Chitra Pournami (சித்திரை பௌர்ணமி)
Full Moon in Chithirai — Festival of Chitragupta
Chitra Pournami Dates in 2026
Date for 2026 is being calculated. Please check the full festivals list for the latest dates.
→ All 2026 festivalsAbout Chitra Pournami
Chitra Pournami is the full moon day (Pournami) in the Tamil month of Chithirai (April–May), when the Moon is in Chithirai (Chitra) Nakshatra. It is a sacred day for the worship of Chitragupta — the divine record-keeper of karma — and for bathing in sacred waters.
Significance
On Chitra Pournami, Chitragupta (the divine scribe who keeps the ledger of human deeds) is worshipped to seek forgiveness for sins and erasure of bad karma. It is also the day Lord Shiva appeared as Bhikshatana (wandering ascetic) and is celebrated at Thiruvannamalai with Girivalam (circumambulation of Arunachala hill). The full moon coincides with the Chitra Nakshatra — the birth star of Lord Brahma.
How the Date is Calculated
Chitra Pournami falls on the Pournami (full moon) coinciding with Chithirai (Chitra) Nakshatra in the Tamil month of Chithirai (mid-April to mid-May).
How It is Celebrated
- Chitra Pournami — sacred bath at dawn in rivers or temple tanks
- Chitragupta puja — worship of the divine record-keeper
- Girivalam at Thiruvannamalai Arunachala
- Fasting and night vigil at Shiva temples
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Chitragupta?
Chitragupta is the divine scribe in Hindu tradition — the cosmic record-keeper who maintains the accounts of every soul's deeds (karma) during their lifetime. On the day of death, these records are presented to Yama (god of death) to determine the soul's next journey. Worshipping Chitragupta on Chitra Pournami is believed to grant forgiveness for past sins.
Why is Girivalam done on Chitra Pournami?
Girivalam — circumambulation of Arunachala hill in Thiruvannamalai — is done on every Pournami, but Chitra Pournami draws the largest crowds of the year. On this full moon, Lord Shiva is said to grant liberation to all who walk around the sacred hill. Lakhs of devotees complete the 14-km path through the night.
When is Chitra Pournami 2026?
Chitra Pournami falls on the full moon in Chithirai month, usually in April or May. See the exact 2026 date in the festival calendar above.