Religous Observances to Be Followed During the Kartik Month (27th October to 24th November,2026)

Kartik, Lord Krishna's Favourite Month

What should we do in the month of Kartik (the eighth month of the Hindu lunar year,October-

November)is a question often asked by bhaktas.

Pilgrims Bathing in Rameshwaram

Waking up early in the morning, one should bathe in some sacred river like the Yamuna or Ganges or on the holy shores of the ocean such as Jagannath Puri or Rameshwaram.On not having the facility to do so one must invoke these pilgrimage sites and bathe early in the morning day.

Offering Arghya to the Sun

There is a distinctive tradition of giving arghya or libation to the sun god.

Lighting Diyas Around the Sacred Tulsi

Lighting a diya before the tulsi (sacred basil plant) in the evening, do aarti (a dish holding a lamp,burning ghi, incence or other articles is moved in a series of circles in front of the idol during worship) while chanting, “Jai, jai Tulsi Maharani, Namo nama! Shri Hari Ki Patrani,Namo nama!”

One must vow to chant the mahamantra one and quarter crore times or recite either the Srimad Bhagwad Purana or Shri Ram Charit Manas or carefully study while reflecting upon the Bhagavad Gita.

Prabhat Pheri of Bhaktas

The prabhat-pheri of bhaktas(a circumambulation taken by devotees) doing Shri Hari Kirtan at the crack of dawn, steps out at several places.This group of Kartik lovers heading towards Shri Yamunaji in Vrindavan, appear very lovable.

Mount Giriraj

At least one circumambulation of Mount Giriraj should be undertaken during the pious Kartik Month.The so very famous festival of Diwali also falls during the month of Kartik.

Lord Ganesha, Laxmi and Saraswati

Along with worshipping Lord Ganesha, Goddess Lakshmi and Saraswati we have the tradition of venerating Lord Vishnu, Vaikunth where He forever dwells, Sheer Sagar,Sheshnaag and Garuda, His vehicle,

God Vishnu and Goddess Laxmi

because Lakshmiji wedded Vishnu on this day. Lord Narayan in His Vamana incarnation released Lakshmi, the goddess of fortune, from King Bali.

Lord Rama Returns to Ayodhya

A distinctive puja of Shri Hanuman ji is done along with the Shri Ram Durbar. Calling to mind the earthen lamps which were lit in joyously to welcome Shri Ram ji's return to Ayodhya along with Sita ji and Lakshman, we must light up the entire house and courtyard. One must make obeisance to the god of fire.

Lord Dhanvantari

Precisely two days before Diwali we have the manifestation day of Lord Dhanvantari, an incarnation of Lord Hari,therefore light lamps from Dhanteras onwards. Buying new vessels- utensils on this day do Diwali Puja in them.Apart from mithai or sweetmeats, all fruits particularly the pomegranate and tambul (paan) should be offered to God. Along with lighting, offer the fragrant divine flower garlands and clad in new clothes do the Diwali Puja.

Dussehra

Abandoning laziness, totally clean the house from Dussehra itself, striving indefatigably to lighten and make the residence appear fresh.Invariably women make beautiful rangoli patterns in the house and escalate the grandeur of the festivities.Griha Lakshmi or the lady of the house, is also a svarupa of Lakshmi. Respecting and holding her in high esteem is seen as escalating one's prosperity and affluence,' Yatra Naari Poojyante, tatra ramte devta.'

Lord Krishna Battling Narakasura

In southern India Lord Krishna in particular is remembered on Diwali because He had released 16,000 maidens from Narakasura. One should take care to worship-venerate one's kul devta or family deity and spiritual preceptor-respected saint with equal respect.One must do stuti (sing the praises of) of Lord Shiva, everyone's adi guru, along with goddess Parvati, Mount Kailash, Kartikeya,Ganesha and Nandi

Bhaktas of Braj, particularly the Pushti Margis worship Shri Radha-Krishna because we have the Goverdhan Puja and Annakoot on the very next day.

Lord Krishna

All elements of the Supreme Being can possibly comingle only in Lord Krishna because of His lila or divine play which is both real and illusionary which makes Him both human and divine at the same time, 'Sambhav maami yuge, yuge!'(The Bhagavad Gita).

