Purnima Fast Festival

The Sanskrit word "Purnima" or "Poornima" refers to "full moon". This day also marks the division between Shukla Paksha and Krishna Paksha. The bright full moon in the sky symbolises the elimination of darkness and dullness with a blaze of wisdom. Hence, it is considered very auspicious.

Purnima is the word used for the full moon in Sanskrit, and it is the day on which the full moon occurs. There are numerous ways of spelling Purnima/Poornima/Pournima, and it is also called Purnamasi or Puranmasi. Purnima Vrat is considered auspicious and has important significance in Hindu culture. Moon has its full brightness on that day, and on this day, people all over the country worship Lord Vishnu and his avatars. Here we offer a quick guide to the occasion – Purnima/Full Moon.

Every month, on the day of pooranmashi, the Moon, the Earth, and the Sun line up in a straight line. Devotees make special prayers to Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi on this day and ask for their blessings. According to Hindu legend, fasting on the day of Purnima bestows believers with even more rewards. Another well-known tradition on Purnima is bathing in the sacred waters of the rivers Yamuna and Ganga.

There are a total of 12 Purnima that occur each year, and each one has a unique significance and story. Those seeking additional details about Purnima december 2022 dates can find them in this post.

What is Purnima Vrat?

Purnima Vrat refers to fasting. Many devotees fast for this auspicious occasion either on Purnima day or on the day before, i.e., on Chaturdashi, which depends on the starting time of Purnima Tithi. Generally, fasting starts from sunrise and ends at the rise of the full moon.

To conduct Purnima Vrat, the devotees must take a bath before sunrise.
From sunrise till the rise of the full moon, food or water is not consumed.
Those who are unable to conduct such fasting can consume fruits and milk once. However, cereals, pulses, and regular salt are not allowed.
The fast can be ended by offering prayers to the full moon.
There is no special puja or diet for this fast.

Importance Of Purnima

In Hindu calendar, Purnima is of great significance. Therefore, over the twelve months, Purnima coincides with twelve special occasions and festivals.
On a full-moon day, the moon is in its full glory and symbolizes the removal of darkness.
Special Puja like the Satyanarayan puja is conducted this day.
According to Hindu mythology several of the Gods were born this day.

Significance and Benefits of Purnima Vrat

Purnima Vrat is considered sacred by Hindus as they believe it brings good fortune and health to those who strictly follow it. It is during this time that Poojas are performed especially to Lord Shiva and Vishnu. The Puja specific to Lord Vishnu is also known as Satya Narayan Puja. Although Satya Narayan Puja can be done on any day, performing it during Purnima is believed to bring blessings of Narayan, an avatar of Lord Vishnu upon everyone.

Observing the Purnima Vrat also brings in a lots of health benefits. During the full moon day, the Earth's gravitational force is maximum and so it brings positive influence on the body and mind. It also has a healing effect on the gut system of the human body by reducing gastric problems and stabilizing metabolic processes.

Different types of Purnima Vrat or Full Moon and how they are celebrated

Karthik Poornima

Kartik Poornima is also called Tripura Purnima and is celebrated as Dev Deepavali, i.e. after 15 days of Diwali.

Shravan Poornima

Shravan Poornima has multiple significance. Mostly recognised as a day of the Raksha Bandhan festival, it is also celebrated as Kajri Purnima and Nariyal Purnima, while the south Brahmin community celebrates Avani Avittam on this day.

Vat Purnima

Vat Purnima is celebrated by married women as they fast for their husbands on this day. It is mostly celebrated in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and some regions of eastern Uttar Pradesh.

Guru Purnima

Guru Purnima is celebrated in honour of Sage Vyas, author of Mahabharata, as he is one of the greatest gurus of all time. Hence, the day is celebrated on his birth tithi.

Sharad Purnima

Sharad Purnima marks the end of the monsoon and the beginning of the winter season. It is celebrated in various ways in different parts of the country. However, it is most commonly celebrated with "Amrit Kheer", which is kept under the rays of the moon. It is believed that on this day, moon rays drip nectar that can energize and rejuvenate the body and soul.