Chitra Pournami Festival Celebration In 2025

On Friday, May 1, devotees across South Asia will celebrate Chitra Pournami, a sacred festival observed on the full moon day of the Chithirai (Chaitra) month. This auspicious occasion holds profound significance in Hindu tradition, as it is dedicated to Bhagwan Chitragupta, the divine record-keeper and assistant of Bhagwan Yama, the god of death. It is believed that on this powerful day, karmic imprints from past actions can be purified, offering a rare opportunity to reset one's life and align with higher spiritual goals.

In Tamil Nadu and Kerala, this day is also revered as Chithira Pournami, a time when Bhagwan Kartikeya, the warrior deity, is worshipped with great devotion. Furthermore, this marks the first full moon of the Vedic New Year, a celestial alignment where the Sun and Moon meet in a harmonious cosmic dance, making it an ideal occasion for fresh beginnings and inner transformation.

As the moon illuminates the night sky, devotees gather to perform sacred rituals, seek divine grace, and embark on a journey of renewal, ensuring that their path ahead is blessed with clarity, success, and spiritual elevation.

Festival Date, Time, Muhurat & Tithi

Chitra Pournami will be observed on Friday, May 1, 2026.

Key Timings for Chitra Pournami 2025:
• Pournami Tithi Begins: 09:12 PM on Apr 30, 2026 (IST)
• Pournami Tithi Ends: 10:52 PM on May 01, 2026 (IST)

Note: Specific puja muhurat timings for Chitra Pournami 2025 are not readily available. Devotees are advised to consult local temple authorities or a trusted Panchang closer to the date for precise timings.

Significance & Importance of Chitra Pournami

Chitra Pournami is observed when the Sun and Moon reunite, marking a spiritually potent occasion dedicated to the worship of Bhagwan Chitragupta. The very name Chitragupta holds deep symbolic meaning, where 'Chitra' refers to images or records, and 'Gupta' signifies the hidden or concealed. Regarded as the younger brother of Bhagwan Yama, the god of death, Bhagwan Chitragupta plays a crucial role in meticulously recording the karmic deeds of all beings, ensuring the balance of dharma and justice in the cycle of life and rebirth.

To seek divine grace and absolve past karmic debts, devotees traditionally perform puja near riverbanks and lakes on this sacred day. One of the most significant pilgrimages associated with Chitra Pournami is the 14-kilometer Pradakshina around the Annamalai Hills, which draws thousands of devotees annually. Additionally, large congregations gather at the ancient Chitragupta temple in Kanchipuram, a revered site in South India. Observing fasting and ritual worship on this auspicious day is believed to purify past misdeeds and ensure spiritual progression. Those who fail to balance their good and negative karmas are said to be destined to repeat the cycle of rebirth.

According to the Thiruvilaiyaadal Puranam and ancient Tamil scriptures, the festival is deeply linked to the legend of Bhagwan Indra and his Guru Brihaspati. Once, Bhagwan Indra, the King of Devas, had a dispute with his spiritual guide Guru Brihaspati, leading to a fall from grace due to his arrogance. The Guru, seeking to correct Indra’s path, advised him to descend to Earth and undertake a journey of penance to cleanse his negative karma.

During his travels, Bhagwan Indra came across a Shivalinga beneath a sacred Kadamba tree and felt an inexplicable divine pull. Realizing that Bhagwan Shiva himself was guiding him toward spiritual redemption, Indra humbly offered lotus flowers in deep reverence. This moment of divine grace and karmic cleansing occurred on the full moon day of Chithirai, in the holy city of Madurai.

Since then, devotees honor this sacred event by performing pujas at the renowned Meenakshi Temple, seeking blessings for prosperity, spiritual elevation, and liberation from past transgressions.

Story of Chitra Pournami Festival

The legend of Chitra Pournami is deeply connected to Bhagwan Indra, the king of the gods, and his guru Brihaspati. According to sacred Tamil texts like the Thiruvilaiyaadal Puranam, Indra, blinded by arrogance, once disrespected his divine teacher, leading to a decline in his spiritual merits. Realizing his folly, Indra sought guidance, and Brihaspati advised him to perform penance on Earth to cleanse his karmic sins. During his journey, Indra encountered a Shivalinga beneath a Kadamba tree in Madurai and instinctively began offering lotus flowers in devotion. Pleased with his humility, Bhagwan Shiva absolved Indra’s sins, marking this divine occurrence on the full moon of the Chitra month.

