Kartik Purnima — Dev Deepawali

The three asura brothers — Tarakaksha, Kamalaksha, and Vidyunmali — receive a boon: three flying cities (Tripura) that can only be destroyed by a single arrow, shot by a god, when the three cities align. They terrorise the three worlds. Shiva builds a cosmic chariot (the earth the chariot, the sun and moon the wheels, Vishnu the arrow, Brahma the charioteer), waits for the alignment, and destroys Tripura with a single shot. Kartik Purnima celebrates this victory — and Varanasi lights a million lamps on the Ganga ghats as Dev Deepawali.

Lord Brahma is said to have performed a significant Yajna (fire sacrifice) at the sacred Pushkar lake on the day of Kartika Purnima. This divine act sanctified the Pushkar Tirtha, establishing its immense spiritual importance as a prime pilgrimage site where bathing and performing rituals, especially during the Kartika month, are highly meritorious.

Taking a holy bath (Kartika Snana) in sacred rivers or water bodies, especially the Ganga, on Kartika Purnima is a highly meritorious observance. This ritual is believed to purify the body and soul, wash away sins, and grant immense spiritual merit, sometimes equated to performing thousands of Ashvamedha yagnas. Devotees often perform this bath before sunrise and offer prayers and libations to deities and ancestors.

On Kartika Purnima, Lord Vishnu is celebrated for manifesting as Matsya, his first incarnation in the form of a divine fish. This avatar appeared to save the sacred Vedas from the demon Hayagriva and to protect Manu and the world from a great deluge, thus re-establishing dharma. This event signifies the preservation of divine knowledge and the triumph of truth over chaos.

Kartika Purnima is observed as the birthday of Vrinda, the divine personification of the sacred Tulasi plant. It also marks the culmination of the Tulasi Vivah ceremony, the ceremonial marriage of the Tulasi plant to Lord Vishnu (represented by a Shalagrama Shila), which often begins on Prabodhini Ekadashi. Worshipping Tulasi and performing her marriage to Vishnu on this day is believed to bestow immense blessings, prosperity, and liberation.

Guru Nanak Jayanti, also known as Gurpurab, commemorates the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the revered founder of Sikhism and the first of the ten Sikh Gurus. This sacred day is observed on the full moon day of the Kartika month. Celebrations include Akhand Path (continuous recitation of the Guru Granth Sahib), Nagar Kirtan (religious processions), Kirtan (singing of hymns), and Langar (community meals), emphasizing his teachings of equality, compassion, and devotion to one God.

Kartika Purnima marks the culmination of the month-long Kartika Vrata, a period of intensified spiritual practices, austerities, and devotion. Devotees who observe vows throughout the month conclude their vratas on this day, often with special pujas, holy baths, and acts of charity. The Puranas emphasize that performing spiritual activities during Kartika, especially on Purnima, yields manifold benefits and spiritual advancement.

On Kartika Purnima, the city of Varanasi celebrates Dev Deepawali, the 'Diwali of the Gods'. It is believed that on this auspicious night, the deities descend to the ghats of Kashi to bathe in the holy Ganga River. Thousands of earthen lamps (diyas) are lit across the ghats, temples, and boats, creating a spectacular display of light and devotion. This grand celebration is a distinct regional observance in Kashi, often linked to the gods' rejoicing over Lord Shiva's victory over Tripurasura.

Boita Bandana is a traditional Odia maritime festival celebrated annually on Kartika Purnima throughout Odisha. It commemorates the ancient seafaring tradition of Odia merchant mariners, known as Sadhabas, who embarked on voyages to distant lands like Bali, Sumatra, and Sri Lanka for trade. Women perform rituals by floating miniature boats made of banana stems or paper, adorned with lamps, flowers, and betel nuts, in rivers and other water bodies, praying for the safe journey and return of their family members.

Some traditions observe Kartika Purnima as the birth anniversary of Lord Kartikeya, also known as Murugan or Skanda, the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. He is revered as the god of war and valor, and his birth is celebrated to mark the defeat of the demon Tarakasura. Devotees, particularly in South India, offer special prayers to Lord Kartikeya on this day, seeking courage, victory, and righteousness.

On Kartika Purnima, Jains commemorate the liberation (moksha) of Dravida and Valikhilla, who were the grandsons of Lord Rishabhanatha. They, along with a multitude of other monks, are believed to have attained final liberation on this auspicious day. This tithi also marks the conclusion of Chaturmas, the four-month rainy season retreat, allowing Jain monks and nuns to resume their wandering. Many Svetambara Jains undertake a symbolic pilgrimage to Mount Shatrunjaya, a significant Jain pilgrimage site, on this day.