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Lord Shiva (Tripurari), Lord Vishnu, Kartikeya
Kartik Purnima is celebrated as Dev Diwali — the festival of lights of the Gods. According to the Skanda Purana, the Devas descended to Varanasi on this night to bathe in the Ganga and celebrate Shiva's victory over the demon Tripurasura, whom he destroyed with a single arrow. This day also marks the birthday of Kartikeya (Skanda), the God of war, son of Shiva and Parvati. It falls in the period of Tulsi Vivah, the ceremonial marriage of Tulsi (Holy Basil) with Vishnu's Shaligrama form.
Kartik Purnima is considered the most sacred full moon of the year. A bath in the Ganga on this day earns the merit of a hundred Ashwamedha Yagyas. It is the culmination of the holy month of Kartik, during which daily Ganga baths and lamp offerings are observed. Dev Diwali signifies the Gods themselves celebrating light's victory over darkness.
Take a sacred bath in the Ganga or any river before sunrise (Kartik Snan). Light rows of deep diyas along ghats and river banks — the ghats of Varanasi illuminate spectacularly on this night. Worship Lord Shiva as Tripurari (destroyer of Tripurasura). Perform Tulsi Vivah by ceremonially marrying a Tulsi plant to a Shaligrama stone. Observe Satyanarayan Puja.