Kartik 2021 Start & End Date (Kartik Maas)
North India (Purnimanta): Thursday, 21 October 2021 – Friday, 19 November 2021
Amanta regions: Friday, 5 November 2021 – Saturday, 4 December 2021
The most sacred month for Vishnu — Kartik snan, Damodar deep-daan, Diwali, Chhath and Tulsi Vivah.
Kartik 2021 at a Glance
- Kartik Shivratri
- Thu, 4 Nov
- Purnima
- Fri, 19 Nov
- Amavasya
- —
- Kartik Shivratri
- Fri, 3 Dec
- Purnima
- Fri, 19 Nov
- Amavasya
- Sat, 4 Dec
The significance of Kartik — Lord Vishnu (Damodar)
Kartik is the month of Vishnu, worshipped here as Damodar, and it holds more festivals than any other — Dhanteras, Diwali, Govardhan, Bhai Dooj, Chhath, Tulsi Vivah and Kartik Purnima. It is a month of light: a lamp floated or lit daily (deep-daan) is held to be of the highest merit, and the pre-dawn Kartik snan in a river is the month's defining discipline.
Rituals of Kartik
- Kartik snan — a pre-dawn holy dip through the month
- Daily deep-daan (lighting or floating lamps)
- Tulsi puja every evening and Tulsi Vivah on Ekadashi
- Damodar-ashtakam recitation
- Fasting on the two Ekadashis (Devutthana and Kartik)
- Dev Deepawali on Kartik Purnima at the ghats
Key days in Kartik 2021
Vrat and tithi dates follow whichever month window your calendar uses, so both systems are listed separately below.
North India · Purnimanta
Thu, 21 Oct – Fri, 19 Nov · 30 days
Amanta regions
Fri, 5 Nov – Sat, 4 Dec · 30 days
Festivals in Kartik 2021
Within the Purnimanta window (Thu, 21 Oct – Fri, 19 Nov). Festivals are fixed by tithi, so each falls on the same civil day in both systems.
- Karwa Chauth — Sun, 24 Oct
- Ahoi Ashtami — Fri, 29 Oct
- Dhanteras — Tue, 2 Nov
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — Thu, 4 Nov
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — Thu, 4 Nov
- Govardhan Puja — Fri, 5 Nov
- Bhai Dooj — Sat, 6 Nov
- Chhath Puja — Wed, 10 Nov
- Devutthana Ekadashi — Sun, 14 Nov
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — Fri, 19 Nov
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — Fri, 19 Nov
Monthly vrats 2021
Kartik 2021 — Frequently Asked Questions
When does Kartik Maas 2021 start?
In North India (Purnimanta calendar) Kartik runs from Thursday, 21 October 2021 to Friday, 19 November 2021. In Amanta-calendar regions it runs Friday, 5 November 2021 to Saturday, 4 December 2021.
Why do Kartik dates differ in North and South India?
Because the two regions follow different lunar calendars. In the Purnimanta calendar (North India) a month ends on the Purnima, so it starts about 15 days earlier than in Amanta. In the Amanta calendar (Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu) the month runs new-moon to new-moon.
Which deity is Kartik 2021 dedicated to?
Kartik is the month of Vishnu, worshipped here as Damodar, and it holds more festivals than any other — Dhanteras, Diwali, Govardhan, Bhai Dooj, Chhath, Tulsi Vivah and Kartik Purnima. It is a month of light: a lamp floated or lit daily (deep-daan) is held to be of the highest merit, and the pre-dawn Kartik snan in a river is the month's defining discipline.
When is Kartik Shivratri 2021?
Kartik Shivratri 2021 — the Masik Shivaratri of Kartik Maas, observed on the Krishna Chaturdashi — falls on Thursday, 4 November 2021 in North India (Purnimanta). In Amanta regions it falls on Friday, 3 December 2021. Night worship and jalabhishek of the Shiva lingam are traditional on this day.
When does Kartik 2021 end?
In North India (Purnimanta) Kartik ends on Friday, 19 November 2021, on the Purnima. In Amanta regions it ends on Saturday, 4 December 2021, on the Amavasya.
Are Kartik and Kartik Maas the same month?
Yes. Kartik Maas is the Sanskrit name of this lunar month and Kartik is the everyday Hindi form of the same word. They refer to the same period — different names, not different dates.
Is Kartik 2021 an Adhik Maas?
No. Kartik 2021 is a normal 30-day month.