Since then, devotees observe Chitra Pournami as a time for karmic purification, offering prayers to Bhagwan Chitragupta, who records human deeds, and seeking divine grace to balance their karma, ensuring spiritual progress and liberation.

Bhagwan Chitragupta: The Akashic Record Keeper

In the sacred text Agrasandhan, Bhagwan Chitragupta is entrusted with the divine duty of meticulously recording the deeds of all human beings. It is he who, upon a soul’s arrival in Yamaloka after death, presents a comprehensive account of their actions. Based on this karmic ledger, Bhagwan Yama, the god of death, determines the soul’s next destination—whether it will ascend to Svarga (heaven) or descend into Naraka (hell)—in accordance with the merits and transgressions accumulated over its lifetime.

Bhagwan Chitragupta is revered as the custodian of karmic records, often likened to the Akashic Records, the celestial archive of all thoughts, words, and deeds. According to ancient tradition, on the sacred occasion of Chitra Pournami, invoking Bhagwan Chitragupta through prayers and charitable acts, particularly by helping the poor, is believed to absolve significant portions of one’s negative karma.

The origins of Chitragupta are deeply rooted in Vedic mythology. As the burden of judgment became overwhelming, Bhagwan Yama petitioned Bhagwan Brahma for assistance in maintaining the meticulous records of the deceased. Moved by this plea, Brahma engaged in 10,000 years of intense meditation, from which Chitragupta manifested from both his mind and body. This divine birth took place on the Full Moon of the Chitra month (mid-April to mid-May), making it a supremely auspicious occasion for worship.

Thus, Chitra Pournami is not merely a day of reverence but a powerful opportunity to invoke Chitragupta’s blessings, cleanse past karmic debts, enhance good karma, and attain the wisdom to live righteously. Performing pujas and prayer ceremonies on this day aligns devotees with the divine energies of Chitragupta, allowing them to rewrite their spiritual destiny and move closer to liberation.

Bhagwan Kartikeya: The Handsome Warrior

Bhagwan Kartikeya, also known as Bhagwan Murugan, is the mighty warrior son of Bhagwan Shiva and Goddess Parvati and the younger brother of Bhagwan Ganesha. He is revered as the valiant commander of the celestial armies, created with the divine purpose of vanquishing demons—symbolic of human weaknesses and negative tendencies. A paragon of perfection and righteousness, Bhagwan Kartikeya is worshipped as the god of war and victory, and he holds a special place in the hearts of the Tamil people, who regard him as their patron deity. His divine energy bestows power and resilience, and those who invoke his blessings are granted the strength to overcome obstacles and adversities.

In his legendary battle against evil, Kartikeya destroyed the formidable demon Tarakasura on the seventh day after his birth, demonstrating his supreme prowess and divine masculinity. He is hailed as the most dynamic and formidable among the Hindu deities, renowned for his unwavering courage and role as the upholder of dharma. Throughout history, he has vanquished powerful demons such as Krauncha, Banasura, and Pralamba, ensuring the victory of righteousness over chaos. Ever youthful and radiant, he is called Kumara (Sanskrit for youth) and symbolizes eternal vigor and enthusiasm.

Bearing the epithet Shadanan (the six-faced one), Bhagwan Kartikeya’s six heads represent the five senses and the mind, signifying complete mastery over one's faculties. They also enable him to perceive dangers from all directions, ensuring his eternal vigilance in protecting the cosmos. As the divine warBhagwan, Kartikeya imparts a profound lesson to his devotees—life itself is a battlefield, where one must conquer inner vices such as lobha (greed), kāma (lust), krodha (anger), moha (delusion), mada (pride), and mātsarya (jealousy). By invoking his divine grace, one gains the strength to navigate life’s struggles with wisdom, valor, and unwavering determination.

