Today is 27th January 2013 is Celebrated According to Gujarati month paush Purnima and alsoCelebrated to Shakambari Jayanti.
About Paush Purnima
On the occasion of Paush Purnima, thousands of people converge at the temple town of Prayag (Allahabad) for the holy bath at Sangam – the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati rivers. Heavy rush is witnessed in Hindu temples across India on the day.
It is believed that taking the holy bath on Paush Purnima at the Sangam or in other holy rivers will cleanse the sins of this birth and of previous births and thereby attain ‘moksha’ – escape from the unending cycle of birth and rebirth and dissolving with Brahman.
Very rarely Makar Sankranti and Paush Poornima fall on the same day and this makes it highly auspicious. Such a rare instance happened in 2006 after a gap of 57 years.
Paush Purnima Importance
On the day of Paush Purnima, devotees take baths in various sacred rivers like Ganga and Yamuna. People take baths at various places including Haridwar and relieve themselves of all their sins and problems. Taking baths, donations, charities etc are considered very sacred on this day. The baths of Magh month start with Paush Purnima and hence, this day is considered very important. It is believed that all wishes come true on this day.
Celebration of Paush Purnima
People living in the villages of Chhattisgarh celebrated Charta festival on the auspicious day of Paush Purnima. This festival is celebrated with a lot of zeal and excitement by these people. As Prasad, people make dishes from Til, jaggery, rice etc. Children of this village visit different homes and ask for food, cereals etc. They also sing folk songs and recite ‘Cher Cherta Kathi Ke Dhan Her Larika’. The folk songs which these people sing are known as Lokdi.
Paush Purnima Rituals