The
day of Poornima or Hunnime or Pournime is the day (Tithi) in each month when
the full moon occurs, and marks the division in each month between the two
lunar fortnights (paksha), and the Moon is aligned exactly in a straight line,
called a syzygy, with the Sun and Earth. Full moon is considered the third of
the four primary phases of the Moon. The full moon shows 100% illumination,
causes high tides, and can concur with lunar eclipses.
Festivals
The
following festivals occur on Poornima:
Kartika
Poornima, is celebrated on the full moon day of Kartika. It is also called
Tripura Poornima in some regions.
Shravana
Poornima, is the full moon day in Shravana. This day has a number of different
names. Hayagriva Jayanti is also celebrated on Shravana Poornima. It is also
known as Narali Poornima.
Vata
Poornima is celebrated on the full moon day of the month of Jyeshta. Women pray
for their husbands by tying threads around a banyan tree (Vata Vriksha) 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
Poornima, devotees offer puja (worship) to their Guru, on the full moon day of
Ashada. This is well known as Vyasa Poornima after the birthday of the
celebrated author of Mahabharata who is declared as the guru of all in the
Shiva Purana.
Sharad
Poornima or Kojagiri Poornima, the Autumn Harvest Festival, on the full moon
day of Ashwayuja.
Buddha
Poornima, the day of birth, enlightenment and passing away of Gautama Buddha,
on the full moon day of Vaishakha. Kurma Jayanti is also celebrated on the day.
Holi/Phalguna
Poornima, the Spring Festival of Colours in Hinduism/Buddhism/Jainism, the full
moon day in Phalguna.
Dattatreya
Jayanti is celebrated on the full moon day of the month of Margashira.
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 Vaishakha Sankranti, Andhra Pradesh celebrates Vaishakha
shukla paksha dashami, Kerala celebrates it in a previous month Margashira
Amavasya coinciding with Mula Nakshatra. Chaitra Poornima is the chosen day for
donation of rice to please Chandra Deva, Moon god.
Shakambari
Poornima is celebrated on the full moon day of the month of Pushya.
Madhu
Poornima is celebrated on the full moon day of the month of Bhadrapada. On this
day Uma Maheswara Vrata as well as Shakra Vrata where Indra is worshiped for
children and well-being.
Satyanarayan Puja vrata is observed on all full moon days. Many people prefer to worship God Satyanarayana (Vishnu) Vrata on this day in Karnataka.