Purnima (or full moon) days hold immense significance among Hindus. Kartik Purnima is celebrated on the 15th lunar day of the month of Kartik, typically around November. Kartik Purnima is also a very significant occasion for Sikhs as it also happens to be the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism. Kartik Purnima is known by several names like Tripuri Purnima and Tripurari Purnima or Deva-Diwali or Deva-Deepawali, the festival of lights of the Gods. Kartik Purnima is celebrated towards the end of the holy month of Kartik, which is why it is so important for many devotees. Kartik Purnima would be celebrated on 30th November 2020, Kartik Purnima also coincides with lunar eclipse or Chandra Grahan this year.
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Kartik Purnima Date and Pooja Time
Kartik Purnima on Monday, November 30, 2020
Purnima Tithi Begins - 12:47 PM on Nov 29, 2020
Purnima Tithi Ends - 02:59 PM on Nov 30, 2020
(Source: Drikpanchang.com)
Significance of Kartik Purnima And How Do People Celebrate It | Fasting Rituals
Kartik Purnima is one of the most ancient festivals of India. Devotees often throng the banks of rivers like Ganga to take a holy dip also known as 'Kartik Snana'. They also visit temples to offer their prayers and observe fasts. There are many legends associated with Kartik Purnima, some say it marks the birth anniversary of Lord Kartik, warrior son of Lord Shiva, while some say it is the day when Lord Vishnu took his first avatar 'Matsya'. According to legends, Lord Shiva defeated the mighty demon Tripurasura on this day, hence the festival is also called Tripuri Purnima by many.
The grand Pushkar fair concludes on Kartik Purinima. The fair begins on Prabodhini Ekadashi, which falls a week or so before Kartik Purnima. Kartik Purnima is also the last day to perform Tulsi Vivah.
The fast of Kartik Purnima can be carried out by eating fruits, milk and light sattvik food without onion and garlic. If you happen to be old, sick or pregnant, it is not advised to do a 'nirjala' fast (a kind of fast where you cannot even consume a drop of water).