The full moon day in the Tamil month of Karthigai is observed as Vishnu Deepam by Lord Vishnu devotees (Vaishnavites). Vishnu Deepam is celebrated by lighting bonfire known as Sokka Panai in Vishnu shrines.The day is popularly known as Karthigai Deepam – when all houses and temples will be decorated with oil lamps after sunset.


The reason for the festival is based on Lord Vamana (Lord Trivikrama) incarnation of Lord Vishnu. In 2018, the date of Vishnu Deepam is November 23.

Lord Vamana sending King Bali to the underworld is the basis of Vishnu Deepam.

It is said that the two steps of Lord Vamana are the Uttarayan and vernal equinox. And the third step which sends Bali to the underworld is the autumn equinox. The bonfire lit on Vishnu Deepam remembers this event.

Vishnu Deepam is also observed as Yanai Pandigai by some communities in South India.

Devutthana Agyaras marks the end of the Chatur Maas in Gujarat. Devutthi Agiyaras is observed on the Shukla Paksha Ekadasi day in Kartik Month. Devutthana Agiyaras 2018 date is on November 19, 2018. The popular belief is that the period of four month in which Vishnu was asleep ends on Devutthana Agyaras.
Certain Vishnu temples especially those dedicated to Vitthal – Rukmini organize processions to mark the Devutthana Agyaras.



Marriages and most auspicious ceremonies which were not held for four months starting from Dev Podhi Agiyaras day (Ashada Shukla Ekadasi) begins from Devutthana Agyaras.

Numerous rituals, fasting and abstention followed by many Hindu communities come to an end on Devutthana Agiyaras.

The day of great significance to staunch worshippers of Lord Vishnu.

Girnar Parikrama is a unique annual religious walk to the temples located in Junagadh forest in western Gujarat in India. Girnar Parikrama 2018 is from November 19 to November 23. More than 100,000 pilgrims participate in this 36-km religious walk through tough mountainous terrain and forest. Girnar Parikrama begins on the Ekadasi day during the waxing phase of moon or Shukla Paksha of Kartik month and five days later on Kartik Purnima day.



People from different caste and community walk in unison in this unique Parikrama, which begins from DudheshwarTemple at Bhavnath in Junagadh.

The first part of the trek includes passing through dense forest and climbing a hill and coming down it. The first spiritual spot is the Zina Bava Ni Madhi and Chandra-MauleshwarTemple, which is about 12 km from Bhavnath.

The next temples in the Parikrama include a HanumanTemple and Suraj Kund (pond) at Malvela which is 8 km from Zina Bava Ni Madhi.

The next trek from Malvela to Bordevi is the toughest tr…

Sant Namdev was one of the pillars of the Bhakti cult that developed around the worship of Bhagwan Vitthal of Pandharpur in Maharashtra during the middle ages. Namdev Jayanti 2018 date is November 19. Sant Namdev devotional compositions, Namdev's Gatha, are very popular with Vithal devotees.

He also composed devotional songs in Punjabi and 60 of his devotional songs are included in the Guru Granth Sahib, the Holy Scripture in Sikhism.


A legend associated with Namdev says that he as child once stood before Bhagavan Vitthal at Pandharpur to make sure that the food he offered was eaten by Bhagavan Vitthal. When the child stood adamant and did not move for hours, it is said that Lord Vitthal appeared before Namdev and ate the offering he made.

Sant Namdev was also a companion of Sant Dnyaneshwar.

Namdev Jayanti is observed on the Kartik Shukla Paksha Ekadasi.

You may also like to read The Story of Namdev’s Final Enlightenment – By Ramana Maharishi

Panchuka is the last five days of Kartik month in Odisha and people abstain from all types of non-vegetarian food during the period. Panchuka in 2018 begins on November 19 and ends on November 23. The period is of great significance to Lord Jagannath devotees. Traditionally, staunch devotees of Lord Jagannath abstain from all type of non-vegetarian foods during the entire Kartik month but those who are unable to follow it, observe it during the last five days of the month.


Panchuka begins on Ekadasi day during the Shukla Paksha in Kartik month and ends on Kartik Purnima. Panchuka is strictly observed elderly men and women and many of them stay in Puri and visit the Jagannath shrine during the period.
The five-day period is also of great significance in PuriJagannathTemple. Thousands of people who are observing Kartik Brata for the entire month gets an opportunity to have darshan of Lord Jagannath in five different veshas or attire during the period.

