On Kartik Purnima Friday, devotees across the country offered prayers and took holy dips in rivers to mark the auspicious occasion.
At the Shiva Hanuman Temple in Himayat Nagar, Hyderabad, devotees gathered to offer prayers. In Varanasi, a large crowd of worshippers was seen taking a holy dip in the Ganga River, following the tradition of Kartik Purnima. Similarly, in Jabalpur, people took an early morning dip in the Narmada River while offering prayers.
Kartik Purnima, celebrated on the full moon day of the Hindu month of Kartika, occurs 15 days after Diwali. It is known by various names across the country, including Poornima, Poonam, Pournami, and Pournimasi. The month of Kartik is referred to as Damodar month in Vaishnavism, in honor of Lord Krishna, whose one of the names is Damodar. Kartik Purnima is also celebrated as Dev Deepawali, marking the fifteenth lunar day of Kartik.
This day is significant for its connection with Prabodhini Ekadashi and the end of Chaturmas, a period when Lord Vishnu is believed to rest.
In Odisha, the festival was especially vibrant, as lakhs of devotees gathered at various water bodies to celebrate Kartik Purnima. The day is also known for the historic “Boita Bandana” ritual, a traditional maritime and naval festival that recalls Odisha’s rich history with other maritime civilizations. The event fosters cultural pride and unity among the people of the region.
