Kumar Purnima 2026 in Odisha: Date, Kartikeya Worship, Chanda Puja, Songs and Pasa Kheli

Quick answer: Kumar Purnima 2026 is observed in Odisha on Ashwin Purnima, which Drik Panchang lists as Sharad Purnima on Sunday 25 October 2026. Some Odia panjikas may list Monday 26 October instead, because Purnima is still running at sunrise that day, so follow your Odia panjika or the Odisha holiday list. The day honours Kumar (Kartikeya). Unmarried girls wear new clothes, worship the sun in the morning, fast through the day, offer food to the moon in the evening, and celebrate with songs, swings and the game of Pasa kheli.

This guide has been restored at its original hindutone.com address. It explains the date question, the meaning of the festival and its main rituals, using only well-established customs.

Kumar Purnima 2026 date

Kumar Purnima falls on the full moon of the month of Ashwin. It is the same full moon that is celebrated as Sharad Purnima across India and as Kojagari Lakshmi Puja in Bengal, Odisha and Assam. The table below shows the 2026 dates. All times are India Standard Time and apply to India only.

Why can there be two dates? Hindu calendars mark a festival by its tithi (lunar day). In 2026, Purnima begins around midday on 25 October and is still running at sunrise on 26 October. Panchangs that give weight to the night of the full moon list 25 October. Some Odia panjikas, which may give weight to the tithi at sunrise, may list 26 October. Both follow established rules. Please follow your family's Odia panjika or the Odisha government holiday list for the day you observe.

Who is Kumar?

Kumar is a name of Kartikeya, also called Skanda, Subrahmanya and Murugan. He is the son of Shiva and Parvati and the commander of the army of the gods. As commonly told, he was born to defeat the demon Taraka, and he is described as young, brave and the most handsome of all the gods.

In Odisha, Kumar Purnima is linked to this youthful and beautiful form of the god. As commonly told, unmarried girls pray to Kumar so that they may be blessed with a husband who is as good and handsome as he is. The festival is also a joyful celebration of girls and young women, of friendship, and of the bright autumn season after the monsoon.

Main rituals of Kumar Purnima

Customs differ from district to district and from family to family. The pattern below is the one most commonly described.

• Early bath and new clothes: Girls wake up early, bathe, and wear new clothes. Many families buy new clothes for daughters for this day.
• Morning prayer to the sun: Girls offer prayers and food to the Sun God in the morning. Food offered to the sun is commonly set aside to be eaten in the evening.
• Day-long fast: Many girls keep a fast through the day. Practices differ. Some take no food until evening, while others take light food.
• Worship of Kumar: Prayers are offered to Kumar (Kartikeya), asking for his blessings.
• Games, songs and swings: During the day and evening, girls play games, sing traditional songs and enjoy swings.
• Evening Chanda puja: After moonrise, the girls make an offering to the moon and then break their fast.

Chanda puja: the evening offering to the moon

The heart of Kumar Purnima is the evening worship of the moon, called Chanda (or Janha) in Odia. After the full moon rises, the girls gather in a courtyard or on the rooftop where the moon can be seen. They place their offering in a kula, a winnowing basket made of bamboo.

The offering commonly includes flattened rice (chuda), banana, coconut, jaggery, curd, cucumber and other seasonal fruits. A lamp is lit, and the girls pray to the moon with folded hands. After the worship, they share and eat this offering to break their fast. In many homes the prepared food is called chanda as well. The exact items differ between families, so follow the custom of your elders.

The bright autumn full moon is also the night of Lakshmi worship. Many Odia homes worship Goddess Lakshmi on this night, and Gaja Lakshmi Puja is widely celebrated in parts of Odisha, particularly Dhenkanal. For the Bengali Lakshmi Puja on the same full moon, see Kojagari Lakshmi Puja 2026 in Bengal.

Songs, swings and Pasa kheli

Kumar Purnima is one of the most social festivals for Odia girls. Traditional Kumar Purnima songs are sung in groups. These songs are passed down orally from mothers and grandmothers. Their words vary from village to village, so families keep the version they learnt at home.

