Karthika Purnima

 

• The Purnima day in the Kartik month is known as Kartik Purnima. 
• It is also known as Tripuri Poornima or  Deva-Diwali 
• It is also one of the days when the temples of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu are full of devotees.
• Lord Mahadev killed a demon named Tripuri on this day and hence, it is known as Tripuri Purnima. 
• It is believed that Krishna and Radha danced rasa and Krishna worshipped Radha on this day.
• Dev Deepawali is celebrated in  Varanasi and other northern parts of India.
• In Varanasi all the Ghats are lighted with diyas. It is a visual delight.
• Not only the Ghats but almost all the houses in Varanasi are also decorated with diyas.
• It is closely associated with Prabodhini Ekadashi which marks the end of Chaturmas, a four-month period when Vishnu is believed to sleep.
• Prabodhini Ekadashi signifies the awakening of the god. Chaturmas penance ends on this day.
• Many fairs that begin on Prabodhini Ekadashi end on Kartik Poornima, Kartik Poornima usually being the most important day of the fair. 
• It is also the last day to perform the Tulsi Vivah ceremony that can be performed from Prabodhini Ekadashi.
• It is believed that Vishnu, on this day, returns to his abode after completing his stay in Bali. Hence, the day is known as Deva-Diwali.

 Things to do

• The main ritual of this day is having a river bath praying to Lord Shiva and observing a fast for the whole day.
• Devotees observe bath in Nadi Snan or river water.
• A holy bath at the Ganga River is considered to be auspicious.
• Devotees would visit the temple of Lord Shiva and lit lamps. A pack of 365 wicks is usually lit. Each wick is for each day of the year.
• Some devotees would light a wick on the floats made from the stems of the Banana Tree and set it afloat on the river.
• This is the most auspicious day for Performing Satya Narayana Swamy Vrat.

Almost all the temples of Lord Shiva would perform the Ekadasi Rudra Abhishekam on Karthika Purnima. It is believed that by performing the Ekadasi Rudra Abhishekam on Karthika Purnima one would get free of all sins and salvation. Karthika Purnima Arati is given to the holy river Ganga or Goddess Ganga. A fair or mela or Jatara is organized at the Ananthagiri Padmanabha Swamy temple in Andhra Pradesh.

2024 Date: November 15.