Significance For Hindus
Kartik Purnima is celebrated in the Hindu month of Kartik, during the months of October and November. Kartik Purnima is celebrated on the last day of the month of Kartik, which coincides with the New Moon, which is why this is called as Kartik Purnima. This day is celebrated because Lord Shiva gained victory over the demon Tripuri, which is why it is also called Tripura Purnima. The celebrations continue for 5 days. Kartik Purnima is mainly celebrated in Orissa.It is a popular belief among the Hindu’s that on the day of the Kartik Purnima, God’s descend on the Earth from the heavens and dwell in the sacred rivers. The sacred rivers can be the River Ganga, or the Pushkar River, which is why people travel miles and miles just to dip themselves in these sacred rivers so that they can be cleansed of their sins and negativity and in return seek blessings from the Gods in the rivers. The women take these 5 days very seriously and take purification baths every morning and also draw rangoli designs at their doorsteps. People also fast during these 5 days.
For most people who cannot make it to the sacred rivers, they make use of holy water that will help them purify themselves of any wrong doings and wrong thoughts or anger, jealousy, hatred, greed or any such emotion that can ruin your thoughts and also yourself. By using holy water, or by dipping yourself in the sacred river, anger and hatred would be replaced with love, greed with generosity, and all the evil thoughts would be washed away.
People would like every year take a dip in the holy Rivers and then also offer food in the temples to the Gods. Kartik Purnima is among the two festivals that are celebrated in honour of Lord Shiva, the next being Mahashivratri.
