Paush Purnima 2024: Date, time, and significance

Paush Purnima is celebrated in the month of ‘Magha’ or January on a full moon day. On this sacred day, people chant mantras and offer prayers to Goddess Lakshmi and Vishnu. Devotees observe the Purnima Vrat and read ‘Satyanarayan Vrat Katha’ which is believed to fulfill all the wishes. On this day, devotees wake up early in the morning, and take a dip in the sacred water of the river Ganges which is said to nullify one’s past sins and grant moksha.The chanting of mantras to seek blessings from lord Vishnu is also performed as a part of the puja rituals and aarti.
Pausha Purnima ushers at the beginning of the month of ‘Magha’ as per Hindu Calendar. It is also celebrated as ‘Shakambhari Purnima’. People worship Goddess Shakambari Devi. In Odisha, this day is known as ‘Puspuni’. On this day, people worship both the Sun God and the Moon God. Read on to know more details about it here:

Date and time of Pausha Purnima
Pausha Purnima will be observed on a full moon day i.e 25th January 2024 (Thursday)
Pausha Purnima tithi begins: 24th January 2024– 9:49 PM
Pausha Purnima tithi ends: 25th January 2024 – 11:23 PM

Significance of Pausha Purnima
As per the Hindu calendar, there are twelve purnimas throughout the year, out of which Pausha Purnima holds the utmost significance for Hindus. It is considered the most sacred and auspicious day to seek blessings from Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi.
This day is also known as ‘Shakambhari Purnima’. According to a popular legend, Shakambhari Devi, the incarnation of Maa Durga, saved the earth from drought and famine. Also known as the Goddess of fruits, green leaves, and vegetables, Shakambari Devi protects her devotees from demons. She slayed the demon named 'Durgma' and restored the Vedas to the Brahmins. On this day people chant ‘Durga Chalisa’ to seek blessings from Shakambhari Devi or ‘Goddess of nourishment’. Shakambhari Purnima is the last day of the eight long days of Shakambhari Navaratri.
The most sacred ritual of this day even includes offering Arghya to Sun God or Lord Surya also. After taking a dip in the holy river of the Ganges, people worship Lord Shiva. People recite Bhagavad Gita, and Ramayana to seek God’s choicest blessings.
'Pushyabhishek yatra' is also observed near the temples of Lord Krishna. On this day, some of the divine mantras that people chant are the ‘Om Namo Narayana’ mantra 108 times, the Gayatri Mantra, and Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya – 108 times.
According to the sacred Hindu scriptures, donating to the needy on the day of Purnima brings good luck and absolves past sins. People go on a pilgrimage to Banaras, Rishikesh, and Prayagraj to take a holy dip in the sacred river of the Ganges.
Also, as per Vedic astrology, the Planet moon is associated with mind and emotions, and worshipping the ruling deities- Lord Chandrama or Goddess Durga on the day of Purnima or full moon can ward off the negative effects of planetary conjunction or aspect of the moon with Rahu, Ketu, Saturn, and Mars.