Kartik Maas 2026 in Ayodhya: Saryu Snan, Deep Daan, Parikrama & Full Festival List
Kartik Maas 2026 runs 27 Oct–24 Nov. Saryu snan time & best ghats, deep daan method, rules, 14 Kosi & Panchkosi Parikrama dates and full festival list.
Last updated: 18 October 2026
Short answer: In North India, Kartik Maas 2026 runs from Tuesday, 27 October to Tuesday, 24 November 2026 (Kartik Purnima). Kartik snan traditionally begins a day earlier, on the morning of 26 October (Sharad Purnima snan), and continues every morning until Kartik Purnima. In Ayodhya the month's big days are Deepotsav on 7 November, Diwali on 8 November, Chhath on 13–16 November, the 14 Kosi Parikrama on 18–19 November, the Panchkosi Parikrama on 20–21 November, and the Kartik Purnima snan on 24 November. The best time for Saryu snan is before sunrise, at about 4:30–6:00 AM.
If you ask anyone in Ayodhya about the best month of the year, many will say Kartik before you've finished the question. The heat is gone, the mornings are misty, and from about 4 AM you hear temple bells and see people walking down to the Saryu with a lota in one hand and a diya in the other. For a month the whole city runs on a different clock: bath before sunrise, Tulsi puja, a lamp at dusk, and then the next festival, because in Kartik there's always another one coming.
We live and work in Ayodhya, and this is the month we get the most calls, mostly from families who want to do Kartik snan, see Deepotsav or walk the parikrama, and don't know which dates to pick. So here is everything in one place: the dates, what to actually do each morning and evening, where to bathe, and the full festival list with the days that get crowded.
Kartik Maas 2026 at a Glance
| Detail | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Kartik Maas (Purnimant, North India) | 27 October – 24 November 2026 |
| Kartik Maas (Amant: Gujarat, Maharashtra, South India, Bengal) | Begins 10 November; ends at Kartik Amavasya, around 8–9 December |
| Kartik snan begins | Monday morning, 26 October (Sharad Purnima snan) |
| Kartik snan ends | Tuesday, 24 November (Kartik Purnima) |
| Main deity | Lord Vishnu (Damodar), with Tulsi and Lakshmi |
| Ayodhya highlights | Deepotsav, Hanuman Jayanti at Hanuman Garhi, 14 Kosi and Panchkosi Parikrama, Kartik Purnima Mela |
| Weather in Ayodhya | Mornings about 12–20°C, afternoons 25–31°C, light fog possible from mid-November |
Kartik Maas 2026 Kab Se Shuru Hai?
This confuses a lot of people because two calendars are in use. In Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, MP and most of North India, the month ends on Purnima (the purnimant system), so Kartik runs from 27 October to 24 November 2026. In Gujarat, Maharashtra, South India and Bengal, the month ends on Amavasya (amant), so the same Kartik starts after Diwali, on 10 November.
The good news: the festivals don't move. Diwali, Dev Uthani Ekadashi and Kartik Purnima fall on the same dates in both calendars. Only the "month name" printed on the panchang changes.
Kartik snan, the daily dawn bath, is an older tradition that starts on Sharad Purnima. In 2026 the first snan is on the morning of 26 October, the same day as Valmiki Jayanti. If you're arriving for that weekend, read our Sharad Purnima 2026 guide and the Valmiki Jayanti and Valmiki Ramayan Bhawan guide.
Why Kartik Is Called the Holiest Month
The Puranas call Kartik the most loved month of Lord Vishnu. A few reasons people give:
- Vishnu wakes up: after four months of Chaturmas rest, Lord Vishnu wakes on Dev Uthani Ekadashi. That is why weddings and new beginnings start again after this day.
- Damodar Maas: Vaishnavs, including ISKCON, call it Damodar month, after the story of little Krishna being tied to a grinding mortar by Yashoda. They offer ghee lamps every evening.
- Tulsi: Tulsi is worshipped every day, and the month ends with Tulsi Vivah.
- Lamps: Diwali and Dev Deepawali both fall in Kartik, and lighting even one diya daily is believed to bring great punya.
In Ayodhya there is one more reason. This is the month Shri Ram's homecoming is celebrated, and the city lights itself up for it.
Saryu Snan in Kartik: When, Where and How
Kartik snan is simple. You bathe before sunrise, ideally in a river, and you do it daily, or on as many mornings as you can. In Ayodhya that means the Saryu.
