Time For The Festivity The whole month of 'Kartika' is considered to be the most sacred among all the twelve months of the year. During this month all the pious Hindus refrain from eating fish, meat or egg. All of them take pre-dawn bath and visit temples as a matter of routine. The last five days are considered more sacred, in which there is wide participation. Taken together the days are called 'Panchaka', the last day being the "Kartika Purnima". Every day they take food only once in the afternoon which is known as 'Habisha'.
A Five-Day Celebration
For all the five days the women after purificatory bath in the early morning draw beautiful flower-designs around the 'chaura' (a small temple like structure with a 'Tulsi' plant overhead) with col-
our powders produced indigenously. Fasting for the day is commonly observed. Most of the Shiva temples get crowded with devotees offering prayers to Lord Shiva who is said to have killed the demon 'Tripurasura' on this day. Group singing of 'kirtans' and loud beating of 'Mrudanga' and cymbals continue for the whole day.
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