Question 1

When is Kaumudi Utsava celebrated?

Accepted Answer

Kaumudi Utsava falls on Ashvina Purnima, the full-moon tithi in the bright half of the lunar month of Ashvina. The day whose sunrise carries this Purnima governs the observance. Its Gregorian date changes every year, so it should be checked in the relevant year's Hindu calendar rather than converted to a fixed date.

Question 2

What is Kaumudi Utsava?

Accepted Answer

Kaumudi Utsava is a full-moon festival whose name evokes moonlight. It is sometimes associated with Sharad Purnima, the autumn full-moon observance, but the exact identity and customs are not uniform enough to state that equation as universal. This entry places it on Ashvina Purnima.

Question 3

How is Kaumudi Utsava observed?

Accepted Answer

A simple observance may include cleaning the worship space, lighting a lamp, offering fruit or prepared food, and spending a quiet period in prayer or contemplation of the full moon. No single fasting rule or puja sequence can be confirmed as universal for Kaumudi Utsava, so householders should follow their family or regional tradition.

Question 4

Does Kaumudi Utsava have a fixed date every year?

Accepted Answer

No fixed Gregorian date applies to Kaumudi Utsava. It follows Ashvina Purnima, and the civil day with Purnima at sunrise is observed. The full-moon tithi may begin or end at another time during the surrounding days, but the sunrise criterion determines the festival day in this calendar tradition.

Question 5

Is Kaumudi Utsava the same as Sharad Purnima?

Accepted Answer

Kaumudi Utsava may be called Sharad Purnima in contexts that identify it with the autumn full-moon festival. That usage should be treated as a regional or tradition-specific naming practice rather than an unquestionable synonym. Another calendar note places Kaumudi Utsava after Diwali, which conflicts with the Ashvina Purnima date used here.

Date	Tithi	Lunar month	Governing time
Thu, 17 Oct, 2024	ShuklaPurnima	Ashvina	sunrise (udaya tithi)
Tue, 7 Oct, 2025	ShuklaPurnima	Ashvina	sunrise (udaya tithi)
Mon, 26 Oct, 2026	ShuklaPurnima	Ashvina	sunrise (udaya tithi)
Fri, 15 Oct, 2027	ShuklaPurnima	Ashvina	sunrise (udaya tithi)
Tue, 3 Oct, 2028	ShuklaPurnima	Ashvina	sunrise (udaya tithi)
Mon, 22 Oct, 2029	ShuklaPurnima	Ashvina	sunrise (udaya tithi)
Fri, 11 Oct, 2030	ShuklaPurnima	Ashvina	sunrise (udaya tithi)
Thu, 30 Oct, 2031	ShuklaPurnima	Ashvina	sunrise (udaya tithi)
Mon, 18 Oct, 2032	ShuklaPurnima	Ashvina	sunrise (udaya tithi)

Kaumudi Utsava

Dates by year