Fri Nov 15 09:57:53 UTC 2024: ## Kartik Purnima 2024: Dev Diwali Celebrated with Rituals and Donations

**Varanasi, India** – Kartik Purnima, the last day of the Kartik month, is being celebrated today, November 15, 2024, as a significant Hindu festival. Also known as Dev Diwali, this day marks the end of the month-long Kartik snan and the conclusion of the Akashdeep Utsav in Kashi.

According to Hindu beliefs, Kartik Purnima is a day when deities descend to Earth to bathe in the Ganga River and celebrate Diwali by lighting lamps in rivers and lakes. This tradition stems from the legend of Lord Shiva vanquishing the demon Tripurasura, leading to celestial Diwali celebrations in Kashi.

The day is believed to be a time of great merit, with rituals such as Ganga snan (bathing in the Ganga), lighting lamps, and donating to the needy believed to bring blessings and liberation from ancestral curses. Devotees are encouraged to perform Tulasi Vivah (Tulasi plant wedding) and recite the Satyanarayan Katha for blessings of prosperity.

In Kashi, the celebration is particularly grand, with special pujas and lamp offerings on the banks of the Ganga.

This year, the significance of charity is highlighted, with the promise of tenfold merit for donations of food, clothing, and money. Lighting lamps in front of the Tulasi plant is considered an effective remedy for poverty.

The rituals and beliefs surrounding Kartik Purnima emphasize the importance of faith, charity, and remembrance of ancestors. The day is a reminder of the divine grace bestowed upon devotees and the opportunity for spiritual upliftment through pious actions.

Read More