Dark-Hued Krishna is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu

Dark-hued Krishna is considered the complete incarnation of Vishnu, 'Shri Krishna stoo Bhagvan svayan' says Shukhdev ji in the Shrimad Bhagavat.Therefore by offering all kinds of grains, sweetmeats, salted snacks and drinks to Lord Krishna or Giriraj who is a form of Brahma, the Supreme Being regarded as personal and in His capacity as creator of the world,we are blessed because these eatables work to makes us healthy, for the entire year.

Delicacies Offered to Shri Giriraj

A maximum variety of foodstuffs should be offered to Giriraj ji-all sorts of grains-puri,paranthe,roti, chapatti, makki ki roti, differnt kinds of vegetables and spinach, sprouted grains-boiled or roasted corn-all varieties of lentils-karhi-rice and mixed vegetables.

Assorted delicacies like sweetmeats, pedas,kheer, halwa, gulab jamun, jalebi, imarti,rabrhi sweetened milk, butter cream,malpua, petha, mithi puri, kachori, samosa, rice, bajre ki khichdi,daliya, dhokla,namkeen murmura, bhelpuri, sweet and salted cheele (pancakes), pickles particularly teent,chaat, tikki, chutney,pakoras made of potatoes or spinach, besan pakoris,mattha, chhach,lassi, raita, yoghurt,dryfruits,murabba,salad, grated radish in lime,-fruits, papad, papdi,paan, elaichi, saunf, laung, pure biscuits,goli, toffees,chocolates,gol gappas and its sweet plus sour water.

Mathri, shakkar, para, kheel, batasha, aam papad,honey, all sorts of gajjak, peanuts, patti khedi, gurh sharbat,juice, dates, raw coconut,should be offered as bhoga (food offered to an idol)because Lord Krishna himself relishes this feast and is delighted.By reading the 24th chapter (tenth canto) of Shrimad Bhagwat over and over again, we are blisfully motivated in a novel way each time round.

The sumptuous food for bhoga should be cooked at home since the khoya, ghi and cooks in the market are said to be impure.The use of garlic and onions is strictly forbidden.It is a customary norm to serve the maximum number of sumptuous cooked foods for bhoga but the presence of loving affection is a must.

Shri Murari Bapu

“One must serve the bhoga with great love and respect,” by singing devotional songs in joyous abandon, Jai Giriraj Dharan, Baba teri sharanh' or else 'Jai jai Goverdhan Dhaari, Shri Radhavar Kunj Bihari!' Murari Bapu endorses in his katha,

The Basil Leaf

It is a must to add the basil leaf (tulsi)to every preparation cooked for bhoga which should be liberally given to everyone and even those who do not have the finances to buy pure dry fruits and meva.Lord Krishna has lucidly announced how the food should be distributed during Giriraj bhoga.

Firecrackers

Coax the children not to spend much on crackers or waste money on gambling and other addictive vices so that the pure svarupa of Diwali remains intact.Hand out sweetmeats, new clothes and food amongst the poorer factions through the young ones and make them aware of the sacred history of the festival of lights.

Maharaj Chitragupt

Bathing in Shri Yamuna, celebrate the pristine bhai dooj and worship Lord Chitragupta (Sanskrit: rich in secrets,a god assigned with the task of keeping records of human beings on earth.)Reaching the heights of elation and ecstasy and being endowed with goodness or being sattvic is the very life of the Kartik Month, particularly the festival of diwali.

Lord Krishna & Balram with Cows, the Wealth of their Village

Gopashtami comes exactly eight days after Diwali.Lord Krishna and Balram worshipped all the cows which were the wealth of their tiny village before taking the cows for grazing (tenth canto of the Shrimad Bhagwat).Hence the tradition of applying tilak to the cow our mother and feeding her roti is followed on this day.Wherever there are cowsheds we should go and fervently attend to needs of the cows by serving them.

Shri Vrindavan

We have the Akshay Navami, next day, which is the manifestation day of Vrindavan,'Jai jai Shri Vrindavan Dhaam.' Hence its parikrama is done without fail. It is also believed that Mother Earth appeared on this particular day. There exists a tradition of bowing being mother earth daily and on Akshay Navami, in particular.

Devothan Ekadashi

The Devothan Ekadashi which comes right before Kartik Poornima has a great significance. After Lord Narayan wakes up, weddings start taking place.We have the tradition of Tulsi's marriage to Lord Shaligram on this day.The circumambulation of Garuda-Govinda near Chatikara in Vrindavan is undertaken on this ekadashi.

