Purnima (day)
Purnima (also called Poornima, Pournima) is the Indian word for Full Moon. The day of Purnima is the day (Tithi) in each month in which the full moon occurs, and marks the division in each month between the two lunar fortnights (Paksha). The Shukla ("bright") Paksha is the fortnight before, and the Krishna ("dark") Paksha is the fortnight after, Purnima.
Festivals
The following festivals occur on Purnima.
- Kartik Poornima, is celebrated on the full moon day of Kartik.
- Shravan Poornima, is the full moon day in the month of Shravan. This day has a number of different names.
- Vat Pournima is celebrated on the full moon day of the month of Jyeshta. Women pray for their husbands by tying threads around a banyan tree (Vat) on this day. It honours Savitri, the legendary wife of Satyavan who escaped death for her husband's life.
- Guru Poornima, devotees offer puja (worship) to their Guru, on a full moon day.
- Sharad Purnima or Kojagiri purnima, the Autumn Harvest Festival, on a full moon day.
- Buddha Poornima, the day of birth, enlightenment and passing away of Gautama Buddha, on a full moon day.
- Holi/Phalgun Purnima, the Spring Festival of Colours in Hinduism/Buddhism/Jainism, the full moon day in the month of Phalgun.
References
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Major festivals |
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Regional New Year |
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Holy periods |
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