Karthika Purnima is a cultural festival celebrated by the Hindus, Sikhs and Jains in India. It is celebrated on the full moon or the fifteenth lunar day of the month of Kartik falling in November or December. This is the holiest month of the year for the celebrants.
Also known as ‘Tripuri Purnima or ‘Tripurari Purnima, the festival is a celebration of Lord Shivas victory over Tripurasara. This festival is also to honour Lord Vishnu. On this day, he had incarnated as Matsya, which is his very first avatar. The Hindu legend says that on this day, Gods had descended to the earth into the sacred rivers. This is why, during Kartik Purnima, the devotees bathe themselves in sacred rivers, and believe that they receive the blessings of Gods. The significance of this festival increases when it falls in the Nakshatra Krittika. This is when it is called Maha Kartik.
Kartik Purnima is celebrated on a span of five days. It starts on Prabodhani Ekadashi. This marks the awakening of the Gods who had descended on the earth. This also marks the end of Chaturmas, which is a four-month period when Lord Vishnu was asleep. Hindus celebrate Ekadashi on the eleventh day of Shukla Paksha and Purnima on the fifteenth day.
During this festival, all devotees bathe in the holy rivers. People also light diyas for celebrating the victory of Lord Vishnu. They believe that he had come back to his abode once his exile was over. Devotees walk in a procession and carry Lord ‘Shiva idols and images. They then immerse them into the water once they worship them. At temples, a Prasad called, ‘Annakutta is offered to all deities. Some devotees also gather around banks of holy rivers at sunrise or moonrise and worship Lord Shiva. Devotees then participate in the ‘Bhandara and ‘Anna Daan rituals. This is done for gaining assets and prosperity throughout the coming year.