How to celebrate Chitra Pournami

On this auspicious day of Chitra Pournami, devotees engage in special prayers, sacred rituals, and acts of charity to seek the divine grace of Bhagwan Chitragupta. It is widely believed that bathing in holy rivers or sacred water bodies on this day purifies the soul, washing away accumulated sins and negative karma. This ritual immersion is seen as a spiritual rebirth, allowing devotees to start afresh on their path of righteousness.

A significant aspect of Chitra Pournami worship is the propitiation of Bhagwan Chitragupta, particularly by those experiencing the malevolent effects of Ketu (a shadow planet associated with karmic debts and past-life influences). Devotees afflicted by such planetary doshas earnestly invoke Chitragupta’s blessings to neutralize obstacles and remove karmic burdens that hinder their progress in life. Many also undertake a strict 24-hour fast, avoiding fatty, spicy, and tamasic foods, believing that such self-restraint strengthens mental clarity, spiritual focus, and karmic purification.

Acts of charity and selfless service hold great significance on this sacred occasion. People distribute food, clothing, and essential items to the poor and needy, firmly believing that alleviating the suffering of others diminishes one’s past transgressions. This gesture of kindness is thought to help the giver accumulate good karma and move toward spiritual liberation.

A special offering made on Chitra Pournami is Navadhaniyam, a sacred preparation consisting of nine types of grains or food items dedicated to the divine. This offering symbolizes prosperity, sustenance, and the nine celestial influences that govern human destiny. However, devotees must take care to avoid performing rituals during inauspicious planetary periods such as Rahu Kalam and Yama Kandam, as these times are considered energetically unfavorable.

To worship Bhagwan Chitragupta, devotees arrange betel leaves, almonds, coconut, and bananas on a sacred platter, accompanied by the lighting of incense sticks as an offering of fragrance and devotion. The Mangala Aarti, performed at the conclusion of the ceremony, symbolizes the dispersal of darkness and the ushering in of divine blessings, marking the fulfillment of prayers and the sanctification of the devotee’s karma.

Chitra Pournami Festival Puja Vidhi (Puja Procedure)

Chitra Pournami is a highly auspicious Hindu festival observed on the full moon day of the Chithirai (Chaitra) month, dedicated to Bhagwan Chitragupta, the celestial record-keeper of human deeds. It is believed that performing special pujas, fasting, and charitable acts on this sacred day helps in cleansing past karma and attaining divine grace.

Below is the step-by-step Puja Vidhi to observe Chitra Pournami with devotion and sincerity.

• Purification and Sankalp (Vow of Observance): Begin the day early by taking a holy bath in a sacred river, lake, or at home, reciting prayers for spiritual purification. Wear clean, traditional attire and sit in a peaceful place for the puja. Light a ghee lamp and incense sticks, invoking divine blessings. Offer water in a copper vessel to the Sun God while chanting sacred mantras. Take a Sankalp (vow) to perform the puja with devotion, seeking forgiveness for past misdeeds and spiritual progress.
• Invocation of Bhagwan Chitragupta: Place an image or idol of Bhagwan Chitragupta on a clean altar, preferably in the northeast direction of the puja space. Offer flowers, turmeric, kumkum, and sandalwood paste, chanting his 108 names or Chitragupta mantra. Those affected by Ketu dosha can especially benefit by meditating on Bhagwan Chitragupta to neutralize planetary afflictions.
• Offerings and Naivedyam: Prepare Navadhaniyam (a mixture of nine grains or food items) as a sacred offering to the deity. Additionally, present betel leaves, almonds, coconut, bananas, and sweets like jaggery-based delicacies. Light camphor and perform an Aarti while chanting devotional hymns. If possible, devotees can also write their own sins on a paper and symbolically dissolve them in water, signifying karmic cleansing.
• Fasting and Self-Discipline: Observing a strict fast (Vrata) on Chitra Pournami is highly meritorious. Devotees may choose a full-day fast or consume only fruits and milk, refraining from tamasic foods (onions, garlic, non-vegetarian items). Practicing silence (mauna vrata) and meditation enhances the spiritual benefits of this observance.
• Charity and Acts of Compassion: One of the most significant rituals of Chitra Pournami is annadanam (food donation). Feeding Brahmins, the needy, and animals is believed to erase past karmic debts and invite divine blessings. Additionally, donating clothes, books, or financial aid to the underprivileged can help in accumulating good karma.
• Visiting Temples and Pilgrimage: On this sacred day, devotees visit temples dedicated to Bhagwan Chitragupta and Bhagwan Shiva, especially the famous Chitragupta Temple in Kanchipuram. Many also undertake a 14-kilometer Pradakshina (circumambulation) of Arunachala Hill in Tiruvannamalai, which is said to grant moksha (liberation).
• Concluding the Puja with Mangala Aarti: The final step is to perform the Mangala Aarti, waving a camphor-lit lamp before the deity while chanting prayers of gratitude. Offer the prasadam (sacred food) to family members and distribute it to others as a symbol of divine blessings. The puja ends with a prayer for spiritual growth, inner purification, and divine guidance.

