The Bath in Holy River Ganges during the Month of Kartik – The Damodar Maas.

In the auspicious month of Kartik  also known as “Damodar Maas” of Hindu calendar.  According to Lunar Hindu Calendar “Kartik “ the 9^th month starts with the new moon.

This year it was observed from 29^th October to 28^thNovember. It is believed that even the one who has sinned for ages can live life in a pure way just by having a bath in the holy Ganges and performing few rituals during this month.

In the Hindu mythology, It is believed ,In this month of Kartik, the holiest of all.  Having a bath in the holy Ganges during this month one can be pure again. It is equal to the Kumbh in Prayag which happens after 12 years.

During this Month,One should perform Bathing in Ganges and fasting and should live a chaste life, to achieve purity of his soul.

It is also believed that Reading Gita in this month is also very auspicious. Meditation during this month is also considered holy. It is believed that one should live serene life during this month.

To begin with one must calm himself and must not be vindictive to anyone. Hindus all over India observe this month as a self purifying and soul conquering .

Now a day’s besides Indians, people from foreign land also amalgamate with these Indian Rituals. They also follow these rituals and try to attain peace and purity for them self, during the month of spirituality and rumination.

This year I had the opportunity to have my first Kartik bath, I saw people from all walks of life performing the ritual, reading the Gita and other Hindu scripts at Rishikesh, by the Ganges. They were all lean as Hindus and followed the rituals.

During this month of Kartik where high winters are approaching the land ,bathing in Open River is little difficult for human body.  I observed it was not only the human but even the entire valley turned serene and seemed as if even the birds and the river were meditating simultaneously.

While bathing in the Ganges I felt the warmth of it. Although I was shivering, still a sense of tranquility approached me, which was continuously speaking to me and relieving me of all my past baggage that I was carrying with me. Verses of Epic Gita and different kinds of rituals created symphony to my ears.

Rituals such as the marriage of Goddess Tulsi (Holy Basil Plant) with Idol of Lord Vishnu created beautiful alliance of the Human with its Nature. It was fun to be part of this ceremony.

People carried Ganges water with them to their homes, according to the Hindu Mythology Ganges water is considered to be the remover of all sins and very much sacred, keeping it at one’s home , keeps away all evil eye.

I did Surya Namaskar with my mother on the banks of river Ganges, which is also a holy thing in Hindu Mythology. It was wonderful to experience those moments.

People with vulnerable minds came out fresh and strong after bathing in Ganges. It is believed that if they do so they will surely succeed. It is good to know about human beliefs and its tryst with its surreal Environment. 

I met some people there and I interacted with them and I realized that everyone had come there in search of peace. They said that saints go and pray on the high mountains to attain peace but for them to take bath in the holy Ganges is one such effort to attain their peace.

Peace for all.

Nandini Goel