In the words of revered saint Murari Bapu, “ Do worship goddess Tulsi at home along with Lord Shaligramji and entreat for bhakti or religious devotionbecause Ma Tulsi is actually the svarupa or living presence of bhakti. Chant,”Jai jai Tulsi Maharani, namo namah!” particularly followed by aarti in the evening. Make a concentrated effort to bathe early in the morning and following the regime of special meditation up until Kartik Poornima.

The ethereal scene in Shri Dhaam Vrindavan, Goverdhan and Parikrama Marg on Dev Uthani Ekadashi is worth seeing. Lakhs of bhaktas who could not do the circumambulation in the entire year for some reason set out for the parikrama on this day particularly of Radha-Damodar Mandir (near Nidhi Van).

The Vivah of Tulsi with Shaligram ji

The vivah or marriage of Lord Shri Shaligram ji and Tulsi is brought to a successful conclusion in this temple and the nearby Ras Mandal (Shri RadhaVallabh Sampradaya) with enthused exultation. Everyone sings the congratulatory songs with joyous abandon and there is a grand feast after the marriage ceremony. What can we say about the splendid or joyous festivals of Braj.

Shri Radha-Krishna

The Kartik Month comes to an end with Kartik Poornima which is considered by some as Raas Poornima too. Everyone takes a dip in sacred pilgrimage sites like the Ganges, Yamuna, Shri Jagannath Puri, Shri Rameshwaram, Mansi Ganga (Goverdhan). Millions of devotees circumambulate or do parikrama of Shri Giriraj-Goverdhan, Vrindavan Dham, Chitrakoot and Kamad Giri.Kartik Poornima has a distinctive significance for the Gaudiyas and special kirtans plus conventions are held wherever they have their sites.

Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

In Shri Vrindavan the savari or float of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is taken in a procession right from Gopinath Bazar to Shri Radha-Damodar Temple in Nidhi Van as bhaktas sing joyously,

Hare Ram Hare Ram, Ram Ram Hare Hare

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hence the entire month of Kartik is full of festivals-celebrations and laden with joyous abandon.Considering it to be a sacred month of devotion for attaining the divine, one must act and behave accordingly during this time span.

Lighting Diyas Like Diwali

Creating a scene very similar to Diwali and being delighted on Kartik Poornima, the last day of the month by lighting the maximum number of diyas or earthen lamps around the sacred tulsi plant, points towards this festive spirit.

Shri Venu Geet: Introduction (Lord Krishna Plays the Flute Song During Sharad Purnima)

The Song of Lord Krishna's Flute Play

The Venu Geet or Song of Lord Krishna's Flute Play is a compilation of 20 shlokas in the twenty-first chapter of the tenth canto in Shrimad Bhagwatam. Shri Manohar Baba's moving commentary on Venu Geet in 'Prem Rasamrit Dhara' helps us imbibe the essence of Krishna's message given by the song of His flute play.

Gopis Long to See Krishna When He Returns Home with the Cows

Herein Krishna is revealed as the Supreme Lover towards whom the enraptured village girls with whom He sported in his youth are passionately drawn. The gopis have known Krishna as a child and watched Him grow up and go with the other gopas to graze the soft-eyed cows that were the wealth of their small village. They have waited for Him to return in the evening at the hour of cowdust, playing the flute as he approached.

Krishna Celebrates Nature in Her Most Glorious State

The first five verses of Venu Geet glorify the autumnal month of Kartik. That supreme moment of Krishna's manifestation as human lover and divine incarnate is experienced through a celebration of nature in her most glorious state, in that magical time of the year which comes with Sharad Ritu, the autumnal season. That is when the skies are cleared of heavy black clouds, the waters flow clear and sweet, the air is luminous, and the whole of earth rejoices on being cleansed.

Krishna Breathes Music Into His Flute

In this enchanted season Krishna picks up His flute and breathes music into it. The magical sound fills the gopis with intoxication, peacocks dance, animal stand still entranced, the cows stop grazing. In this state of innocence all the elements of nature are perceived as living, sentient beings: the earth is blessed because Krishna has chosen to walk on her, the bamboo trees are proud that Krishna has chosen them for His music.All of them are filled with one bhava which pervades the atmosphere that of ecstatic devotion or shringara bhakti.