Best time
Brahma Muhurat, which is roughly 4:30 to 5:15 AM in late October, moving to around 4:45 to 5:30 AM by late November as sunrise gets later. Sunrise in Ayodhya is about 6:00 AM at the start of Kartik and about 6:20 AM by Kartik Purnima. If you can't make it that early, any time before sunrise is still Kartik snan.
Which ghat should you choose?
| Ghat | Good for | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Ram Ki Paidi | Families and first-timers: well lit, steps, easy to reach | Very busy on Purnima and festival mornings |
| Naya Ghat | The traditional Kartik snan ghat, and one of the main Kartik Purnima bathing points | The heaviest crowds on 24 November |
| Guptar Ghat | Elders and anyone who wants peace; open, calm riverfront | A short drive from the main temples |
| Laxman Ghat area | A quieter morning snan near the old city | Fewer facilities; go with a local |
For the evening aarti at these same ghats, see our Saryu Aarti time and best place guide.
Small things that make a big difference
- Carry a towel, a change of clothes and a plastic bag for wet clothes. Changing rooms exist at the main ghats but have queues.
- Leave your phone, wallet and jewellery with someone on the steps, or keep them in the car. Things do go missing at crowded ghats.
- The water is cold by mid-November. Older people can do a quick dip, or simply pour water over themselves from the steps. That counts too.
- Stay within the marked area and listen to the water police. The Saryu has a strong current in places.
- After the snan, offer arghya to the rising sun and float a diya if you like. Leaf-boat diyas are sold on the ghats.
Deep Daan in Kartik: The Simple Way to Do It
Deep daan just means offering a lamp. There is no complicated rule. What matters is doing it every evening of the month, at a time that works for you.
- At home, at dusk: light a ghee or sesame-oil diya near the Tulsi plant every evening of Kartik.
- Akash deep: many families hang a lamp in a lantern on a bamboo pole or on the roof for the whole month, offered to Lord Vishnu and the ancestors. Keep it well away from curtains and anything that can catch fire.
- On the Saryu: float a diya on a leaf boat during the evening aarti. It is beautiful at Ram Ki Paidi and Naya Ghat.
- At temples: offer 1, 11, 21 or 108 lamps, whatever feels right. Kanak Bhawan and Hanuman Garhi are lovely in the evening.
Three evenings are special: Dhanteras (6 Nov) for the Yam Deep, Diwali (8 Nov), and Kartik Purnima / Dev Deepawali (24 Nov). If you can only do deep daan on one evening, choose Kartik Purnima.
Kartik Maas Rules (Niyam): What to Do and What to Avoid
These are traditional observances, and every family follows them a little differently. Nobody expects you to do all of them. Pick what you can keep up for 30 days.
| Do | Traditionally avoided |
|---|---|
| Bathe before sunrise; take a sankalp on the first morning | Sleeping after sunrise |
| Tulsi puja morning and evening; water at the roots | Plucking Tulsi on Ekadashi, Sunday or after dusk |
| Light a diya every evening | Non-veg, alcohol; many also avoid onion and garlic |
| Read the Gita, Vishnu Sahasranam or Ramcharitmanas | Urad, masoor and other dals for those keeping the full vrat; brinjal in many UP and Bihar homes |
| Donate food, blankets, lamps or ghee | Harsh words and quarrels |
| Eat simple sattvik food, ideally one main meal | Weddings and new beginnings before Dev Uthani Ekadashi (20 Nov) |
Health first: cold-water dawn baths and fasting are not meant for the sick, pregnant women, small children or frail elders. A warm-water bath at home with a few drops of Gangajal is perfectly fine. Check with your doctor if you have BP, sugar or heart problems.
