Kartik, Purnima
Kartik Purnima, the full moon of Kartik, is observed with holy dips in rivers and the lighting of lamps. Tradition holds that Lord Shiva vanquished Tripurasura on this day, which gives it the name Tripurari Purnima, and Varanasi celebrates it as Dev Deepawali.
Festival calendar
Other festivals in the calendar.
Gita Jayanti / Mokshada Ekadashi
Margashirsha, Shukla Ekadashi
Gita Jayanti marks the day on which, tradition holds, Lord Krishna spoke the Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna at Kurukshetra. It is observed with recitation of the Bhagavad Gita, and the same day is kept as Mokshada Ekadashi.
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Datta Jayanti / Annapurna Jayanti
Margashirsha, Purnima
Dattatreya Jayanti marks the birth of Lord Dattatreya, revered as the embodiment of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. It is observed with bhajans, reading of the Guru Charitra and evening worship at Datta temples. The same full moon is also kept as Annapurna Jayanti, honouring Goddess Annapurna.
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Makar Sankranti / Pongal / Uttarayan
Paush, Shukla Saptami
Makar Sankranti marks the sun's entry into Makara (Capricorn), which tradition holds to be the start of Uttarayana, and so follows the solar calendar. It is celebrated as Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Uttarayan in Gujarat and Magh Bihu in Assam, with Lohri in Punjab just before it. In Maharashtra, til-gul, sweets of sesame and jaggery, are shared.
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