The Full Moon Day or the 15th day of the month Kartik is known as Kartik Purnima.

Karthika Pournami is the most auspicious day to worship Lord Shiva, next only to the Maha Shivaratri. Karthika pournami is also called as Tripuri Purnima or Dev Diwali (Diwali of Gods). Karthik Purnima festival also coincides with the Jains Light Festival and Guru Purab (Jayanthi of Guru Nanak Dev). When is Kartik Poornima in 2008 ? Kartik Poornima is celebrated on the Full Moon day or the fifteenth day of the Shukla paksha (first fortnight) of the month, Karthik. In 2008, Karthik poornima falls on 13th November, Thursday. Legend Behind Karthik Purnima : One of the great sacred texts, Mahabharata demonstrates the story behind the holiness of Karthik purnima. According to that, demon Taraka was killed by Kartikeya (Lord Shivas son). Tarakasuras three sons Taraksha, Kamalaksha and Vidyunmali. Usually demons are very intelligent and strong but they misuse their knowledge and powers. These three demons performed a severe penance for Brahma and got a boon that they would live for thousand years in three strong, moving cities called as Tripuri and they could only be destructed by an arrow which makes the cities into one and sets them to fire. After the end of thousand years of the negative rule of the three demons, the Gods went to Lord Shiva and prayed to him to demolish the asuras. Lord Shiva performed Rudra Tandava (Dance of Lord Shiva which is like an earthquake and also known as Dance of Destruction). Rudra Tandava rocked the three cities Tripuri. Lord Shivas arrow pierce through the three asuras at a time and the fire from his third eye burnt Tripuri. As a commemoration of the demolition of the demons which occured on the Full Moon day, the event is celebrated as Karthik Purnima or Tripuri Poornima. Kartik pournami is also called as Dev Diwali as it is a brighter day for the Gods who fought against the demons to destroy the evil powers of them. Rituals and Customs of Karthik Purnima : On the day of Kartik Purnima, devotees perform ceremonial bath in the early morning and worship Lord Shiva. In South India, devotees burn a small bundle of cotton threads which are called as Vatthulu, which represents the burning of evilness in the world. Women light Deepaks (Kartik Deepams) in the evening and they perform a ritual of leaving those deepaks in nearest pond or lake. Samudra Snan (Ritualistic bath) and Vanabhojanams (garden parties) are the popular rituals throughout India. if u have original cotton,remove seeds from it and do the wicks 365 with it. ON KARTIKA POURNAMI DAY U CAN LIT 365 WICKS(VATHULU) IN TEMPLE OR IN HOUSE.ON POURNAMI DAY OR MONDAYS U CAN LIT LAMP IN HOUSE OR LEAVE IN WATER IN TEMPLE IN KARTEEKA MAASAM. make small wicks (365) if u have less cotton. u can make wicks by rubbing cotton with both hands.don't put hands in mouth while making wicks.U can rub u'r hands with chokpiece while making wicks.u can easily make wicks if u rub u;r hands with chockpiece or sudda we call in india. after taking bath in morning or evening ,at any time u can make wicks. u lit them in a pramidha(deepam) with ghee or seseme oil on pournami day .u first soak the wicks in ghee or seseme oil and put them in deepam and lit the lamp. u can lit the lamp (with 365 wicks) in morning or evening after taking bath and do pooja for lakshmi .u can lit in house or temple. generally in temple we can lit near the dwajastambam.or we can lit below the Usiri chettu(gooseberry tree) in this month.or u can leave the deepam in running water in temple river. u can also lit the wicks with readymade wicks packets which are readily available. there will be 365 wicks in a packet.see for that packet in india .it is easily available in indian shops. i hope u know that pournami is on 13th this month.so start making vattulu from now onwards.