Kartik Poornima

Karthik Poornima is an auspicious day which is observed on the full moon day of the Indian month of Kartik. People from various communities – Hindus, Jains and Sikhs – observe this day with much reverence.

According to the Hindu traditions discussed below, the day is also known as Tripuri or Tripurari Poornima. Some people also believe that this is the day on which the Gods in Heaven celebrate the Festival of Lights, and as such call the day by the name of Deva Deewali/ Deepawali.

Hindu Beliefs and Observances:

    • Tripurari is a name by which Lord Shiva is known, for he killed the demon Tripurasura, on the day of Kartik Poornima. Tripurasura was the demon son of Tarakasura, who had conquered the whole world and was responsible for destructive activities. The day marks Lord Shiva’s victory over the evil force. As such the day also gets the name of Tripuri or Tripurari Poornima. The day was a joyous one for the Gods and they declared it to be the festival of lights where from the ritual of lighting lamps on this day originates. Because of this ritual, the day is also known as Deva Deewali/ Deepawali.

 

    • To observe the Deva Deewali, people light lamps all through the nights at temples and homes. The ghaats of the holy river Ganges in Varanasi especially come alive with thousands of such illuminations along with prayer offerings made at the site.

 

    • This day is believed to be the birth day of the God of Wards, Kartikeya, the son of Lord Shiva.

 

    • This is the day when Lord Vishnu appeared in his Matsya (fish) incarnation.

 

    • This day marks the end of the four months of penance known as the Chaturmaas. To mark this occasion fairs are organized in some places, the famous among them being the ones at Pandharpur and Pushkar. At Pushkar, the fair also honors Lord Brahma whose temple is located there, and it is considered highly meritorious to take a holy dip at the Pushkar Lake.

 

    • A ritual called Annakuta is prescribed for this occasion where food offerings are made to the deities. This day is considered to be auspicious to conduct charitable deeds. People donate cows and offer food or alms to the Brahmins and the needy.

 

    • This is also a day to show reverence ritualistically to dead ancestors.

 

    • This is the day when Krishna, the eighth incarnation of Vishnu, is believed to have worshipped his consort Radha after dancing Raasa with her.

 

    • This is also the birthday of Vrinda, who is considered to be Tulsi personified. As such, this is the last day for the year when Tulsi Vivaha can be performed.

 

Reverence in Sikhism:

This day coincides with the Sikh Festival of Guru Nanak Gurupurab, the birth anniversary of the founder of the Sikh religion, Guru Nanak. Guru Nanak was born on Kartik Poornima in 1469 AD and this day is celebrated with much reverence by Sikhs as Guru Nanak Jayanti. Even Nanakpanthi Hindus and other people who follow the philosophies preached by Guru Nanak observe this day.

Special prayers are organized at the Gurdwaras to mark the occasion along with non-stop recital of Guru Granth Sahib and devotional singing. Nagar Keertans (procession with devotional singing) are organized. People take part in community meals at Gurdwaras where free food is given to everyone, especially the needy.

Jain Faith and Rituals:

Kartik Poornima ends the four month period of retreat for the Jain monks, which is known as Chaturmaas. It is on this day, according to Jain belief, that the first Jain Tirthankara, Adinath, undertook the journey to the Shatrunjay Hills of Palitana region to deliver his first sermon.

Millions of monks are believed to have attained salvation on these hills. On this day thousands of Jain pilgrims visit the location undertaking a journey which is known as Shri Shantrunjay Teerth Yatra. Devotees walk on bare foot 216 kms of rocky mountain terrains to reach the temple of Lord Adinath that is perched on top of the hill.

 

Holidays Around The World
Bank Holidays 2019 Holi Easter
Maha Shivaratri Good Friday Vasant Panchami
Rama Navami Akshaya Tritiya Shivaji Jayanti
Ratha Yatra Kartik Poornima Anant Chaturdashi
Raksha Bandhan Ramzan Id/Eid-ul-Fitar Onam
Janmashtami Independence Day In India Friendship Day in India
Father’s Day in India Buddha Purnima Nag Panchami
Gandhi Jayanti Ganesh Chaturthi Gudi Padwa
Labor Day

 

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Chhath Puja

The word Chhath is the Prakrit derivation of the Sanskrit word Shashti which literally means sixth. Chhath Puja is an ancient Hindu celebration that has its origin in the scriptures of the Vedas. The festival is dedicated to the Sun God and His consort Goddess Usha who is also known as Chhathi Maiya.



Devotees perform worships and rituals on this occasion to thank the Sun God for sustaining life on Earth and also to request to grant some boons — like longevity, wellness, cure from various diseases, prosperity, and progress – in all, overall well being.

Devotees observe rigorous rituals for a period of four days that include holy bathing, abstinence from food and water and making prayer offerings.