Kartik Maas 2026 Festival List (with Ayodhya Notes)
| Date | Festival | What it means in Ayodhya |
|---|---|---|
| 26 Oct (Mon) | Sharad Purnima snan, Valmiki Jayanti, Kartik snan begins | Large crowds at the ghats in the morning; visit Valmiki Ramayan Bhawan |
| 27 Oct (Tue) | Kartik Maas begins (purnimant) | Daily snan and deep daan from here |
| 29 Oct (Thu) | Karwa Chauth | Busy markets in the evening |
| 1 Nov (Sun) | Ahoi Ashtami | A home festival; normal crowds |
| 5 Nov (Thu) | Rama Ekadashi, Govatsa Dwadashi | Temples busy; Deepotsav preparations visible everywhere |
| 6 Nov (Fri) | Dhanteras | Yam Deep at dusk; heavy traffic in the markets |
| 7 Nov (Sat) | Deepotsav, Choti Diwali, Hanuman Jayanti at Hanuman Garhi | The biggest night of the year; vehicle restrictions likely. See the Deepotsav 2026 guide |
| 8 Nov (Sun) | Diwali, Lakshmi Puja | Every home and temple lit; quieter than Deepotsav night |
| 10 Nov (Tue) | Govardhan Puja, Annakoot | Annakoot bhog in many temples |
| 11 Nov (Wed) | Bhai Dooj, Chitragupta Puja | Family day |
| 13–16 Nov | Chhath Puja (Nahay-Khay to Usha Arghya) | Sandhya Arghya at the Saryu ghats on 15 Nov; very crowded evening |
| 17 Nov (Tue) | Gopashtami | Gau puja at gaushalas and temples |
| 18–19 Nov | Akshaya Navami, 14 Kosi Parikrama | Lakhs walk the outer route through the night; road diversions |
| 20–21 Nov | Dev Uthani Ekadashi, Panchkosi Parikrama | The inner parikrama; the wedding season starts |
| 21 Nov (Sat) | Tulsi Vivah | Tulsi-Shaligram vivah in homes and temples |
| 24 Nov (Tue) | Kartik Purnima, Guru Nanak Jayanti, Dev Deepawali (Varanasi) | Kartik Purnima Mela; the biggest snan of the month at Naya Ghat and Ram Ki Paidi |
Dates follow Drik Panchang for North India. Some festivals can shift by a day depending on the local panchang, so confirm with your temple or pandit. The season opens a week earlier with Dussehra in Ayodhya on 20 October.
14 Kosi and Panchkosi Parikrama in Kartik
These two parikramas are why many families plan their Ayodhya trip for the second half of Kartik.
| Parikrama | 2026 dates | Route length (approx.) | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Kosi Parikrama | 18–19 November (Akshaya Navami) | About 42–45 km around Ayodhya | Fit walkers; most people walk through the night |
| Panchkosi Parikrama | 20–21 November (Dev Uthani Ekadashi) | About 15 km around the inner city | Most families; can be done in 4–6 hours |
Tips from people who've walked it:
- Wear broken-in shoes or slippers you trust, not new ones.
- Carry a small bag with water, glucose biscuits, a torch and a light shawl.
- Seva camps along the route give water and food, but they get crowded.
- If you're with elders, choose the Panchkosi, not the 14 Kosi, and plan where your car will pick you up. The roads on the route are closed during the parikrama.
The exact start muhurat and route arrangements are announced by the Ayodhya administration and temple committees a few days before, so confirm locally before you set out.
A Practical Kartik Plan for Visitors
Most visitors can't stay for the full month, which is completely fine. Here's how families usually plan it with us:
| If you have… | Come for | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A weekend | 25–26 October | Sharad Purnima night plus the first Kartik snan, before the big crowds |
| 2–3 days | 5–8 November | Deepotsav and Diwali. Book hotels right now |
| 2–3 days, calmer | 11–14 November | After Diwali and before Chhath; easy darshan, pleasant weather |
| 3–4 days | 18–21 November | 14 Kosi and Panchkosi Parikrama plus Dev Uthani Ekadashi |
| 2 days | 23–24 November | Kartik Purnima snan in Ayodhya, or Dev Deepawali in Varanasi the same evening |
A good daily rhythm: snan at 5 AM, Ram Mandir darshan by 7:30 AM, Hanuman Garhi and Kanak Bhawan before lunch, rest in the afternoon, and Saryu Aarti with deep daan in the evening. Our 2 day Ayodhya itinerary follows exactly this pattern.
Ram Mandir Darshan During Kartik
Crowds at Ram Mandir in Kartik are heaviest on Purnima, Deepotsav, Diwali and the parikrama days. On the other days the early-morning slot is usually comfortable.
- Book the free Sugam Darshan pass on online.srjbtkshetra.org. If it's your first time, see how to book the pass.
- Check the latest Ram Mandir darshan timing, as winter timings can change.
- Phones and bags are not allowed inside, so use the free locker.
- Anyone selling "VIP Kartik darshan" is not genuine. Read Ram Mandir VIP darshan: real or fake.
- Coming with parents? The Trust gives free wheelchairs. See the wheelchair facility guide.
Official notices for festival days are posted on the Trust website srjbtkshetra.org.