Observing Chitra Pournami with faith and devotion is believed to balance past karma, remove obstacles, and attract prosperity. By performing this puja, fasting, and acts of charity, devotees seek divine grace for a righteous and fulfilling life.

Chitra Pournami Puja Mantras

On Chitra Pournami, devotees chant sacred mantras to invoke the blessings of Bhagwan Chitragupta, Bhagwan Shiva, and the Divine Cosmic Forces that govern karma and righteousness. Chanting these mantras with sincerity and devotion is believed to remove past karmic burdens, neutralize negative planetary influences, and bring spiritual upliftment.

Chitragupta Dhyana Mantra (Meditation Mantra)
Before beginning the puja, sit in a calm place, light a lamp, and recite:
'Om Chitraguptaya Vidmahe, Karmadhishaya Dheemahi, Tanno Yamah Prachodayat.'
(Meaning: We meditate upon Bhagwan Chitragupta, the divine keeper of karmic records. May Bhagwan Yama inspire and guide us toward righteousness.)

Chitragupta Moola Mantra (Root Mantra)
'Om Hreem Chitraguptaya Namah'
(Meaning: Salutations to Bhagwan Chitragupta, the divine scribe of karma.)

Chitragupta Ashtottara Shatanamavali (108 Names of Chitragupta)
Devotees can chant the 108 names of Bhagwan Chitragupta or at least recite his key names, such as:
'Om Karmasakshine Namah' (Salutations to the witness of all karma)
'Om Yamanujaya Namah' (Salutations to the younger brother of Yama, the Bhagwan of Death)
'Om Dharmapalakaya Namah' (Salutations to the protector of dharma and righteousness)

Chitra Pournami Special Mantra for Karmic Cleansing
To seek forgiveness for past wrongdoings, chant:
'Om Tatpurushaya Vidmahe, Mahadevāya Dheemahi, Tanno Chitragupta Prachodayat.'
(Meaning: We meditate upon the Supreme Being, Mahadeva. May Bhagwan Chitragupta guide us toward righteousness.)

Shiva Mantra for Chitra Pournami
Since Bhagwan Shiva is deeply connected to this festival, chant:
'Om Namah Shivaya'
(Meaning: I bow to Bhagwan Shiva, the eternal and auspicious one.)
Alternatively, devotees can recite:
'Om Tryambakam Yajamahe Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam, Urvarukamiva Bandhanan Mrityor Mukshiya Maamritat.'
(Meaning: We worship the three-eyed Bhagwan Shiva, who nourishes and sustains all beings. May He free us from the bondage of karma and grant us liberation.)

Ketu Graha Shanti Mantra (For those affected by Ketu)
Since Ketu is pacified on this day, recite:
'Om Kem Ketave Namah'
(Meaning: Salutations to Ketu, the shadow planet that governs karmic influences.)

Mangala Aarti Mantra (Concluding Prayer)
End the puja with an Aarti while chanting:
'Jaya Jaya Chitragupta Deva, Dharmadhikari Namah Namah.'
(Meaning: Victory and glory to Bhagwan Chitragupta, the divine upholder of dharma.)

Chanting these mantras during Chitra Pournami Puja is believed to purify the soul, balance karma, and invite divine blessings. Recite them with faith and devotion to experience spiritual upliftment and transformation.