History and Mythological References:

It is believed that the rituals of Chhath puja dates back to prehistoric times. The earliest mentions of such rituals are found in Rig Veda. However, it is believed that the rituals of Chhath puja may even predate the ancient texts of the Vedas. In Rig Veda mentions have been found of hymns in praise of the Sun God and also descriptions of rituals that are similar to those of Chhath Puja. It is also believed that local kings had invited Maga Purohits, who are in the modern times known as Shakya Dwipi Brahmins, to start the ritual of Sun worship for the Maga Purohits were believed to be experts in Sun worship. In the Vedic times it is believed that the sages used the techniques mentioned in the rituals of Chhath Puja to sustain without intaking food or water externally. They are believed to have had powers to obtain energy directly from the rays of the Sun.

The rituals of Sun worship also find reference in the famous Indian epic Mahabharata. In the epic it is depicted that the kings of Indraprastha (which is somewhere in the vicinity of modern day Delhi), Pandavas, and their wife Draupadi were advised by the noble sage called Dhaumya to perform the rituals of Chhath Puja to invoke the Sun God to not only solve their immediate problems, but also to help them regain their lost glory and kingdom.  According to the tales of Mahabharata, however, it is believed that the Chhath Puja was first performed by Karna, who was the son of the Sun God, who was the king of Anga Desh which is presently located in the Bhagalpur district of the Indian State of Bihar.

During the Chhath Puja, apart from invoking the Sun God, worship is also done of Chhathi Maiya, who is believed to be the consort of the Sun God. She is invoked to bless the devotees with divine consciousness so that they can overcome all hurdles that come in their way and finally attain Moksha or salvation.

Dates of Chhath Puja in the next five years according to the modern day calendar:

Chhath Puja has derived the name since it is performed on the sixth day of the Hindu month of Kartik in the Shukla Paksha or the bright lunar fortnight. When plotted against the modern day Gregorian calendar the day comes sometime between the months of October and November. However, Chhath Puja is also observed once during the Hindu month of Chaitra which falls sometime in the months of March and April. This is known as Chaiti Chhath. However this one is not as popularly celebrated as the one that comes in the month of Kartik.

  • In 2014, the Chhath Puja date is October 29.
  • In 2015, the Chhath Puja date is November 17.
  • In 2016, the Chhath Puja date is November 6.
  • In 2017, the Chhath Puja date is October 26.
  • In 2018, the Chhath Puja date is November 13.
  • In 2019, the Chhath Puja date is November 2.

Type of Holiday:

Chhath Puja is not a gazetted or national holiday in India. However, people all across the various cities of the country who observe the occurrence have the option of taking a Restricted Holiday on this day to mark the occasion. Government and private offices remain open on this day though. Also, local businesses, banks and transportation systems in the cities operate in full swing. However, certain institutions may opt to remain closed on this day.

Rites and Rituals:

During the four days of Chhath observance a devotee is expected to maintain purity of body and mind. The worshipper is expected to take a holy dip bath and follow a period of abstinence during this period. When a family begins to perform this ritual it is expected that the upcoming generations too would follow suit year after year. Chhath puja is not performed in a worshipping family in a given year only if there has been a death in the given family in the aforesaid year.

Chhath is a four day festival. It is a joyous occasion where the devotees dress in their best and sing devotional songs at home or in the riverside. The first day ritual of holy bathing is known as Nahay Khay. Devotees take holy water after bathing to their homes. Homes are cleansed. Only one meal is allowed on that day. On the second day of the festival the devotees fast for the whole day (Lohanda and Kharna) and break it only as the sun sets after a ritualistic prayer. On the third day, people offer Sandhya Arghya (evening prayer) in the river banks. On this day clay lamps are lit (Kosi) under the shade of five sugarcane sticks. The sugarcane sticks are believed to represent the five elements or the Panchatattva, namely the earth, water, fire, air and ether, of which the human body is composed of according to Hindu beliefs. The fourth day is known as Paarun, on which day the devotees offer Bihaniya Aragh (prayer offering) at the riverbank. Devotees also break their fast by having the Prasad.

Offerings (prasads) of Chhath puja include sweets, kheer (milk and rice pudding), thekua (sweetmeat), puri (Indian bread) and fruits. The offerings are cooked in an auspicious manner maintaining purity and are devoid of salt, onions or garlic.


Holidays Around The World
Bank Holidays 2019 Holi Easter
Maha Shivaratri Good Friday Vasant Panchami
Rama Navami Akshaya Tritiya Shivaji Jayanti
Ratha Yatra Kartik Poornima Anant Chaturdashi
Raksha Bandhan Ramzan Id/Eid-ul-Fitar Onam
Janmashtami Independence Day In India Friendship Day in India
Father’s Day in India Buddha Purnima Nag Panchami
Gandhi Jayanti Ganesh Chaturthi Gudi Padwa
Labor Day


New Year 2019
January 1st – History Chinese New Year Hindu New Year
Hmong New Year Islamic New Year Japanese New Year
Jewish New Year Korean New Year Thai New Year
Persian New Year Tibetan New Year Vietnamese New Year