Kartika
कार्तिक
October – NovemberAlso spelled: Kartik, Karthikai
The most festival-rich month. Karva Chauth, Dhanteras, Naraka Chaturdashi, Diwali, Govardhan Puja, Bhai Dooj, Chhath, Tulsi Vivah, and Kartik Purnima all fall here.
Nakshatra
Krittika
Where the full moon falls in this month
Presiding deity
Vishnu + Lakshmi + Tulsi
Seasonal element
Post-harvest abundance
Agricultural rhythm
Kharif harvest peak; markets full; commercial activity at year's high.
Spiritual character
Kartika is the festival-densest month. Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) is the year's biggest celebration. Vishnu wakes from cosmic sleep on Devuthani Ekadashi, and Chaturmas concludes — auspicious activities resume in full force.
Key observances this month
- •Karva Chauth (Krishna Chaturthi) — North-India women's fast
- •Dhanteras → Diwali → Govardhan Puja → Bhai Dooj — 5-day festival of lights
- •Devuthani Ekadashi (Shukla Ekadashi) — Vishnu wakes; Chaturmas ends
- •Tulsi Vivah (Shukla Dwadashi) — symbolic marriage of Tulsi to Vishnu
- •Chhath Puja (Shukla Shashti) — 4-day sun-worship in Bihar / Eastern UP
- •Kartik Purnima — Dev Diwali, Bali Yatra at Cuttack
Auspicious for
- ✓Lakshmi sankalpa
- ✓Buying gold / vehicles
- ✓Marriage (post-Devuthani)
- ✓New business launches
Festivals in Kartika
Vikram Samvat 2083
Kati Bihu
17 Oct 2026 · Sat
Sun enters Libra → Scorpio cusp (solar)
The austere Bihu — small lamps in paddy fields, prayers for the harvest.
Karva Chauth
30 Oct 2026 · Fri
Krishna Chaturthi
Married women fast from sunrise to moonrise for husbands' longevity.
Kerala Piravi
1 Nov 2026 · Sun
Fixed Gregorian (November 1)
Kerala's birthday — the day the state was formed in 1956.
Dhanteras
6 Nov 2026 · Fri
Krishna Trayodashi
The Diwali week begins — gold and metal purchases peak today.
Naraka Chaturdashi
7 Nov 2026 · Sat
Krishna Chaturdashi
The night before Diwali — Krishna's defeat of Narakasura.
Diwali
8 Nov 2026 · Sun
Krishna Amavasya
The festival of lights — Lakshmi Puja in every home.
Govardhan Puja
9 Nov 2026 · Mon
Shukla Pratipada
Krishna lifts Mount Govardhan — Annakut feast.
Bhai Dooj
10 Nov 2026 · Tue
Shukla Dwitiya
The brother-sister bond, second occasion in the year (after Raksha Bandhan).
Chhath Puja
14 Nov 2026 · Sat
Shukla Shashti
Four days of Sun-worship — the most demanding ritual fast in India.
Jagaddhatri Puja
18 Nov 2026 · Wed
Shukla Navami
Bengali Kartik festival — Goddess Jagaddhatri (the world-bearer) worshipped in Chandannagar.
Kartik Purnima
23 Nov 2026 · Mon
Shukla Purnima
The "Diwali of the gods" — celebrated with diyas in Varanasi.
Karthigai Deepam
25 Nov 2026 · Wed
Krittika nakshatra in Tamil Karthigai month
Tamil festival of lights — the giant flame on Arunachala Hill at Tiruvannamalai.
Vikram Samvat 2084
Kati Bihu
17 Oct 2027 · Sun
Sun enters Libra → Scorpio cusp (solar)
The austere Bihu — small lamps in paddy fields, prayers for the harvest.
Karva Chauth
18 Oct 2027 · Mon
Krishna Chaturthi
Married women fast from sunrise to moonrise for husbands' longevity.
Dhanteras
27 Oct 2027 · Wed
Krishna Trayodashi
The Diwali week begins — gold and metal purchases peak today.
Naraka Chaturdashi
28 Oct 2027 · Thu
Krishna Chaturdashi
The night before Diwali — Krishna's defeat of Narakasura.
Diwali
29 Oct 2027 · Fri
Krishna Amavasya
The festival of lights — Lakshmi Puja in every home.
Govardhan Puja
30 Oct 2027 · Sat
Shukla Pratipada
Krishna lifts Mount Govardhan — Annakut feast.
Bhai Dooj
31 Oct 2027 · Sun
Shukla Dwitiya
The brother-sister bond, second occasion in the year (after Raksha Bandhan).
Kerala Piravi
1 Nov 2027 · Mon
Fixed Gregorian (November 1)
Kerala's birthday — the day the state was formed in 1956.
Chhath Puja
4 Nov 2027 · Thu
Shukla Shashti
Four days of Sun-worship — the most demanding ritual fast in India.
Jagaddhatri Puja
7 Nov 2027 · Sun
Shukla Navami
Bengali Kartik festival — Goddess Jagaddhatri (the world-bearer) worshipped in Chandannagar.
Kartik Purnima
14 Nov 2027 · Sun
Shukla Purnima
The "Diwali of the gods" — celebrated with diyas in Varanasi.
Karthigai Deepam
12 Dec 2027 · Sun
Krittika nakshatra in Tamil Karthigai month
Tamil festival of lights — the giant flame on Arunachala Hill at Tiruvannamalai.