Garuda Dwadasi and Tulsi Puja are …

Tulsi Vivah, or Tulsi Shaligram Wedding, is a popular Hindu ritual observed in the month of Kartik (October – November). Tulasi, or Tulsi, is holy basil and is an important religious symbol in Hinduism. Tulsi Vivah Puja is observed on different dates in Kartik month in different parts of India. The method of performing Tulsi Vivah Pooja also varies from community to community and depends mainly how the usual marriage ceremony is performed. Here is a step by step guide on How Tulsi Vivah is performed.
Please note that this is just to give a rough idea and the methods vary from region to region. Tulsi Vivah Dates Tulsi Vivah is observed on the Ekadasi that falls after Diwali. Some communities perform it on the day after Ekadasi – that is the Dwadashi day. In some regions it is performed on the Kartik Purnima day or full moon day after Ekadasi. For some communities, the Tulsi Vivah rituals begin on the Ekadasi day and end on Poornima day. Or it is observed on any one of the days during th…

Utthana Ekadasi, or Prabodhini Ekadashi, (also known as Dev Uthani Ekadasi and Hari Prabodhini) is observed during the waxing phase of moon in the month of Kartik (October – November). In 2018, the date of Utthana Ekadasi or Dev Prabodhini Ekadashi is November 19. The importance of Dev Prabodhini Ekadasi narrated to Sage Narada by Brahma. The divine conversation is found in the Skanda Purana. Observing this Ekadasi is believed to help in getting rid of the guilt associated with sins committed and is also a path to liberation (Moksha). Ekadasi is an important fast dedicated to Lord Vishnu.



This Ekadasi is known by numerous names including:
Dev Prabodhini Ekadasi, Hari Prabodhini
Dev Uthani GyarasDev Uthani andBada Ekadasi.Importance of Utthana Ekadasi Lord Vishnu goes into sleep on the Ashada Suddha Ekadasi (July – August). He remains in deep slumber during the period and this is known as the Chaturmasya period. He wakes up on the Kartik Shukla Ekadasi and this day is also observed as D…

Pandharpur Kartik Ekadasi Yatra to LordVitthalTemple in Pandharpur takes place on the Ekadasi day during the Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon) in Kartik Month (October – November) as per traditional Hindu calendar followed in Maharashtra. Pandharpur Kartik Ekadasi Yatra 2018 is on November 19. Pandharpur Yatra on Prabodhini Ekadasi is undertaken by staunch Lord Vitthal devotees and is the second most popular Yatra after the Ashadi Ekadasi Pandharpur Yatra (June – July).

Pandharpur Yatra in Kartik Month begins on the first day of Marathi Kartik month and ends on the Purnima or full moon day in Kartik Mahina. The most important day during the period is the Prabodhini Ekadasi day.
Pandharpur Kartik Ekadasi Yatra and the famous Ashadi Ekadasi Wari Yatra are interconnected through the famous Chatur Maas – the cosmic sleep of Lord Vishnu. 
It is believed that after Ashadi Ekadasi Wari Yatra Lord Vitthal (Lord Vishnu) goes into his cosmic slumber and wakes up on Kartik Ekadasi day.
The P…

Some of the popular teachings, sayings and quotes of Swami Vivekananda on strength

Whatever you think, that you will be. If you think yourselves weak, weak you will be; if you think yourselves strong, strong you will be.
Strength, strength it is that we want so much in this life, for what we call sin and sorrow have all one cause, and that is our weakness. With weakness comes ignorance, and with ignorance comes misery.


The sign of life is strength and growth. The sign of death is weakness. Whatever is weak, avoid! It is death. If it is strength, go down into hell and get hold of it! There is salvation only for the brave. None but the brave deserves the fair. None but the bravest deserves salvation.

The weak have no place here, in this life or in any other life. Weakness leads to slavery. Weakness leads to all kinds of misery, physical and mental. Weakness is death. There are hundreds of thousands of microbes surrounding us, but they cannot harm us unless we become weak, until the bod…

Tithi in Hindu Calendar on Sunday, November 18, 2018 – Shukla Paksha Dasami Tithi or the tenth day during the waning or dark phase of moon in Hindu calendar and Panchang in most regions. It isShukla Paksha Dasami Tithi or the tenth day during the waning or dark phase of moon till 10:45 AM on November 18. Then onward it is Shukla Paksha Ekadasi Tithi or the eleventh day during the waning or dark phase of moon till 11:55 AM on November 19. (Time applicable in all north, south and eastern parts of India.)All time based on India Standard Time.
Good – Auspicious time on November 18, 2018, as per Hindu Calendar – There is no good and auspicious time on the entire day.
Nakshatra – Purvabhadra or Pooruruttathi Nakshatra till 2:51 PM on November 18. Then onward it is Uttarabhadra or Uthrattathi Nakshatra till 4:28 PM on November 19. (Time applicable in all north, south and eastern parts of India.)
In western parts of India (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, north Karnataka and south Rajasthan), Purvab…