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Purnima

 

Purnima

Purnima (also called Poornima, Purnima) 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.

 
Satya Narayana Vrat is observed on all full moon days or on Purnimas.
 
Festivals of the Purnima :
 
The following festivals occur on Purnima.
 
Kartik Purnima, is celebrated on the full moon day of Kartik. It is calso called Tripura Purnima.

Shravan Purnima, is the full moon day in the month of Shravan. This day has a number of different names. Hayagriva Jayanti is also celebrated on Shravana Purnima.

Vat Purnima 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 honors Savitri, the legendary wife of Satyavan who escaped death for her husband's life. It is the chosen day for worshipping Yama deva
 
Guru Purnima, devotees offer puja (worship) to their Guru, on a full moon day. This is well known as Vyasa Purnima, after the birthday of the celebrated author of Mahabharata who is declared as the guru of all in the Shiva Purana.

The day of full moon, Purnima, in the month of Ashadh is traditionally celebrated as Guru Purnima by Hindus. Also known as Vyas Purnima, the day is celebrated in remembrance and veneration to sage Ved Vyas. He is the Adi (original) Guru of the Hindu Dharma, who classified the Vedas, wrote the eighteen Puranas and the Mahabharat. 

On this day, the Guru is offered Pujan (worship)by the disciples. First we shall consider the role of a Guru in life.

Sharad Purnima or Kojagiri Purnima, the Autumn Harvest Festival, on a full moon day.
Buddha Purnima, 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.
 
Margashirsh Purnima, or Dattatreya Jayanti is celebrated on the full moon day of the month of Margashirsh. 

Chaitra Purnima, or Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated on the full moon of the lunar month Chaitra. However, this is celebrated on different days in different states. While Orissa celebrates this as Vaisakha Sankranti, Andhra Pradesh celebrates Vaisakha shukla paksha dashami, Kerala celebrates it in a previous month Margashira Amavasya coinciding with Mula Nakshatra. Chaitra Purnima is the chosen day for donation of rice to please Sri Chandra Deva, Moon God.
 
Shakambhari Purnima is celebrated on the full moon day of the month of Pausha
Bhadrapada Purnima is the day chosen for Uma Maheswara Vrat as well as Shakra Vrat where Indra is worshiped for children and well-being.