Kartik Purnima 2023 • Significance, Rituals & Timings of Kartika Purnima

Kartik Purnima (Hindi: कार्तिक पूर्णिमा, Gujarati: કારતક સુદ પૂર્ણિમા, Tamil:கார்த்திகை பூர்ணிமா, Telugu: కార్తీక పౌర్ణమి) or Kartika Purnima is one of the most renowned Hindu festivals that is observed on the Purnima tithi (full moon day) in the month of Kartik as per the traditional Hindu calendar. For those following the English calendar this date falls between the months of October to November.

Kartik month is considered to be the holiest month in the Hindu lunar calendar. Kartik Purnima is also known as ‘Tripuri Poornima’ or ‘Tripurari Poornima’ as it commemorates the victory of Lord Shiva over the demon named Tripusara. When this sacred day falls in the ‘Krittika’ Nakshatra, it gains even more significance and is known as ‘Maha Kartik’.

Kartik Purnima 2023 is on November 27, Monday

Kartik purnima tithi timings: November 26, 3:53 pm - November 27, 2:46 pm

5 months and 15 days to go for the event

The festival of Kartik Purnima is celebrated with great fervour and zeal all across India, irrespective of the religious inclinations. Hindus believe it to be auspicious to perform a ‘Snan’ (bathing ritual) and worship their Gods and Goddesses. Kartik Purnima is also celebrated as Dev Diwali, the Diwali for Gods and Goddesses. As per the Hindu mythology, the Hindu Gods descended to Earth in the sacred rivers, on this day, and therefore by taking a holy dip, devotees receive the divine blessings of all the Gods.

Jainism followers celebrate this day as the ‘Jain Festival of Light’. For followers of Sikhism, the day of Kartik Purnima marks the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev and is celebrated as Guru Nanak Jayanti or Gurpurab.

In Tamil nadu this day is celebrated as Aippasi Purnima, the purnima in the Tamil month of Aippasi.

Rituals during Kartik Purnima:

On Kartik Purnima, a ritual bath at prime pilgrimage places is prescribed for Hindu followers. This holy bath is referred as Kartik Snan and the chosen places for this ritual are Varanasi and Prayag. The Kartik Snan ritual on Kartik Purnima is done at the time of sunrise on the morning and moonrise in the evening.

Devotees worship Lord Vishnu with complete devotion on this day. The idol of the lord is worshipped with flowers, incense sticks and lamps. By offering prayers to Lord Vishnu on this day can put an end to all the worries and bestow a peaceful and cheerful life to the devotees. On this day any sort of violence is strictly prohibited.

Some devotees also keep a fast on Kartik Purnima. This fasting is known as ‘Satyanarayana Vrat’ and recites the ‘Satyanarayana Katha’.

After Maha Shivratri, the day of Tripuri Poornima is considered very auspicious for Lord Shiva followers. Devotees also perform ‘Rudrabhishek’ also in their houses. On this day temples of Lord Shiva are brightly illuminated.

Offering donations is also one of the prime rituals on Kartik Purnima. Donating lamps is believed to be very rewarding on Kartik Purnima. Reciting Vedic mantras and bhajans is also considered very auspicious on this day.

The day of Kartik Purnima also marks the celebrations of Tulsi Vivaah. On this day marriage ceremony of Lord Vishnu with Devi Vrinda (Tulsi plant) is commemorated with great pomp and show.

The grand Pushkar mela or fair comes to an end on this day, with last day being the most significant. Devotees perform a sacred bath in the Pushkar Lake to seek salvation. Circling the three pushkars on this day is believed to be highly meritorious.

Kartik Purnima 2023 - Purnima tithi and puja timings:

Significance of Kartik Purnima:

The day of Kartik Purnima, hold immense religious and spiritual significance for Hinduism followers. After the completion of the chaturmaas period, from this day onwards Lord Vishnu begins His sleep. According to the Hindu legends it was also known that on this day only, Lord Vishnu incarnated as ‘matsya’ (fish form) and therefore Kartik Purnima is also distinguished as the birthday of the Matsyaavatar of Sri Hari Vishnu. It is strongly believed that on worshipping Lord Vishnu on this day, devotees can benefit immense fortune. Kartik Purnima is also celebrated as the birthday of Vrinda (Tulsi plant) and the ceremonious Tulsi Vivaah is also performed on this day. The day of Kartik Purnima is so auspicious that any religious activity done on this day gives manifold benefits. Performing puja, daan or snan on this day is equivalent to doing 100 Ashvamedha Yagyas. It is aptly stated that Kartik Purnima provides Artha, Dharma, Kama and Salvation.