Dev Diwali Purnima - 7th Nov 2022

Kartik Purnima and Dev Diwali fall on the full moon of the 8th lunar month of the Hindu calendar. Kartik Purnima is celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs.

In eastern India, Kartik Purnima is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Kartikeya. Lord Kartikeya is the commander of the army of the gods. He is also the biological son of Lord Shiva and goddess Parvati. In eastern India, it is firmly believed that Lord Kartikeya can cure childlessness and is worshipped to get the boon of a child. Whereas in south India, he is worshipped to attain great speech or remove speech defects.

In Vaishnava tradition, Kartik Purnima is celebrated as Ras Purnima. It is believed that on this night, Lord Krishna performs Raas Leela with Radha and other gopika or milkmaids. In another tradition, it is believed that Lord Krishna worshipped Radha on this day.

In northern and western India, this day is also celebrated as Dev Deepawali. Dev Diwali is celebrated with great pomp and show especially in the legendary city of Varanasi, in Uttar Pradesh. In Varanasi or Banaras, it is believed that Gods descend upon the Dashashwamedh ghat of the Holy Ganges river to worship the river. The ghats and river is lit up with a million lamps to welcome the gods and goddesses

According to another belief, Lord Shiva killed three demons named Vidyunmali, Tarakaksha, and Viryavana also known as Tripurasur, on this day. The gods started celebrating Dev Diwali to celebrate the victory of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva was also given the name of Tripuraari or the killer of Tripurasur on this day.

The celebration of Dev Diwali is started by chanting of the holy Vedic mantras by the 21 young priests, 24 women, lighting lamps at the ghats and the bursting of firecrackers, to please the Gods and Goddesses. It has now emerged as a big tourist attraction.

Most believers take a dip in a holy river on this day. Mixing the holy water in the bath water is another common practice. People go to nearby temples to lit diyas and please the gods. Floating a lamp in the river Ganges is another ritual observed on this day

In Jainism, Lord Mahavira became a guru on this day after accepting Gautam Swami of Gandhar as his first disciple.

Guru Purnima is celebrated by Buddhists to commemorate Gautam Buddha's first sermon to his first five disciples in Uttar Pradesh's Sarnath.

According to the Sikhs, Guru Nanak was born on this day. This day is called Gur Purab or Guru Nanak Jayanti.

This year Kartik Purnima falls on Tuesday, November 8, 2022
Purnima Tithi Begins - 04:15 PM on Nov 07, 2022
Purnima Tithi Ends - 04:31 PM on Nov 08, 2022

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