Kartik Purnima deepdan: lighting lamps at home and on the river on Dev कार्तिक पूर्णिमा दीपदान: देव दीपावली पर घर और नदी पर दीये जलाना

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Kartik Purnima, the full moon that ends the month of Kartik, falls on Tuesday 24 November this year by the panchang. For a month many families have lit a lamp each evening at the Tulsi, at the door or by a window. This is the last evening of that month, and the brightest.

## What the Puranas say about lamps in Kartik

The Padma Purana's chapters on Kartik praise two things above most others in this month: the early morning bath, the Kartik snan, and deepdan, offering a lamp to the Lord, to Tulsi, to a river or at a temple. A lamp given in Kartik is spoken of with great warmth there. In Kashi, whose glory the Skanda Purana's Kashi Khanda describes at length, the full moon became Dev Deepawali, the Diwali of the gods, when the ghats of the Ganga are lit from end to end.

Kartik Purnima is also Gurpurab for Sikh families, the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, kept with prabhat pheri, kirtan and langar. If you live near a gurdwara, it is a lovely evening to visit.

## The morning snan

Many people bathe before sunrise on this day, in a river if they are near one, at home if not. At home, a little Ganga jal in the bucket is enough. After the bath, offer water to the Sun and say a short prayer.

## The evening deepdan at home

1. **Count your lamps.** Many families light five, eleven or more clay diyas with ghee or sesame oil. One lamp lit with care is also deepdan. 2. **Where to place them.** One at the Tulsi, one at the main door, one at the place of worship, one at the kitchen, and one by the water pot or tap, as a thank-you for water. Others on the balcony or at windows. 3. **A short prayer.** Before lighting, sit for a moment. Remember the Lord and those in your family who are no longer with you. 4. **After lighting,** do the aarti, and share a sweet.

## Deepdan by the river

If you are by a river or a clean pond, place a lamp on a leaf-bowl of sal or banana leaf with a few flowers and let it go gently on the water. Please use clay lamps and leaf bowls only, never plastic or thermocol, and keep children close at the edge.

## If you will be in Kashi

The ghats from Assi to Raj Ghat are very crowded on Dev Deepawali evening, and boats are booked weeks ahead. Go early in the afternoon, keep elders and children with you, and agree on a meeting place in case you get separated.

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