Kartik (Kartik Maas) 2012
The most sacred month for Vishnu — Kartik snan, Damodar deep-daan, Diwali, Chhath and Tulsi Vivah.
Kartik (Kartik Maas) 2012 Dates
The significance of Kartik — Lord Vishnu (Damodar)
Kartik is the month of Vishnu, worshipped here as Damodar, and it holds more festivals than any other — Dhanteras, Diwali, Govardhan, Bhai Dooj, Chhath, Tulsi Vivah and Kartik Purnima. It is a month of light: a lamp floated or lit daily (deep-daan) is held to be of the highest merit, and the pre-dawn Kartik snan in a river is the month's defining discipline.
Rituals of Kartik
- Kartik snan — a pre-dawn holy dip through the month
- Daily deep-daan (lighting or floating lamps)
- Tulsi puja every evening and Tulsi Vivah on Ekadashi
- Damodar-ashtakam recitation
- Fasting on the two Ekadashis (Devutthana and Kartik)
- Dev Deepawali on Kartik Purnima at the ghats
Key days in Kartik 2012
Festivals in Kartik 2012
- Karwa Chauth — Fri, 2 Nov
- Ahoi Ashtami — Wed, 7 Nov
- Dhanteras — Sun, 11 Nov
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — Tue, 13 Nov
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — Tue, 13 Nov
- Govardhan Puja — Wed, 14 Nov
- Bhai Dooj — Thu, 15 Nov
- Chhath Puja — Mon, 19 Nov
- Devutthana Ekadashi — Sat, 24 Nov
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — Wed, 28 Nov
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — Wed, 28 Nov
Monthly vrats 2012
Kartik 2012 — Frequently Asked Questions
When does Kartik Maas 2012 start?
In North India (Purnimanta calendar) Kartik runs from Tuesday, 30 October 2012 to Wednesday, 28 November 2012. In Amanta-calendar regions it runs Wednesday, 14 November 2012 to Thursday, 13 December 2012.
Why do Kartik dates differ in North and South India?
Because the two regions follow different lunar calendars. In the Purnimanta calendar (North India) a month ends on the Purnima, so it starts about 15 days earlier than in Amanta. In the Amanta calendar (Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu) the month runs new-moon to new-moon.
Which deity is Kartik 2012 dedicated to?
Kartik is the month of Vishnu, worshipped here as Damodar, and it holds more festivals than any other — Dhanteras, Diwali, Govardhan, Bhai Dooj, Chhath, Tulsi Vivah and Kartik Purnima. It is a month of light: a lamp floated or lit daily (deep-daan) is held to be of the highest merit, and the pre-dawn Kartik snan in a river is the month's defining discipline.
Is Kartik 2012 an Adhik Maas?
No. Kartik 2012 is a normal 30-day month.