As the Kartik month is favorite month for Lord Vishnu, Lord Puri Jagannath is worshipped with special pujas and rituals on this day. Lakhs of Vishnu devotees perform ritual bath in the sea and offer their prayers to Lord Jagannath. During Kartik Purnima day, deities of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra are adorned jubilantly with gold ornaments and flower garlands. This ritual is known as ‘Raje Rajeswari Bheas’.
During Kartik Purnima, not only in Puri but in whole Orissa, people take ritual bath along the river banks of Mahanadi, Chandrabhaga, Baitarini and Rusikulya. On this day, ‘Bali Yatra’ festival starts at Cuttack.
Rai Damodar Vrata, also spelt as Rai Damodar Brata, is observed in the month of Kartika in Orissa. It is mainly observed by Hindu widows. It is observed for first twenty five days starting from the first day during Kartika. Some devotees observe it during the last five days in Kartika. The deities to worship in Rai Damodar Vrata are – Rai, Damodar and Goddess Lakshmi. Specially made recipe called Havisha is conserved during the vrata by the women.
During Kartika month, married women worship Goddess Vrundavati (Tulsi). Tulsi Vivah is also observed during Panchuka vrata in Kartika month.
Dev Diwali is observed on the Full Moon day in the month of Kartik. It is popularly celebrated along the Ganga River banks in Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) and other holy places in India. In 2009, Dev Diwali date is November 2nd. This festival is dedicated to River Ganga and devotees pay their tribute to Ganga Mata. It is believed that on Dev Deepavali, Gods descend on Earth.
During Dev Diwali, a cultural festival called ‘Ganga Mahotsav’ is celebrated in Varanasi. Prabodhini Ekadashi is the important day in these celebrations. Large number of people throngs to Dasaswamedh Ghat to witness the event.
Kartik Snan and Deepdaan are main rituals performed during Dev Diwali. At the time of sunrise devotees do Kartik Snan and in the evenings they perform Deepotsav. Deepotsav is lightening Diyas or earthen lamps. Deepotsav is an eye-catching celebration on Dev Deepavali day. ‘Ganga Aarti’ is the grand event to participate on this day. Large number of people performs Aarti to Ganga Mata amidst the multitude prayers and mantras.
Dev Diwali is also known as Kartik Purnima, Tripuri Purnima or Tripurari Purnima. Dev Diwali is the last day to perform Tulsi Damodar Vivah. During this day, Kapal Mochan Mela is observed with much gusto. Pushkar Mela is also celebrated in Pushkar town of Rajasthan on Dev Diwali day.
Kartik Purnima, also known as Tripuri Poornima or Tripurari Punrima, is the Full Moon and auspicious day in Kartik month. Kartik Purnima 2009 date is November 2nd. This day marks the ending of Kartik month as per the calendars of North India but in other calendars it is the 15th day in Kartik maas. During Kartik Purnima, Dev Diwali, Deepotsavam and Ganga Mahotsav are observed. In Andhra Pradesh and some parts of Karnataka, ‘Shiva Linga Mahajala Abhishekam’ is observed on the day. Bhakteshwara Vratam is also performed on Kartika Pournami in some places of Andhra Pradesh
On Kartik Purnima, some people perform Tulsi Vishnu Vivah. It is observed on some other days – Bhodini Ekadasi or on Ksheerabdi Dwadashi. Kartik Poornima celebrations are associated with the legend of demon Tarakasur. Tarakasur was demolished by Lord kartik, also known as Skanda or Kumara.
Another legend associated with Kartik Poornima is of Lord Vishnu’s Matsyavatar. It is believed that on this day, Vishnu was incarnated in Matsya incarnation and protected Manu, the first man, from Maha Pralay (deluge).
In Kashi Vishwanath temple at Varanasi, Rameshwaram temple, Arunachaleshwara temple at Thiruvannamalai, Manjunatha temple at Dharmasthala, Srisailam Mallikarjuna swamy temple, Vemulawada Rajarajeshwara swamy temple, Keesaragutta Ramalingeshwara swamy temple and Kaleshwaram Shiva temple and all other famous Shiva temples, Kartika Pournami is observed with much gusto.
During Kartik Purnima, Pushkar Mela, the largest cattle fair in the world, is organized in Pushkar town in Rajasthan. Kapal Mochan Mela is another biggest mela celebrated during Kartik Purnima. In Andhra Pradesh, Anantagiri Jathara is celebrated during Kartik Purnima at Ananthagiri Anantha Padmanabha Swamy temple.
Panchuka or Panchaka vrat, also known as Bagapanchuka vrata, is observed during the last five days in Kartika month mainly in Orissa. Panchuka starts on Bodhini Ekadashi and ends on Kartika Purnima festival. As per the beliefs of devotees, who missed to perform Kartik brata, perform Panchuka vrata. It is a huge ceremony in the Pilgrim City of Puri in Orissa. Devotees of Lord Jagannath, observe the vrat with utmost devotion for the last five days of Kartika.
In 2009, Panchuka vrat starts on October 29th and ends on November 2nd. Kartik Purnima marks the ending of Panchuka or Bagapanchuka vrata. During Panchaka, especially on Utthana Ekadashi and Kartik Purnima days, devotees perform Kartika punya snan at Mahodadhi in the sea and offer puja in Puri Jagannath temple.
