Kartik Poornima was celebrated on a grand scale at Laxmi Venkataramana Balaji Mandir, Vashi,  on Monday. The entire temple was decorated with lovely rangolis and hundreds of lamps. There were myriads of earthen diyas, lit around sunset by devotees right from the entrance, on the stairs, in the temple and in front of the beautifully decorated Balaji and His consorts.

The deity was decorated with lovely garlands made of choicest flowers and even avalo, a tangy small fruit. The entire venue looked like devlok or fairy land. Men and women dressed beautifully in traditional dresses with ornaments and flowers flocked the venue and jostled their way into lighting the traditional earthen diyas. Organised by the GSB community, the festival was a grand affair.

Huge multi-tiered lamps were placed near the tulsi plant and in front of the deities. Hundreds of diyas with oil were kept right round the deities, on the outside and inside of the temple and when they were lit, it surpassed even the Diwali lights.

Then followed the grand Viraat darshan of the Lord. Electric lights were switched off and puja with aarti and sparklers was performed, in the glow of hundreds of diyas, giving a beautiful darshan of the Deity. Viewing this Viraat darshan is considered very holy and pious.

Bhajans were rendered by the devotees and the whole atmosphere was one of peace and purity.  

Kartik Poornima is also called Dev Diwali or Tripuri Purnima. On these days Gods are considered to have come down to earth to celebrate Diwali, hence it is called Dev Diwali.

In some parts of South India, this day is celebrated as the birthday of Kartikeya, the younger son of Shiva and Parvati. In Pushkar, Rajasthan, the Pushkar mela of camels is held, in honour of Brahma whose only temple stands at Pushkar.

Tripuri Poornima is an important festival among Shaivites, next only to Maha Shivratri. Temples are illuminated with deepmalas or towers of lights and 360 or 720 wicks are lit. Processions of Shiva are taken out on this day.

In Varanasi or Banaras, Ganga aarti is held on a grand scale and earthen lit diyas are floated on the river Ganga.

In Andhra Pradesh and Telengana Karthik masalu is considered a very auspicious month. Oil lamps are lit every day.

In Odisha, people become strict vegetarians and observe the entire month with auspicious customs with a traditional ceremony of Panchuka which falls on the last five days of the month. The day after Kartika Purnima is called Chhada Khai when the non-vegetarian people can again start their normal diet. The most fascinating part of Kartika Purnima in Odisha is the celebration of historic Boita Bandana to commemorate the Bali Jatra commenced by ancient Kalinga merchants and associated fleets to do trade in far South East Asia like Bali, Indonesia etc.

Kartik Poornima is an important festival celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains. Guru Nanak Jayanti falls on this day.

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