Poli Padyami 2026

Kartika Masa is one of the most sacred months in the Hindu lunar calendar. Poli Padyami, also known as Poli Swargam, is a uniquely Telugu festival celebrated on the Padyami (first day) following Kartika Amavasya. This day marks the conclusion of the holy Kartika month and is characterized by the beautiful tradition of lighting lamps in banana peels and releasing them into rivers, ponds, and temple tanks at dawn.​​

The Significance of Poli Padyami

Kartika Masa is beloved by both Hariharas (Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu), and its conclusion is marked by this special festival unique to Telugu culture. The name Poli Swargam refers to the deeply rooted story of a devout woman named Poli, whose unwavering devotion earned her a place in heaven.​

The central belief of this festival is profound: those who were unable to light lamps throughout Kartika Masa can attain the complete merit of the entire month's lamp worship by lighting lamps on this single day. This demonstrates the compassionate nature of our spiritual traditions, offering an opportunity for redemption and completion.​

According to the Kartika Purana, lighting 30 wicks on Poli Padyami day and releasing them in water grants the same spiritual merit as performing lamp worship throughout the entire month. This makes Poli Padyami an extremely important day for devotees who may have missed daily observances during the sacred month.​

The Story of Poli Swargam - An Inspiring Tale of Devotion

The story behind this festival is both captivating and deeply meaningful. It is a folk tale that has been preserved through generations, continuing to influence and inspire Telugu women even today.​

Long ago, in a village on the banks of the Krishna River, there lived a joint family with five daughters-in-law. Among them, the youngest, named Poli, had been deeply devoted to worship and religious observances since childhood. However, this very devotion became a source of jealousy for her mother-in-law.​

The mother-in-law believed that no one was as devout as herself. She felt that the right to perform religious rituals belonged exclusively to her - this was her ego. Therefore, when Kartika Masa arrived, she would take all the daughters-in-law except Poli to the river. There, she would bathe with them and ceremoniously light lamps, leaving them in the flowing waters.​

To ensure that Poli could not perform lamp worship, the mother-in-law would carefully ensure that no materials needed for lighting lamps - oil, wicks, or vessels - remained at home before departing for the river.​

However, the mother-in-law's efforts to prevent Poli from lighting lamps proved futile. Resourceful and determined, Poli would collect some cotton from the cotton plant growing in the courtyard and make wicks from it. She would then use butter that was stuck here and there in the house to fuel the lamp. To ensure no one discovered her lamp, she would cover it with a basket. In this way, Poli managed to light lamps throughout the entire Kartika month.​

Finally, Kartika Amavasya, the last day of the month, arrived. As it was the concluding day of Kartika Masa, the mother-in-law set out to the river to perform a grand lamp ceremony. Before leaving, she burdened Poli with numerous household chores to ensure she would have no time for worship.​

Nevertheless, Poli efficiently completed all her tasks and lit the Kartika lamp as usual. Witnessing her unwavering devotion despite countless obstacles, the celestial beings were deeply moved. Immediately, a divine aerial chariot (Pushpaka Vimana) descended from heaven to take her to the celestial realm while she was still alive.​

At that very moment, the mother-in-law and her four daughters-in-law returned from their river bath. Seeing the celestial chariot, they rejoiced, assuming it had come for them. But when they discovered Poli inside the vehicle, they were devastated. In their desperation to reach heaven, they tried to cling to Poli's feet and ascend with her, but to no avail.​

The celestial messengers declared that only Poli possessed the pure heart worthy of entering heaven. They explained that only those with a truly unblemished heart and sincere devotion are granted entry to the divine realm. With that, they gently released the others and ascended to heaven with Poli.​

Poli Padyami Rituals and Observances

Pre-Dawn River Bath

Following this legend, Telugu women across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana commemorate Poli by waking up at dawn on the Padyami following Kartika Amavasya. They light wicks in banana peels and release them into rivers, ponds, or water bodies. This ritual represents the essence of the entire month's lamp worship condensed into a single sacred act.​

Those who were unable to wake up at dawn throughout the month from Ashwija Amavasya to Kartika Amavasya and perform river bathing and lamp worship can attain the complete merit by doing so on Poli Swargam day. Devotees believe that bathing in a river at dawn and releasing lamps on this day yields the same spiritual benefit as observing the practice daily throughout Kartika Masa.​

The Ritual of 30 Lamps

Even if one could not light a single lamp during Kartika Masa, lighting 30 wicks on Poli Padyami and releasing them in water grants the merit of an entire month's lamp worship, according to Kartika Purana. These 30 wicks symbolically represent the 30 days of Kartika month.​

Puja Procedure

On Poli Padyami, devotees should perform the following rituals:

• Wake up before dawn and bathe
• Fill banana peels with sesame oil or ghee
• Insert cotton wicks and light the lamps
• Release these lamps into rivers, ponds, or temple tanks​
• Narrate the story of Poli​
• Donate lamps or prepared food to Brahmins​

Celebrations at Sacred Sites

At the renowned pilgrimage center of Simhachalam in Visakhapatnam district, the Poli Padyami festival is celebrated with great fervor at the temple tank of Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple. Every year, this traditional festival is organized at the pushkarini (sacred tank) located at the foot of Simhachalam hill, attracting thousands of devotees.​

From early dawn, women devotees gather at the temple tank, release lamps into the sacred waters, bid farewell to Poli, and perform worship rituals. Similar gatherings occur at riverbanks in cities like Vijayawada, Rajahmundry, and Hyderabad.​

The Profound Messages of Poli's Story

This beautiful legend conveys several important spiritual and moral teachings:

Devotion Over Ostentation: The story emphasizes that what matters in worship is sincerity and devotion, not elaborate arrangements or material wealth. Despite lacking proper materials, Poli used cotton from a plant and butter to light her lamp. This teaches us that genuine devotion finds its own way.​

The Downfall of Ego and Jealousy: The mother-in-law's ego and jealousy prevented her from reaching heaven. The story warns that worship performed with arrogance and competitiveness bears no spiritual fruit.​

The Power of Determination: Despite numerous obstacles and difficulties, Poli never abandoned her religious practice. When the mind is determined to follow dharma, the path reveals itself automatically - this is the inner message of this tale.​

Family Harmony: The story teaches the importance of harmony between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. It shows how jealousy and resentment can damage family relationships.​

Benefits of Observing Poli Padyami

By devoutly performing lamp worship and narrating Poli's story on Poli Padyami:

• One receives the merit of lamp worship performed throughout Kartika Masa​
• The path to spiritual liberation becomes accessible​
• Mental peace and spiritual growth are achieved​
• Family prosperity and well-being increase
• The grace of Goddess Mahalakshmi is obtained​

Concluding Blessings

Telugu people regard both Poli and the lamp as manifestations of Goddess Mahalakshmi. For this reason, many devotees light Poli lamps not on Kartika Amavasya itself, but on the Padyami that follows. This is the essence of Poli Swargam!​

Whether or not lighting lamps during Kartika Masa will take us bodily to heaven is secondary. The deeper message is that when the heart genuinely desires to follow spiritual practices, the way manifests by itself. This is why in every Kartika Masa, in every Telugu home, the story of Poli Swargam continues to be narrated.​

May Poli's devotion and sincerity serve as an inspiration to all of us. May we be blessed with the fortune to worship the Divine with a pure heart, just as she did.

Om Sri Mahalakshmyai Namah