Where to Stay, How to Reach, What to Pack
- Stay: for Kartik snan you'll want to be close to the ghats. Ram Path and the area near Ram Ki Paidi work best. See hotels near Ram Mandir. Deepotsav week sells out first.
- Reach: fly into Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, or take a train to Ayodhya Dham Junction. Book on IRCTC early for November. For pickups, see airport and station transfer. Coming from Varanasi? See the Varanasi to Ayodhya route and cab fare.
- Getting around: on festival days cars are stopped well before the temples. See the car drop point guide, or use our e-rickshaw service.
- Pack: a shawl or light jacket for the mornings, a quick-dry towel, slip-on footwear, a small torch, and a cotton bag for wet clothes.
Plan Kartik in Ayodhya With Us
We arrange early-morning ghat drops, cabs, hotels near Ram Path and help with the free darshan pass, all month long. We never sell darshan passes. See our Ram Mandir tour package, our Ayodhya cab service, or the Ayodhya–Prayagraj–Varanasi tour if you want to add Dev Deepawali.
FAQ: Kartik Maas 2026
When does Kartik Maas 2026 start and end?
In North India (purnimant calendar), Kartik Maas 2026 runs from Tuesday, 27 October to Tuesday, 24 November 2026. In the amant calendar used in Gujarat, Maharashtra and South India, it starts on 10 November and ends at Kartik Amavasya in early December.
Kartik maas 2026 kab se shuru hai?
Uttar Pradesh aur North India me Kartik maas 27 October 2026 se shuru hokar 24 November 2026, Kartik Purnima tak chalega. Kartik snan 26 October ki subah, Sharad Purnima snan se shuru hota hai.
When does Kartik snan begin in 2026?
Kartik snan traditionally begins on the morning after Sharad Purnima night, on Monday, 26 October 2026, and continues every morning until Kartik Purnima on 24 November 2026.
What is the best time for Kartik snan in Ayodhya?
Before sunrise, ideally in Brahma Muhurat. That is about 4:30–5:15 AM in late October and about 4:45–5:30 AM by late November. Sunrise in Ayodhya is around 6:00–6:20 AM during Kartik.
Which is the best ghat for Kartik snan in Ayodhya?
Ram Ki Paidi is best for families, Naya Ghat is the traditional ghat and one of the main Kartik Purnima bathing points, and Guptar Ghat is calmer for elders.
How do you do deep daan in Kartik Maas?
Light a ghee or sesame-oil diya near the Tulsi every evening, float a leaf-boat diya on the river during the evening aarti, or offer lamps at a temple. Many families also hang an akash deep on the roof for the whole month.
What should not be eaten in Kartik Maas?
Traditionally people avoid non-veg and alcohol, and many avoid onion, garlic, brinjal and some dals such as urad and masoor. These are personal vows, and every family follows them differently.
When is Kartik Purnima 2026?
Kartik Purnima 2026 is on Tuesday, 24 November 2026. It is the biggest snan day of the month in Ayodhya, and also the day of Guru Nanak Jayanti and Dev Deepawali in Varanasi.
When is the 14 Kosi Parikrama in Ayodhya in 2026?
The 14 Kosi Parikrama is on 18–19 November 2026, on Akshaya Navami. The route is about 42–45 km around Ayodhya, and most devotees walk through the night.
When is the Panchkosi Parikrama in Ayodhya in 2026?
The Panchkosi Parikrama is on 20–21 November 2026, around Dev Uthani Ekadashi. It is about 15 km and takes most people 4–6 hours.
Can elderly people do Kartik snan?
Yes, but gently. They can take a quick dip at a calm ghat like Guptar Ghat, pour water from the steps, or bathe at home with warm water and a few drops of Gangajal. Fasting and cold-water baths are not required for the sick or frail.
When does the wedding season start after Kartik?
Weddings start again after Dev Uthani Ekadashi on 20 November 2026, when Lord Vishnu is believed to wake from Chaturmas. Tulsi Vivah is on 21 November.
Planning Kartik snan, Deepotsav or the parikrama in Ayodhya? Tell us your dates and how many people are coming, and we'll suggest the best days and handle the cab, hotel and darshan timing. Send an enquiry and we'll reply on WhatsApp.
Ayodhya-based travel writer and Ministry of Tourism (India) certified guide. 12+ years guiding pilgrims across the Ayodhya–Varanasi–Prayagraj Holy Triangle. Every guide is fact-checked against current temple timings and local transport before publishing.