The Supreme Lover Krishna, Enters Vrindavana & the Gopis' Hearts

The gopis see Krishna entering the forest of Vrindavan accompanied by His friends wearing a peacock crown and golden garments, in verse 5 of the Venu Geet. He is adorned with flowers in His ears and a forest garland around His neck. Filling the holes of His flute with the nectar of His lips, His entrance is not only into the beautiful forest of Vrindavan, but into the hearts of the gopis.

Gopis Sing the Glories of Krishna's Flute

In the next 14 verses of Venu Geet, the gopis sing the glories of Krishna's flute.The flute in the hands of Krishna is more than a musical instrument. It is the breath of love and a call to eternity. It is the sound of the flute that attracts the cows and draws the gopis, the milkmaids of Vrindavan, out of their homes for a romantic dalliance with Krishna.

The Milkmaids are Jealous of Krishna's Flute

The gopis exclaim in verse 9 of Gopi Geet, “What act of great merit hath this flute performed in consequence of which it is drinking the nectar from the lips of Krishna without leaving the smallest particle for the gopis, the rightful enjoyers of it? What ! Is this more loved even than us, that night and day Krishna continues holding it?...Why did not the lord of Vraja make us flutes so that night and day we had remained with Hari Krishna.” As they stepped into youth, the gopis became intensely desirous of having Krishna's attentions for themselves alone.

Dark-Hued Krishna is Seen as the Object of Longing

When Shri Krishna plays the flute a second time, the enlightenment of the gopis is five-fold. Firstly it is absolute renunciation. When the gopis hear even a single note, they know no other loyalty but to find Krishna even when they know that hH is as capricious as the inconstant bee. Hearing the music, the gopis abruptly abandon husbands, children, calves, dinner on the stove to run to him. Heedless of their reputation, the adoration of the village women brings them into the dark forest. Krishna rebukes them and asks them to return to their duties back home.

Gopis Realize that Krishna is Human & Yet Divine

The second step is acquiring knowledge or sankhya. On an autumnal night when Krishna dances with them, He realizes that conceit and pride has affected the gopis' love for Him, and He vanishes.With Krishna's disappearance, the gopis experience a depth of despair that carves a new dimension in their love; the gopis learn that Krishna is very much in and of this world yet He is above it, He is human and yet divine.

Soon After, Krishna is Forced to Reappear Before the Gopis

Thirdly when Krishna reappears before the gopis and answers their questions on the different kind of love, He prepares the milkmaids for a love of selfless devotion. “ Your devotion for Me has increased now when you went through the agony of losing Me for a while.” Strangely enough, the gopis find themselves cleansed of their sensual desire for Krishna-as much as the hills and rivers and skies have been cleansed after the rain.

The Progression of the Gopis into Complete Absorption in the Joy of Krishna

Yoga or meditation is the fourth step of enlightenment; a delicately decisive moment in the progression of the gopis towards union with their Lord. No longer in search of satisfaction of their lust alone, stripped of pride and conceit, they urge one another into complete absorption in the joy of Krishna that does not require His human presence.

The Gopis' Devotion Transforms into Perfected Devotion

Finally the cowherdesses' bhakti transforms into parabhakti or perfected devotion. Aching with separation, they begin to know the Krishna that abides in their hearts when they sing His praise and dwells in their longing for Him. They have begun to know their friend not as a separate singular god-like body, but mystically visualize Him as the world around them. And they instinctively renounce the desire for liberation and enlightenment, as well.

Having Imbibed the Essence of His Flute Play, the Gopis Constantly Love Krishna

Having imbibed the essence of His flute play, the milkmaids love Krishna constantly, freely, without purpose. While milking cows, draining curds, washing clothes on riverbanks, they gather in clusters at night to sing the dark God's glories.

Sharad Poornima: 25th October, 2026

The Rasa Lila

Lord Krishna is construed as the quintessential romantic hero with tenderness and teasing and the beauty of His dark body, inflaming the desire of the individual soul for union with God; the Supreme Lover towards whom the enraptured village girls with whom He sported in his youth are passionately drawn. The Lord makes us cross a new threshold of awareness that He exists intensely in our hearts when we sing His praises and dwells in our longing for Him. Love for Him can only be savoured by gifted devotees, not flawed by conceit or pride but striving towards complete absorption in the joy of Krishna, interpreted as the cry of the enraptured soul for God.

