By the Vrajraj team, Govardhan · Last verified
Kartik is the most sacred month of the year in Braj. In 2026 it runs from about 26 October to 24 November, from the night after Sharad Purnima to Kartik Purnima. Every evening, devotees offer lamps to Damodar (the child Krishna bound by Yashoda's rope). They walk the Govardhan Parikrama, bathe at Radha Kund and in the Yamuna, and celebrate Braj's own festivals one after another: Ahoi Ashtami, Diwali, Govardhan Puja, Gopashtami and Kartik Purnima.
Kartik 2026 dates
| Day | Date | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Sharad Purnima | Sun 25 Oct 2026 | The full-moon night of the Raas. Kheer is offered under the moonlight, and Kartik begins the next day. |
| Kartik begins | ~Mon 26 Oct 2026 | Daily deep-daan (lamp offering) to Damodar begins. |
| Ahoi Ashtami: Radha Kund snan | Sun 1 Nov 2026 | The midnight bath at Radha Kund, the most crowded night of the year there. |
| Dhanteras | Fri 6 Nov 2026 | The first of the Diwali days. |
| Diwali | Sun 8 Nov 2026 | Temples, kunds and ghats lit with lamps. |
| Govardhan Puja & Annakut | Tue 10 Nov 2026 | Govardhan's own festival: mountains of food offered to Giriraj ji. |
| Bhai Dooj (Yama Dwitiya) | Wed 11 Nov 2026 | Brothers and sisters bathe together in the Yamuna at Vishram Ghat, Mathura. |
| Gopashtami | ~Tue 17 Nov 2026 | The day Krishna first took the cows out to graze. Cows are worshipped across Braj. |
| Akshaya Navami | ~Wed 18 Nov 2026 | Many devotees walk the parikrama of Mathura and Vrindavan. |
| Devuthani (Prabodhini) Ekadashi | ~Fri 20 Nov 2026 | Vishnu awakens; weddings resume after the monsoon pause. Vrindavan parikrama crowds. |
| Kartik Purnima | Tue 24 Nov 2026 | The close of Kartik: deep-daan, Yamuna snan and parikramas. |
Dates follow the North Indian panchang. Dates marked ~ can shift by a day with the tithi; Braj temples sometimes observe a festival a day earlier or later. Confirm locally.
The practices of Kartik
- Deep-daan: offering a ghee lamp to Damodar each evening, often while singing the Damodarashtakam. You will see it in temples, at kunds and in homes all month.
- Kartik snan: bathing before sunrise in the Yamuna, at Radha Kund or at Manasi Ganga.
- Parikrama: the Govardhan Parikrama is walked by thousands every day of Kartik, and by far more on Purnima and festival days.
- Niyam: many devotees keep a vow for the month, such as eating simply, avoiding onion and garlic, rising early and chanting more.
- Gau seva: on Gopashtami especially, cows are bathed, decorated and worshipped across Braj.
Where Kartik is celebrated
Radha Kund
On Ahoi Ashtami (1 November 2026), couples and devotees bathe in Radha Kund at midnight, praying for children and for devotion. It is one of the most crowded nights in Braj. Our Radha Kund guide.
Govardhan
On Govardhan Puja (10 November 2026), temples around the hill offer the Annakut, a mountain of food, to Giriraj ji, and the parikrama runs day and night. Govardhan Puja & Annakut.
Vrindavan and Mathura
Vrindavan's temples hold Damodar programmes every evening. On Akshaya Navami many devotees walk the combined parikrama of Mathura and Vrindavan, and on Devuthani Ekadashi the Vrindavan parikrama fills. Bhai Dooj brings families to Vishram Ghat in Mathura for a Yamuna snan.
Tips for Kartik in Braj
- Book early. Kartik is peak season, and the days around Ahoi Ashtami, Diwali and Govardhan Puja fill first.
- Expect traffic controls around Govardhan and Radha Kund on festival days, and plan to walk the last stretch.
- Pack for cool mornings. Days are pleasant, but dawn in November is cold, especially after a pre-dawn snan.
- Stay near the parikrama if a daily parikrama is part of your vow. Staying on the parikrama marg.
- Mix busy and quiet days. Rest on the days between the big festivals.