Kartik Snan

Taking a holy dip in the Ganga River on the first day of Karthik masa is celebrated as Karthik snan; this celebration is a month-long event where devotees try and take a holy dip at Ganges to cleanse their karma. All of Karthik masa is auspicious for this holy dip. Karthik Snan commences this year on October 20 and ends on November 19, 2021. Holy dip at Ganges at Prayag and in the ‘Badarikashrama’ in the Himalayas especially on Kartik Purnima is believed to lead us to salvation.

Kartik Snan 2023

Significance

This holy dip at noble rivers that are said to descend from Heaven is the highlight of Karthik masa. This snan is highly revered in scriptures and Puranas like Padma Purana, Skanda Purana and Naarad Purana. Karthik Snan can be broken into: Karthik- the month of Karthik, Snan means to shower. On this auspicious month, devotees perform this ritualistic bath in Holy Ganges. Taking a snan in the Kartik month is equivalent to taking 1000 Ganga Snans and over 100 Magha Snans. There is a popular belief that holy dip in the month of Kartik and offering donations and following holy rituals one can get freedom from accumulated sins. Karthik masa is also an ideal month to obtain spiritual grace.

Rituals

Devotees gather at the riverbanks before sunrise and commence taking a bath when the sun rises. People perform Sankalp and offer prayers to the divine waters of Ganga. Both men, women and children perform this sacred holy dip. As part of the rituals of Karthik month, Shiv pooja, havan and jal pooja are also performed. Six different ‘Kritikas’ are worshipped on this night of holy dip, that includes Shiva, Sambhuti, Santati, Preeti, Kshama and Anusuya. After the completion of pooja and worship, a buffalo is also donated to a Brahmin priest on this day. Performing Shiva pooja and donation is believed to take us to ‘Shivaloka’ after mortal death.

Devotees also worship Lord Satyanarayana, the Supreme Preserver on this day and organize Sathyanarayana pooja. Donating lamps, ghee and oil on Kartik Snan is considered to be highly rewarding. Lighting lamps in the temples of Lord Shiva, Surya Bhagwan, and Chandra Bhagwan is believed to ease the relationships and bring light into life. Offering lamps is equivalent to performing an Ashwamegha Yagya.

Mantra

Om Namo Gangayai Vishwarupini Narayani Namo Namah
Gange Ch Yamune Chav Godavari Saraswati.
Narmade Sindhu Kaveri Jale Asmin Sannidhim Kuru.
Ganga Vari Manohari Murariacharanchayut.
Tripurarishiraschari Papahari Punatu Ma.
Ganga Gangeti Yo Bruyat, Yozhanam Shatarapi. Muchyte sarvapapebhyo, Vishnuloke se gachti

This is the mantra to chant while taking a dip in the holy river

Benefits

Kartik Snan festival dates between 2019 & 2029

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