The time of Bhishma Panchak starts on Ekadashi of Shukla Paksha of Kartik month and continues till Kartik Purnima. Snan and donations done in this Panchak that runs for five days are considered very auspicious. According to religious beliefs, fasting during Bhishma Panchak is also called Vidhan. This fast of Bhishma Panchak is extremely auspicious and increases the devotees' virtue. Whoever devoutly fasts, performs Puja and does charity for these five days becomes entitled to salvation.

When is Bhishma Panchak in 2024

Bhishma Panchak starts -  11 November 2024, from Monday 

Bhishma Panchak ends - 15 November 2024, on Friday 

Five days of Bhishma Panchak have been given great importance in Hinduism. On the basis of mythological beliefs and legend, Bhishma Panchak fast has special importance in the month of Kartik. This festival is also known as Panch Bhikhu. This fast begins after Kartik takes a bath. All those who do Kartik Snan observe this fast by following all the rituals.

Bhishma Panchak - Panch Bhikhu Katha

This is a story from the ancient times. There was a very beautiful village where a moneylender lived with his children. The moneylender had a son and also had a daughter-in-law. The daughter in law was very religious. She used to do worship regularly and would follow all rituals. The same was the case for Kartik month too. She would wake up early in the morning and carry out the holy Snan in the Ganga the entire month of Kartik.

The son of the king of the same village also used to take a bath in the Ganges. Once the king's son realised that someone had taken a bath in the Ganges before him. That, someone, was none other than the moneylender's daughter in law. The king’s son, however, did not know it was her and he became curious. There were only five days left for the Kartik month to end and he was desperate to find out who the person was.

After finishing the bath, the daughter in law starts walking back to her house. The King’s son follows her. On hearing the footsteps the daughter in law starts walking faster. Her Payal comes off along the way. The King’s son discovers the Payal. He feels deeply attracted to the daughter in law. He thinks how beautiful will the woman be, whose Payal itself is so beautiful. In order to satiate his curiosity, he makes an announcement that the lady whose Payal he found at dawn should appear before him.

In response, the moneylender’s daughter in law sends a message saying she is the one who was taking a bath in the Ganga early in the morning. She further elaborates that if the King’s son wants to see her then he can come to the banks of Ganga river early in the morning. There were five more days left for Kartik month to end and she will be coming on all five days. The King’s son places a parrot on the banks of the river and tells the parrot to let him know once the daughter in law comes to take a bath. The next day, she goes to for her Snan and on the way prays to the Lord to protect her. She wishes for the King's son to not wake up at all so that she can take a bath peacefully. The Lord grants her wish and the King’s son remains asleep.

Once the daughter in law finishes her Snan she requests the parrot to keep quiet and not inform the King’s son. She requests the parrot to protect her. The parrot agrees to help her. So, when the King's son wakes up and does not find anybody he questions the parrot. The parrot told him no one had come. The disappointed King’s son decides to not sleep the next day at any cost. In order to do so, he cuts off his finger so that the pain does not let him sleep. The daughter in law again requests God to help her out. Granting her plea the King ends up sleeping again in spite of the pain. The daughter in law takes a bath in the Ganges and goes back without being seen by the King’s son.

When the prince wakes up in the morning, he questions the parrot about the daughter in laws whereabouts. One gain the parrot replies in the negative. The prince then decides to apply chilli in his eyes so that it prevents him from sleeping. The daughter in law once again requests God to protect her, he does so and the prince falls asleep. When he wakes up he questions the parrot and the parrot again says it has not seen anyone. Finally, he decides to get along his bedding so that there is no question of falling asleep. The daughter in law worships the Lord yet again and requests the parrot. They grant her wish and yet again the prince is prevented from seeing the daughter in law.

Finally, on the last day, the prince decides to sir right next to the wash area. However the cycle repeats once again, he goes off to sleep and does not see the lady. As it was the final day of Kartik month, the daughter in law asks the parrot to tell the prince to send her Payal back.

When the prince wakes up, the parrot reveals the entire story to the prince. The king's son realises how religious the lady was and this makes him very sad. After some time, the king's son gets leprosy. When the king finds out the reason for leprosy, he asks the Brahmins to remedy it. The Brahmin says that he should make the daughter-in-law of the moneylender his sister and take a bath with her bathed water, only then his leprosy can be cured. The moneylender agrees and the king's son is healed. In this way, one can eliminate all problems in life by performing Snan and Puja for five days with reverence and Sattvik Bhava.