The full moon that falls in Kartik month is known as "Kartik Purnima". The festival of Kartik Purnima is celebrated with enthusiasm throughout India. On this auspicious occasion, Puja recitations, religious rituals and programs are held in several parts of the country. This day is celebrated as a festival of lights. Lights are lit everywhere. All houses, buildings and bungalows etc are also decorated with lights.

Holy rivers and shrines are decorated with lamps. Activities like the recitation of religious stories and religious Yagya-Havan are undertaken. Snan and charity are also said to be of special importance on this day. Performing charity on this day never goes vain. Helping the needy is considered to be one of the best actions that a devotee can do on this day. The importance of religious functions and charity increases manifold especially on a particular festival. Along the same lines when religious works are done on Kartik Purnima, the results increase manifold. Worshiping Lord Shiva on the day of Kartik Purnima eliminates Karmic sins.

Kartik Poornima fasting time

Kartik Purnima will be celebrated on Friday, 15 November 2024 this year.

Full moon starts from 09:44 on November 14, 2024.

Full moon ends at 26:59 on November 15, 2024.

On the full moon day of Kartik month, i.e. on the day of Kartik Purnima, Lord Shiva killed a demon named Tripurasura and freed all the Devats from his atrocities of a demon and hence this day is also called ‘Tripuri Purnima’. If the time of this full moon also happens to coincide with Kritika Nakshatra, then this day is considered as Mahakartiki. This day becomes very virtuous. If Bharani Nakshatra or Rohini Nakshatra are formed at this time, then too the importance of this day increases.

Matsyavatar Jayanti on Kartik Purnima

According to the Dharmic texts, Lord Vishnu incarnated in the form of Matsyavatar on Kartik Purnima. Hence there is a tradition to celebrate this day as Matsya Jayanti. Lord Vishnu is worshiped and Bhagavad Katha is recited on this day. Carrying out Deep Daan today and performing Snan is the Ganges is believed to give fruits equivalent to ten Rajsuya Yagyas.

Mahapunit Festival

Kartik Purnima is also known as Mahapunit Parva. This means that charity done on this day is very auspicious and will certainly bear fruits. It falls under the category of Mahadan. This charity can be done in any form. Donation of grains, clothing, food, goods, wealth or any other item, whether small or big, all have great importance.

Kartik Purnima Puja Procedure

• On the day of Kartik Purnima, one should get up early in the morning and take a bath at the time of Brahma Muhurta.
• On this day, one should bathe in holy rivers, reservoirs, ghats etc. /bathing in the Ganga brings very good fruits.
• If one cannot take a bath in the Ganga, then one can add a few drops of water to the bathing water and take a bath in the same.
• Donations of Ghee, milk, bananas, dates, rice, sesame and amla are considered to be good on Kartik Purnima.
• Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu should be worshipped on this day.

After the Puja, lamps should be lit at the main entrance of the house and near the basil plant in the evening.

Legend of Karthik Purnima

According to the legend, there was once a demon named Tarakasura. Tarkasur was slaughtered by Karthikeya. He had three sons. His sons decided to avenge their father's death and performed austerities. This pleased Lord Brahma. The three brothers sought the boon of immortality. Brahmaji requests them to ask for something other than immortality.

The three brothers then sought the construction of three different kingdoms and three chariots with which they can travel across heaven and earth. Further, they sought a boon that they can be killed only when they are at one place in a straight line and with the same arrow piercing all three. Lord Brahma granted them this boon.

Having received the boons, the three become fearless and spread their terror everywhere. They develop three cities. They use their strength and establish their power over the entire Trilok. They throw out Devta Indra and other Devtas from the Dev Lok. The fearful Devtas then seek help from Lord Brahma. Lord Brahma asks them to go to Lord Shiva. Lord Brahma informs the Devtas that only Lord Shiva can kill the three demon brothers. Accordingly, the Devtas visit Lord Shiva and seek his help.

Lord Shiva assures the Devtas and tells them to not worry. All of them then set out to create a divine chariot for the war with the three demon brothers. The Moon and the Sun become the divine wheels of the chariot. Indra, Varun, Yam and Kuber become the horses of the chariot. Himalaya becomes the bow and Sheshnag becomes the arrow. Lord Shiva sets out on this chariot. A long battle that lasts for thousands of years ensues. Finally one day the three demons and their chariots come in one straight line. Lord Shiva then kills them by shooting out one arrow which pierces all the three demons at one spot and in a straight line as per Lord Brahma's boon.

Snan Daan Purnima

The Purnima that falls in the month of Kartik is one of the holiest Purnimas of the year. Donation and charity work done on this day is very fruitful. Performing Deep Daan on this day, all his/her Karmic sins get nullified. Deep Daan on this day has a lot of importance.

Ganga Snan and Deepdan both play a very important role in Kartik Purnima. Deep Daan pacifies the soul of the ancestors and brings peace and liberation to the devotees. Devotees visit the holy sites like Kashi, Sangam, Haridwar for Deep Daan. Kartik Purnima is also known as Dev Deepawali. According to some traditional beliefs Devtas too light lamps on this day.