Pournami, or Pournima, is the full moon day in traditional Hindu lunar calendar. Below are the Pournami dates in 2011. The term Pournami and Pournima is widely used in South India and western parts of India. The day is known as Purnima or Poornima in North India. The Pournima day is considered highly auspicious by South Indian Hindus and some communities observe a fast known as Pournami Vratam – from sunrise to sunset on the full moon day.

month, usually a fortnight after Pournami. The Amavasai which occurs in the month of Puratasi, that is the end of September and the beginning of October, is considered of special importance and celebrated. This occurs once every month, usually a fortnight after Pournami. The Amavasai which occurs in the month of Puratasi, that is the end of September and the beginning of October, is considered of special Please note that in some regions Pournami might start a day early (mostly during previous day night) or in some cases overlap into the next day (Purnima might end on the morning of next day).

It is good to take saltless foods throughout the day in HIs honour and chant "Om Chitraguptaaya Namahaa". Natives running Ketu Dasa or Bhuktis, or who have unfavourable position of Ketu in their natal charts will definitely get benefitted by this fast.

Everyone can meditate on Lord Chitragupta as a plumpty and short smiling man dressed in royal robes carrying a bundle of palm leaves, a golden stylus and Japa maala and beseech Him to forgive our transgressions of the past year to reduce our karmic burdens. WE should also make a solemn vow not to perform sins as far as possible.

It is customary to eat curd rice (preferably curd of buffalo!) without salt on that day and to fast without eating anything else. In any case, avoiding salt in food items throughout the day is recommended on that day, if possible.

Special worship is done in Honour of Lord ChitraGupta - the Divine Accountant - who keeps an account of our karmas, and appeals for forgiveness for our shortcomings are raised on this day. Those who can afford a visit, should pay a visit to Kanchipuram Chitra Gupta temple -an ancient one which is very ancient and powerful.

In Madurai Meenakshi amman temple, DevEndr Pooja is done on Chitra Pournami day (it is believed that it is on this day Indra came across a Golden Lotus in a pond with which He worshipped Lord Shiva of the temple; the temple tank of Madurai Meenaakshi amman temple is called Golden Lotus tank still). So, paying a visit to Shri Meenaakshi SundarEshwara temple today is also auspicious and can relieve one of the sins such as insult to Gurus (In fact, Indra did the pooja on Chitra Pournami to propitiate Lord Shiva and get remedied from burden of sins that He committed in the absence of His Guru Brihaspati, who was incognito for some period following an argument with Indra).