Kumar Poornima is an autumn festival in
Orissa and it falls on the full-moon day in the month of September or October. Though named after the ‘god of war’,
Kartikeya, there is no ritual for the god; instead the Moon and Sun are worshipped.
Women pray to Kartikeya for a handsome husband on this day. After sacred bath in the morning, women wear good clothes and make food-offerings to the Sun. When the moon appears in the night, same rituals are repeated but with a different kind of food. They indulge day long in singing, dancing and playing games.
The day is also observed as the birthday of Goddess Lakshmi and the day marks the beginning Gajalakshmi puja.