Gopivallabha

Gopivallabha or beloved of the gopis is one of Lord Krishna’s epithets. The gopi bhava (love flowing towards the Lord) which leads us to Krishna is the zenith of spiritual awareness. The undivided whole that is God requires the absorption of its parts to be restored to wholeness once again. These cowherdesses representing souls in search of salvation are hungry for the fulfillment of their love. As Udhava ji says that so steeped in the love of Krishna are the hearts of the gopis that while others may only aspire to reach the state of oneness with the Lord these simple cowherdesses have already attained it. The longing of the gopikas and the calming of their desires by Lord Krishna is centred within Vrindavan.

Lord Krishna Bathing with Gopis in the Yamuna on Sharad Poornima

On Sharad-Poornima, Vrindavan devotees celebrate the divine union of the ascending soul with the descending God Krishna, a moment of purity and effulgence when the god and the gopis are in unison. The miracle of the Raas Lila: that supreme moment of Krishna’s manifestation as human lover and divine incarnate dancing with the gopis in the forest of Madhuvana and bathing with them in the flowing waters of the Yamuna on the radiant night of Sharad Poornima, the autumnal full moon, enchants us. It is experienced through a celebration of nature in her most glorious state which comes with Sharad Ritu, the autumnal season when the skies are cleared of black clouds, the waters flow clear and the whole earth rejoices on being cleansed.

On Sharad Poornima, Krishna picks up His flute and breathes music into it. Its magical sound intoxicated nature and all living beings,overwhelming them with ecstatic devotion. The gopis had prayed for the Raas Lila to goddess Katyayani and can not resist the call.

Raas Lila:

Supreme Lover Krishna Sporting with the Gopis in the Magical Dance of the Rasa Mandala

Lord Krishna the lover with His beloved Shri Radha and gopis on the celestial banks of the Yamuna, in the dense nikunjas, gleaming in the light of the full moon commenced the rapturous dance, holding hands to complete a circle. Amidst the idyllic environs and showering merriment the tempo grew faster and faster. Krishna duplicated Himself through His maya so that between two gopis was found a Krishna, sporting with them in the magical dance of the Raas Mandala, assuming as many forms as was necessary to make each gopi happy. The gopis lost in their passionate desire for Krishna, delicately stepped to and fro with ringing bracelets, moving kundals, evocative clothes; the Lord welcomed them with a charming smile. 

The Raas brings to halt the course of the moon and the planets as they watch the beauty of the dance. Kam (god of love) and Rati his wife are wonder struck at this divine sight with no distinction between earthly sensual love and spiritual ecstacy, a moment of eternity. The site is closely related to the mysteries of intense passion reflected in the sensuous dance.

Celebration:

Bhaktimati Usha Bahenji

Bhaktimati Usha Bahenji, the epitome of infinite love came to give us direction by bringing alive the concept of bhakti shringara..Self-assured and dignified, she was to show us the path of union with the Divine. 

An absolutely simple personality,she distributed religious devotion with a generous hand. Several seekers could attain the ultimate reality because of her. 

The Thakurs Beautifully Decked for Sharad Poornima

Beautifully decked in silvery white dresses all the Thakurs of the Behanas in Vrindavan gather around Boboji's Yugal Sarkar to celebrate Sharad Poornima.

 So enchanting is the Rasa lila because when the divine suffers division when it literally comes down to earth; it must be sustained and restored to wholeness once again by an absorption of its parts, like Lord Krishna’s union with the gopis steeped in His love.

 The rush of shringara rasa made Bhaktimati Usha Bahenji a paradigm of the perennial quest of mankind for a divine and transcendental love.

Shri Banke Bihari ji

In celestial Vrindavan the most popular deity Shri Banke Bihariji is resplendently decked with mormukut, katikachini and vanshi on Raas Poornima. Millions of devotees from all over Punjab, Delhi, UP and the entire world throng to have His radiant darshan which is possible only once a year!

The Full Moon on Sharad Poornima

News-channels broadcast that the moon looks so ethereal and bigger when the skies are cleared of heavy black clouds! Sharad-Poornima falls in October when the moon gleams after the rainy season but before foggy winter sets in. It proves that Thakurji chooses the most glorious season of the autumnal full moon for his leela or playful dalliance.