Kartik Snan 2024 • Significance & Rituals

Kartik Snan (Hindi: कार्तिक स्नान) is an important rituals for Hindus that is observed on the Purnima tithi (full moon day) in the Lunar month of ‘Kartik’ in the Hindu calendar (popularly known as Kartik Purnima). For those following the English calendar, this date falls during the months of October to November.

The month of Kartik is the 8th lunar month of the Hindu calendar and is believed to be very auspicious. Several references citing the holiness of this month is mentioned in several Hindu scriptures.

Kartik Snan 2024 starts on October 17, Thursday and ends on November 15, Friday

5 months and 17 days to go for the event

Purnima tithi timing : October 16, 08:41 PM - October 17, 04:56 PM

Image Source: IANS

People Bathe in holy river as part of Kartik Snan rituals

According to the Hindu mythology, it is believed that during the month of Kartik, Lord Vishnu incarnated in the ‘Matysa’ (fish) form in order to restore the Vedas. The actual ceremony of Kartik Snan starts from Kartik Sudda Padyami and continues all through the month. Varanasi, Kurukshetra and Pushkar are important Hindu pilgrimage places that remain crowded for the propitious Kartik Snan.

Rituals during Kartik Snan:

The most important ritual during Kartik Snan is taking a bath in the sacred rivers or water bodies. On this day, devotees wake up at the time of sunrise to take the religious bath. Both men and women perform this sacred bath.

Taking a holy dip in the Ganga River at Prayag and in the ‘Badarikashrama’ in the Himalayas on Kartik Purnima is believed to be means of acquiring salvation. Even if bathing in Ganga is not possible, one must visit any water body nearby.

Some devotees also keep a fast on this day to please Lord Vishnu. The observer of this vrat must also feed a Brahmin.

On the occasion of Kartik Snan, devotees worship Lord Satyanarayan, the Supreme Preserver while some devotees even worship Ganga Mata, the Goddess of the holy rivers.

As a part of the puja, havan is also performed. Six different ‘Kritikas’ are worshipped in the night that includes Shiva, Sambhuti, Santati, Preeti, Kshama and Anusuya. After the completion of puja, a buffalo is also donated to a Brahmin. It is believed that one who performs the complete puja rituals, reaches ‘Shivalok’ after death.

Image Source: IANS

Donating lamps on Kartik Snan is considered to be highly rewarding. Lighting deep in the temples of Lord Shiva, Surya Dev, and Chandra Dev is believed to be very rewarding. This act is equivalent to performing an Ashwamegha Yagya. Individuals can also make other forms of donations, according to their wishes.

Important Timings On Kartik Snan

Image Source: IANS

Devotees throng Ganga ghats on Kartik Purnima in Haridwar

Significance of Kartik Snan:

The significance of Kartik Snan is mentioned in several Hindu religious scriptures and Puranas like Padma Purana, Skanda Purana and Naarad Purana to name a few. Lord Krishna himself narrated the glories and rituals of Kartik Snan to His wife, Satyabhama. On this auspicious day, Hindus in large numbers perform the ritualistic bath. The benefits of taking snan in the Kartik month is equivalent to taking 1000 Ganga Snan and over 100 Magha Snan. It is a popular belief that by taking a holy dip in the month of Kartik and by offering donations, one gets freedom from all his/her committed sins.

According to the Hindu legends, on this day, Lord Shiva defeated a demon, Tripurasur and rendered Earth as a safe place. Also as per the Ayurvedic studies, the last 8 days in the month of Kartik and the beginning 8 days of the ‘Margashirsha’ month (the month following Kartik in the Hindu calendar) is referred as ‘Yamdanshtra’, meaning ‘the strength of death’. During this period it is advised to take bath in the ponds or other water bodies, eat light meals and perform religious activities and prayers. Doing this imparts goods health and spiritual grace. Recent studies have also proved the scientific significance of Kartik Snan. Bathing during this time early in the morning generates energy and also frees the body from all forms of ailments.

Kartik Snan festival dates between 2020 & 2030

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