Discover Kartik Purnima, a day of celestial light celebrated in countless ways across faiths and cultures.
On the full moon night of the Hindu month of Kartik, something magical happens. A celestial moment unites millions in prayer, celebration, and light.
In the city of Varanasi, it's called Dev Deepawali. It's believed the gods themselves descend to bathe in the holy Ganges. To welcome them, millions of lamps set the river ablaze.
The day also honors Lord Shiva's cosmic victory over the demon Tripurasura. This triumph of good over evil earned it the name Tripurari Purnima.
Simultaneously, it marks the appearance of Matsya, the first avatar of Lord Vishnu. As a giant fish, he saved humanity's ancestors from a great flood.
For Sikhs, this day is celebrated as Guru Nanak Jayanti, the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the revered founder of Sikhism.
In Jainism, Kartik Purnima signifies the end of Chaturmas, a four-month spiritual retreat. The famed pilgrimage to the Shatrunjaya hills reopens on this auspicious day.
In Odisha, the festival becomes Boita Bandana. To honor an ancient maritime legacy, people float miniature boats, symbolizing their ancestors' voyages to distant lands.
In Rajasthan, the vast Pushkar Camel Fair culminates on this day. It's a breathtaking finale to one of the world's largest livestock fairs, blending commerce and pilgrimage.
All over, a central ritual is the 'Kartik Snan.' Devotees take a holy dip in sacred rivers at dawn, a symbolic act of purification for the body and soul.
The festival is also tied to Tulsi Vivah, the ritual wedding of the sacred Tulsi plant to Lord Vishnu, celebrating nature's divinity and purity.
Beyond rituals, the day inspires simple acts of kindness. 'Deep Daan,' or the offering of lamps, is a cherished practice, symbolizing the sharing of hope and triumph over darkness.
One full moon, countless stories. Kartik Purnima is a living tapestry of faith, culture, and history, reminding us how light can unite us all.
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