Chitra Pournami Vrat Vidhi (Fasting Procedure)

On the day of Chitra Pournami, devotees wake up early, take a holy bath, and wear clean traditional attire. They perform a small prayer, invoking Bhagwan Chitragupta and taking a Sankalp (vow) to observe the fast with devotion. The fast can be nirjala (without water) or phalahar (consuming only fruits, milk, and light sattvic foods), depending on one's capacity. It is essential to avoid tamasic foods like garlic, onions, and non-vegetarian items. Worshippers also abstain from negative thoughts, anger, and gossip to maintain spiritual purity throughout the day.

During the fast, devotees perform a special puja dedicated to Bhagwan Chitragupta and Bhagwan Shiva, offering betel leaves, almonds, bananas, coconut, and Navadhaniyam (a mix of nine grains). Mantras and sacred hymns are chanted to seek forgiveness for past karma and divine blessings. People also visit temples or holy rivers to offer prayers. Charitable acts such as feeding the poor, donating clothes, and offering food to animals and birds are considered highly meritorious and help in balancing past karmic debts.

The fast is concluded after the moonrise or the evening Mangala Aarti, depending on tradition. Devotees break their fast by consuming sattvic food, usually a simple meal of rice, fruits, and milk-based sweets. Before eating, it is auspicious to donate food or grains to the needy. Ending the fast with a prayer for spiritual growth, wisdom, and karmic cleansing ensures that the observance of Chitra Pournami Vrat is fulfilled in its true essence.

Chitra Pournami Vrat Katha (Traditional Fasting Story)

Once upon a time, in the celestial realms, Bhagwan Indra, the king of Devas, ruled over Swarga (heaven) with great power and authority. However, over time, he became arrogant and disrespectful toward his Guru Brihaspati, the divine teacher of the gods. One day, in a moment of pride, Indra disregarded his guru’s advice, which angered Brihaspati. As a result, the guru abandoned Indra, leaving him vulnerable to negative karmic consequences.

Without his guru’s wisdom, Indra’s kingdom fell into disorder, and his enemies began to grow stronger. Realizing his mistake, Indra sought forgiveness, but Brihaspati informed him that his bad karma could not be erased easily. To atone for his sins, Indra was advised to perform a pilgrimage on Earth. During his journey, he wandered through forests and mountains, seeking divine guidance to cleanse his past mistakes.

One day, as he traveled through Madurai, Indra noticed a radiant Shiva Lingam beneath a Kadamba tree. Mysteriously drawn to it, he felt an overwhelming sense of peace. He understood that Bhagwan Shiva was offering him a way to wash away his sins. With great devotion, Indra gathered lotus flowers and worshipped Bhagwan Shiva, pleading for forgiveness. Moved by Indra’s sincere repentance, Bhagwan Shiva granted him relief from his past karma and restored his divine blessings.

This divine event took place on the Full Moon day of Chitra month, and since then, Chitra Pournami has been observed as a sacred day for karmic cleansing and redemption. Devotees who observe fasting, offer prayers, and engage in acts of charity on this day are believed to be freed from past sins and blessed with prosperity and peace.

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Kartikeya Puja Mantra Japa and Yajna

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Conclusion

Chitra Pournami is a sacred occasion of purification, reflection, and renewal, offering devotees an opportunity to cleanse their karmic records and seek divine blessings. As the radiant full moon illuminates the sky, it symbolizes the dispelling of ignorance and the awakening of spiritual wisdom. By observing fasting, performing puja, chanting sacred mantras, and engaging in acts of charity, devotees align themselves with the cosmic energies that govern karma and righteousness.

This festival reminds us that our actions shape our destiny, and through sincere devotion, humility, and good deeds, we can overcome past mistakes and move towards a life of peace, virtue, and divine grace. As we bow before Bhagwan Chitragupta, Bhagwan Shiva, and Bhagwan Kartikeya, we embrace the eternal truth that the path of dharma leads to liberation. May the auspicious occasion of Chitra Pournami bring light, wisdom, and harmony into the lives of all who seek it.