Kartik (Damodara) Month
FestivalKartik, which Vaishnavas call Damodara month, is when devotees offer a small lamp to Lord Krishna every evening and sing Damodarashtakam. In 2026 the holy month begins on Monday, 26 October and ends…

Ekadashis, festivals and the appearance and disappearance days of the acharyas, as kept at ISKCON Kurukshetra.
Kartik (Damodara) Month
Kartik, which Vaishnavas call Damodara month, is when devotees offer a small lamp to Lord Krishna every evening and sing Damodarashtakam. In 2026 the holy month begins on Monday, 26 October and ends…
Gopastami, also called Gosthastami, is the eighth day of the bright fortnight of Kartika. It marks the day Lord Krishna was first allowed to herd the full-grown cows of Vrindavan. In 2026 it falls…
Jagaddhatri Puja is a Bengali festival in which Mother Durga is worshipped as Jagaddhatri. In 2026 it falls on Wednesday, 18 November, three days before Utthana Ekadashi. Vaishnavas understand Durga…
Bhisma Pancaka, named after Bhismadeva, is five days of worship and fasting that run from Ekadashi to the full moon. Its first day in 2026 is Saturday, 21 November, which is also Utthana Ekadashi…
Bhisma Pancaka is kept in honour of Bhismadeva during the last five days of Kartika, which is also called the Damodara month. Its final day, the Kartika full moon, falls on Tuesday, 24 November…
On Sri Krsna Rasayatra, devotees celebrate Lord Krishna's rasa dance with the gopis of Vrindavana. The festival is held on the full moon of Kartika, the Damodara month. In 2026 it falls on Tuesday,…
Tulasi-Saligrama Vivaha is the marriage of Srimati Tulasi Devi to Lord Sri Krishna, who is worshipped in the form of the Saligrama-sila. In 2026 it falls on Tuesday, 24 November, the Kartika full…
Katyayani Vrata is the vow the young gopis of Vraja kept through the month of Margasirsha, worshipping goddess Katyayani so that they might attain Krishna. In 2026 the Vaishnava calendar marks its…