Swings (doli) are commonly set up and decorated, and girls take turns on them while singing. In the evening and through the night, girls and women play Pasa kheli, a traditional board game played with dice or cowrie shells. The game recalls the many stories in Hindu tradition of the gods playing dice. On this night it is simply a happy time for friends and family to sit together under the full moon.

Kumar Purnima and the autumn festival season

Kumar Purnima comes at the end of a long festive stretch in Odisha. Durga Puja and Dussehra come first. In 2026, Durga Ashtami and Maha Navami fall on Monday 19 October in India and Dussehra on Tuesday 20 October, per Drik Panchang. Kumar Purnima follows on the next full moon. For Odisha's Durga Puja and Dussehra, see Dussehra and Durga Puja 2026 in Odisha.

The full moon of Ashwin is also the start of the holy month of Kartika in the Purnimanta calendar used in Odisha. Many Odia families begin Kartika observances, such as daily early-morning bathing and vegetarian food, from around this time. Follow your Odia panjika for the exact start.

Kumar Purnima for Odia families abroad

Odia families in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, the Gulf and other countries keep Kumar Purnima at home, and many Odia community associations hold get-togethers around this time. Check your association's own announcements for any plans.

• Choose the day: Use a panchang made for your own city. India's dates and times apply to India only, so do not convert them. Your local date may differ.
• Simple rituals: A daughter can wear new clothes, offer prayers to the sun in the morning, and offer chuda, banana, coconut and fruits to the moon in the evening.
• Share the meaning: Tell children the story of Kartikeya and why the festival is named after him.
• Keep the fun: Songs, a home swing, or a family board game can carry the joyful spirit of the day, even in a small flat.
• Call home: Many families join grandparents in Odisha by video call during the evening offering.

Frequently asked questions

When is Kumar Purnima 2026?

Kumar Purnima is observed on Ashwin Purnima. Drik Panchang lists Sharad Purnima on Sunday 25 October 2026. Some Odia panjikas may list Monday 26 October, because Purnima is still running at sunrise that day. Follow your Odia panjika or the Odisha government holiday list.

Who is worshipped on Kumar Purnima?

The festival is named after Kumar, also called Kartikeya or Skanda, the son of Shiva and Parvati. As commonly told, he is the most handsome of the gods. The moon is also worshipped in the evening, and Lakshmi is worshipped in many homes because this is also Kojagari Purnima.

Why do unmarried girls observe Kumar Purnima?

As commonly told, unmarried girls pray to Kumar for a good and handsome husband. The day is also a celebration of girlhood, with new clothes, games, songs and time with friends. Girls who observe the day usually keep a fast and break it after the evening offering to the moon.

What is Chanda puja on Kumar Purnima?

In the evening, after the full moon rises, girls offer food to the moon. The offering is commonly placed in a kula (winnowing basket) and includes items such as flattened rice (chuda), banana, coconut, jaggery, curd and fruits. The girls then eat this offering to break their fast.

What is Pasa kheli?

Pasa kheli is a traditional board game played with dice or cowrie shells. Girls and women play it together on Kumar Purnima night. It is part of the festive and social side of the day, together with songs and swings.

How can Odia families abroad observe Kumar Purnima?

Daughters can wear new clothes, offer prayers to the sun in the morning, and offer chuda, fruits and coconut to the moon in the evening. Use a panchang for your own city for local Purnima timings, because India's clock times should not be used abroad. Many Odia community associations hold gatherings; check their own announcements.

Editor's note

Editor's note (6 October 2026): This guide has been restored at its original address after the earlier version was lost. Drik Panchang lists Sharad Purnima on Sunday 25 October 2026; some Odia panjikas may list Monday 26 October because Purnima is running at sunrise, so follow your Odia panjika or the Odisha government holiday list. The Purnima start and end times are calculated India Standard Time values and are approximate. Rituals, offerings and songs vary between districts and families; this guide describes the commonly reported pattern only.

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