Last day of the five-day Bhishma Panchak vrat, broken on Kartika Purnima after bath and charity

Bhishma Panchak ends on Kartika Purnima, the holiest full moon of the year, completing the five-day vrat begun on Prabodhini Ekadashi in honour of Bhishma's teaching of dharma to the Pandavas from his bed of arrows. On this final day, devotees bathe at dawn in a sacred river, worship Vishnu, offer the final arghya and tarpan to Bhishma, and break the fast after feeding Brahmins and giving charity. The Padma Purana promises that those who complete Bhishma Panchak receive the merit of the entire Chaturmas and of all the Kartika vows, and are freed from sin. The last day brings together many observances: Kartika Purnima, Dev Deepawali, Tripuri Purnima, and Guru Nanak Jayanti. In Odisha, where the five days are called Panchuka and many families give up fish and meat, the vrat ends with Boita Bandana, when people float tiny boats with lamps at dawn to remember the ancient sea voyages of Kalinga's traders (sadhabas) to Bali, Java and Sumatra, and the great Bali Jatra fair begins at Cuttack. Those who kept the Kartika vrat for the whole month also complete it on this day.

The vrat is completed; break it after puja and charity.