Taurus in Krittika. All times were computed with the NASA JPL DE421 ephemeris in the sidereal zodiac (Lahiri ayanamsa) and match Drik Panchang's New York, New Delhi, San Francisco, Seattle and Los Angeles calendars to the minute. Sunrise and sunset are for the city centers listed; your suburb may differ by a minute or two.

Frequently asked questions

When is Kartik Purnima 2026 in the USA?

Tuesday, November 24, 2026 for most of the US and Canada, including New York, New Jersey, Chicago, Texas, Atlanta, Toronto and Los Angeles. In the Bay Area and Seattle it's Monday, November 23, because Purnima ends at 6:53 AM Pacific on Tuesday, before sunrise there.

When should I light Dev Deepawali lamps in the US?

On Monday evening, November 23, after sunset. That is the only evening in North America when Purnima is running. In India, Dev Deepawali is Tuesday evening, November 24.

What time does Purnima start and end in November 2026?

Purnima runs from about 1:12 PM Eastern on Monday, November 23 to about 9:53 AM Eastern on Tuesday, November 24 (10:12 AM to 6:53 AM Pacific). In India it runs from 11:42 PM IST on November 23 to 8:23 PM IST on November 24.

Is Guru Nanak Jayanti on Kartik Purnima in 2026?

Yes. Guru Nanak Jayanti is observed on Kartik Purnima, November 24, 2026 in India. Many gurdwaras in the US celebrate on the nearest weekend, so check your local gurdwara's schedule.

Which nakshatra is the Kartik Purnima 2026 Moon in?

Krittika, in Taurus, the Moon's sign of exaltation. That's the classical Kartika full moon: the month itself is named after Krittika.

Kartik closes the festival season that started with Diwali, Chhath Puja and Dev Uthani Ekadashi. Jupiter has just entered Leo too: see Jupiter in Leo for every Moon sign.

Want to know what this full moon means for your own chart? Ask Miss Astroglow's AI astrologer (3 questions free), or book a live 1:1 with Miss Astroglow for a full reading.