◉GOKULASBuild a practice ↓
KARTIKA · DAMODARA MONTH

One small flame.
A month of attention.

Kartika is a month-long invitation to deepen remembrance of Krishna through lamps, song, sacred reading, restraint and service.

Meet DamodaraChoose a daily rhythm →
2026 DATE GUIDEOCT 26
— NOV 24Published for ISKCON Bangalore

Confirm the month where you live.

ISKCON Bangalore lists Kartika Deepotsava from Monday, October 26 through Tuesday, November 24, 2026. Vaishnava communities may calculate or describe the Kartika period differently.

Use your temple, teacher or family calendar as the final reference for the dates, vows, Ekadashi observances and closing day.

Official 2026 Deepotsava guide ↗Find a local temple →
THE DAMODARA STORY

Love binds the unbound.

The story is told in the Tenth Canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam. “Damodara” is understood through dama, rope, and udara, belly: Krishna with a rope around his waist.

  1. 01

    A mother’s work

    Mother Yashoda is churning yogurt when child Krishna seeks her attention. Household care and divine play meet in the same courtyard.

  2. 02

    The mischievous child

    When Yashoda turns to protect milk from boiling over, Krishna breaks the butter pot and shares butter with the monkeys.

  3. 03

    The rope is too short

    Yashoda tries to bind Krishna to a wooden mortar, yet each rope remains two fingers short until he allows her loving effort to succeed.

  4. 04

    Mercy beyond the courtyard

    Still tied to the mortar, Krishna passes between two trees and frees Nalakuvara and Manigriva from their tree forms.

Read Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 10, Chapter 9 ↗
THE HEART OF THE MONTH

Devotion made repeatable.

Kartika turns a special moment into a gentle rhythm. A daily practice can train attention without becoming a performance or burden.

01Love

The Damodara story places loving relationship above domination or spectacle.

02Effort

Yashoda’s persistence gives the month its human scale: show up sincerely, then begin again.

03Grace

Practice is not a transaction. It creates space to receive and respond with gratitude.

A DAILY RHYTHM

Five steps, fifteen mindful minutes.

Adapt the sequence to your lineage, household and available time. A sustainable five-minute practice is more useful than an elaborate plan abandoned after three days.

  1. 01DAILY

    Choose a time

    Link the practice to a stable part of your day—early morning, sunset or evening—rather than relying on motivation alone.

  2. 02DAILY

    Light or adapt

    Offer a supervised lamp where safe. An unlit electric lamp, prayer or song is a respectful alternative when flame is unsuitable.

  3. 03DAILY

    Sing or listen

    Sing Damodarashtakam with your community, follow a trusted recording, or begin with one verse and meaning.

  4. 04DAILY

    Hear Krishna-katha

    Read a short passage about Damodara or another Krishna pastime. Consistency matters more than length.

  5. 05DAILY

    Close with seva

    End with one practical intention: kindness, hospitality, careful work, generosity or service to people, animals or the environment.

LAMP SAFETY

Let the light be safe for everyone.

Many devotees offer a ghee lamp while singing Damodarashtakam. Open flame is never required where it creates danger.

STAY PRESENT

Keep a burning lamp within arm’s reach of a responsible adult. Extinguish it fully before leaving or sleeping.

STABLE SURFACE

Use a heat-resistant base away from curtains, paper, clothing, drafts and crowded walkways.

CHILDREN & PETS

Let children participate only with direct supervision. Keep flames, hot oil and matches beyond the reach of children and animals.

FLAME-FREE OPTION

Use a battery lamp, sing, listen, read or offer a flower where smoke, oxygen, housing rules or health needs make flame unsuitable.

A SUSTAINABLE KARTIKA VOW

Choose one practice you can keep.

02

Song

Learn Damodarashtakam gradually—one verse, pronunciation and meaning at a time.

Bhajans & kirtan →
03

Reading

Read one short Krishna passage daily and note a single thought to carry forward.

Sacred library →
04

Food

Prepare and offer one simple vegetarian meal with greater attention and less waste.

Recipes & prasadam →
05

Restraint

Choose a realistic reduction—less distraction, consumption or harsh speech—rather than a medically unsafe restriction.

Devotional life →
06

Service

Set a repeatable act of care for family, community, animals or the environment.

Community →
KEY DAYS IN 2026

Mark the month’s turning points.

These dates follow the published ISKCON Bangalore calendar. Check locally before fasting, traveling or attending a program.

Open the Govardhan guide →
Oct 26

Kartika Deepotsava begins

Begin the month’s daily lamp, song, reading or chosen devotional rhythm.

Nov 5

Ekadashi

Fasting and break-fast guidance depends on location, health and the calendar followed.

Nov 10

Govardhan Puja & Go Puja

Remember Krishna’s protection of Vraja through Annakut, katha, gratitude and responsible care.

Nov 21

Ekadashi observance

ISKCON Bangalore lists a Trisprsa Mahadvadasi observance; verify details locally.

Nov 24

Deepotsava concludes

The published Bangalore calendar marks the last day of Kartika Deepotsava and Chaturmasya.

FASTING & FOOD VOWS

Practice with guidance and health in view.

Not one universal rule

Kartika vows differ among Vaishnava traditions. Some practitioners make no special food restriction; others follow lineage-specific guidance.

Chaturmasya overlap

The Bangalore calendar lists avoidance of urad dal during its fourth Chaturmasya month. This is not a universal Kartika rule; confirm what applies to you.

Health comes first

Children, pregnant or nursing people, older adults, and anyone with diabetes, medication needs, an eating-disorder history or another concern should adapt with appropriate professional guidance.

Choose a non-food vow

Reading, chanting, service, hospitality, reduced waste or a digital-distraction limit can provide a meaningful daily discipline.

KARTIKA WITH CHILDREN

Make repetition warm, brief and participatory.

Children do not need a long ritual to belong. Give them one safe, visible role and let questions be welcome.

STORY IN FOUR SCENES

Use pictures or gestures for churning, the butter pot, the short rope and the two trees.

LIGHT HELPER

A child can place a battery lamp, choose its color or help prepare the safe space while an adult handles flame.

ONE-LINE REFLECTION

Ask: “What act of love or helpfulness can we repeat tomorrow?” Keep answers concrete.

MONTH TRACKER

Mark each day with a small drawn flame, leaf or footprint—without turning missed days into failure.

EXPERIENCE DEEPOTSAVA IN COMMUNITY

Find Kartika programs near you.

Explore 50 temple profiles across 32 countries, then confirm the dates, evening lamp program, accessibility and visitor guidance directly with the temple.

Open the global temple map →