CHITRA POURNAMI

Chitra Pournami
It is observed on the day of the full moon in the month of Chithirai or Chaitra and mostly coinciding with the star chitra.
The festival is dedicated to god Chitraguptan, assistant to Lord Yaman. He maintains the record of the good and bad deeds ( physical, mental or verbal)  done by each individual for Lord Yaman (God of death and the custodian of the Dharmam. When one dies his soul goes to Lord Yama and according to the reports of Chitraguptan future punishment at heaven or hell is decided.  Sometimes punishment is carried forward to the next birth.

Story of birth of Chitraguptan
Once Parameswar the greatest of the Lords and his consort Parameswari  thought about recording the good and bad deeds done by each individual during his life span for award of results.  Goddess  Parvati drew a picture on the golden slate and the picture was given life by Lord Siva.  He was given the name Chitragupta and responsibility of recording the minures of the work done by each individual.   He is the Devata for planet Kethu. Worshipping Chitra Gupta on this day would ward of kedhu dhosha in one's horoscope.  There is only one Chitraguptaswamy temple in South India at Kanchipuram. In the temple the idol of Chitraguptaswamu holds a bunch of palm leaves in the left hand and metallic pen in the right hand.  Maa Karmelikai is the consort of Lord Chitragupta.  On Chitra Pournami  devotees ask Chitragupta to forgive their past sins and  to resolve not to make further sins. Many devotees bathe in rivers or other water bodies to symbolise their sins being washed away.

Short Puja
For Sankalpam Click here → SANKALPAM
and at the end instead of bhagwan or devi nama sahasra nama japa aham karishya  add 

"Dharmaraja sabasthitha chithragupa preethyartham, rourva maharova naragapaadaa nivruthyartham, punya loga prapyartham, chithra pournamaasyaam chitra gupta pujaam karisye"

Since most of the households might not have photo or idol of Chitragupta, just think and say the following mantra:
Chitraguptam mahaaprajnam matyastham sarvthehinaam
Dyayaami darmaatharmajnam lekinee pathra daarinam
Dyayaami

Archana
Om yamaya namaha
Om dharmarajaaya namaha
Om mruthave namaha
Om andakaaya namaha
Om Vaivasathaaya namaha
Om Kaalaaya namaha
Om Sarva boodakshayaaya namaha
Om Outhumbaraaya namaha
Om thathnaaya namaha
Om Neelaaya Namaha
Om Parameshtine namaha
Om vrukotharaaya Namaha
Om Chitraaya Namaha
Om Chithraguptaaya namaha
Nanaavitha parimala pathra pushpaani samarpayami

Offer naivedyam; Naivedyam samaypayaami
Offer water; Paneeyam samarypayaami

Prarthanai
Chitragupta kruparaase papam vaaraya mekilam
Maa cha me naraga santhu poorye tham mamepsthitham

Om Chithraguptaaya namaha Xamaapanam Samarpayami

One can do some good work like giving alms, feeding poor, helping needy, etc according to one's wishes and capability.