KARTIK PURNIMA/GURUPURAB

About:

• When? Kartik Purnima is celebrated on the full moon day of the auspicious Karthika Month of the Hindu lunar calendar. Kartik is the eighth lunar month as per the Hindu calendar and is considered the holiest month among all lunar months.
  
  
• Tripuri Purnima / Dev Deepawali: Kartik Purnima is also known as Tripurari Purnima and Dev Deepawali.
  • to Hindu's, it was on this day when Lord Shiva defeated the three demons, Vidyunmali, Tarakaksha, and Viryavana, who had a firm control over the world and had created three cities in space known as Tripura. Hence the name Tripurari Purnima.
    
    
  • Once Tripurasura was killed, the Gods were overjoyed and celebrated the day in the heaven by lighting several diyas. Hence the day also came to be known as the “Deva Deepawali” or “Diwali of Gods”.
    
    
  • Tripuri Purnima is only next to Maha Shivaratri, amongst festivals dedicated to Shiva worship.
    
    
  
  
  
• Prabhodini Ekadashi:
  • Kartik Purnima festivities last for five days, beginning on the day of Prabodhini Ekadashi,
    
    
  • The end of Chaturmas, a four-month period during which Lord Vishnu sleeps is marked by Prabhodini Ekadashi.
    
    
  
  
  

Associated festivals:

• Bali yatra: In Odisha, on Kartik Purnima, people celebrate Boita Bandana or bali Yatra.
  
  
• Pushkar Fair: Generally, In Pushkar, Rajasthan, the Pushkar Fair commences on Prabodhini Ekadashi and continues till Kartik Purnima.
  
  
• Gurpurab: Guru Nanak Jayanti or Gurpurab is also celebrated on Kartik Purnima (as according to the (Sikh) Nanakshahi calendar, Guru Nanak was born on a full-moon night). The day marks the birth of the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak Dev, who laid the foundation of Sikhism. This year marks the 549^th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.