In 2024, Kartik holy bath will commence from 17 October. With the commencement of Kartik month, the devotees starts performing religious ceremonies, take bath in the holy river, observe fasts and worship all the gods and goddess with full faith and devotion. As per the scriptures, it is believed performing bathing rituals in the Kartik month have special significance in Hindu culture. It gives relief from the sufferings and sins of life.
Kartik month is considered to be an auspicious month to perform religious ceremonies. It is believed to give results equivalent to visiting all the pilgrimages. The significance of Kartik month can be studied in various popular ancient scriptures such as Skanda purana, Narada purana, Paghya purana etc.
Taking bath in the holy water during the Kartik month is considered to be as auspicious as taking bath in the Ganga 1000 times, 100 times magh bath, crore times in Narmada river during Vaishakh month. The result that one gets by taking bath in the Prayag in Kumbh is equal to taking bath in one holy river during the Kartik month. Chanting Gayatri Mantra during this period is believed to give good results. Those who follow all the rules and regulations as mentioned in the scriptures gets relief from all sins.
Significance of Holy bath and Donation in Kartik month.
Kartik month is considered to be auspicious for performing religious works. Taking bath in holy rivers commencing from the Ashwin Shukla paksha to Kartik Shukla Paksha is considered to be very auspicious. Devotees can be seen bathing in holy rivers like Ganga and Yamuna early morning during this period. Those who are unable to take bath in holy rivers, can take early morning and worship the lord at home only. Worshipping lord Shiva, goddess Chandi, lord Sun and other gods and goddess have special significance as well. There is also a tradition of worshipping lord Vishnu with flowers.
Performing all these rituals give results equivalent to that of Ashwamedha yagya. Lord Kartikeya is the deity of this month and thus, Kartikeya fast is observed by devotees. Every person should take bath on this date and donate to needy people according to his own potency. Pushkar, Kurukshetra and Varanasi are the best places to perform religious ceremonies, holy baths and charity.
Kartika Holy Bath Puja
Worship Radha - Krishna with tulsi, amla etc in the morning after taking bath, along with all other gods and goddesses. In the evening worship Lord Vishnu and goddess Tulsi by lightning a diya. It is believed that in the Kartik month, the rays of Sun and Moon have a positive effect on the body and mind of humans. Worshipping Lord Vishnu, goddess Tulsi in Kartik month has a special significance and the one who does it is blessed with good fruits.
The devotees eat tara bhojan during Kartik month. They keep fast for the whole day and eat food only after worshipping the stars in the evening. On the last day of the fast, udyapan is done and priests are offered some kind of dakshina. With the commencement of Kartik month, the rituals to perform holy bath and donations also begins. Male and females both visit pilgrimage places and perform religious activities with faith and devotion. People make donations and offer their prayers to the lord according to your potency.
This day is also known as Tripuri Purnima. According to the trinity gods, it is a very auspicious day to perform religious activities and obtain god’s blessings.Paghya yoga also has a special significance on this day. It is formed when the Moon is in the Krittika Nakshatra and Sun is in the Vishakha Nakshatra.