Paush Purnima

Paush Poornima is the full moon day in the Hindu month of Paush (December – January). It is an important bathing date in the famous Allahabad Magh Mela. Paush Purnima 2012 date is January 9.

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.