Tulasi Habba or Tulasi puja is observed on Ksheerabdi Dwadashi, which falls during Kartika masam. In 2009, Tulasi Habba date is October 30. In some places, Tulasi Puja is also observed on Uthwana Ekadashi or Kartika Pournami. As per Hindu scriptures and Puranas, Uthwana Dwadashi is the day during which Maha Vishnu awakes from his cosmic sleep. Lord Vishnu continues his Cosmic sleep for four holy months. During this period, Chaturmas Vrata is observed. Chaturmasya vrata starts on Ashada Shukla Ekadashi (Shayana Ekadashi) and ends on Uthwana Ekadasi.

Uthwana Dwadashi marks the Chaturmas vrata samapthi. On this day, devotees break their Ekadashi fast and observe Vishnu Puja. Tulasi Puja or Habba marks the marriage of Lord Vishnu and Goddess Tulasi. During Ksheer Sagar manthan, Tulasi plant was evolved from the Ocean of Milk and married to Lord Vishnu. Since then, on this day Tulasi – Vishnu vivaha is observed.

Tulasi Vivaha is also called as Tulasi Damodara Vivaha or Tulasi Salagrama Vivaha. Uthwana Dwadashi also signifies the beginning of Ksheer sagar mathan (churning of the milky Ocean).

Uthwana Dwadashi is also known as Ksheerabdi Dwadasi, Chilku Dwadasi, Yogishwari Dwadashi or Yogini Dwadasi in other places of India.

Karthika masam or Kartik month is the most auspicious month amongst all 12 Hindu months. According to Hindus, pujas, rituals, other auspicious and prosperous celebrations during Kartik month give them great pleasure and happiness in life because this is the most favorite month for both of the Supreme Gods Lord Vishnu and Shiva. They believe that praying to Lord during Kartik maas fetches them Moksha (salvation).

In 2009, Kartika masam begins on October 19th and ends on November 16th as per Andhra, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujarat calendars. And as per North Indian calendars, Kartik Month has begun on October 5th and ends on November 2nd.

The pujas, all other rituals, rules and code during the month are called as Kartika Masa Vratam. There are certain rules and codes to perform Kartika Masa vrata. The Karthika Purana details the rituals and customs to be performed during the month of Karthik. Various Hindu sacred texts have mentioned the list of basic rituals and customs of Kartika masam.

Kartika Masa Vrata Niyama – Rituals and Rules during Karthika Masam

• Devotees should not eat non vegetarian food for whole month of Karthik. Eating non vegetarian food is considered as Brahma Hathya (Killing Lord Brahma).
• Devotees follow Nakabhukta or Ekabhuktam during the whole month of Kartik. They take meal only once a day. Some people take fruits or milk in the evening time after performing Puja. If devotees are not able to do so, they follow these customs at least on auspicious days like Karthik Somavar, Karthika Pournami etc.
• Devotees take ceremonial or spiritual bath everyday for the whole month.
• Devotees light diya every evening and perform Karthika masa puja.
• Reciting the Kartik Purana during Kartik month is very auspicious. Atleast one chapter of the Karthika Puranam a day is highly meritorious and gives them the result of visiting Chardham temples (Chardham yatra – four prominent temples for Hindus).
• Devotees perform rituals very strictly on most auspicious days of Karthika masam such as Karthika Somavara, Kalashtami, Kushmand Navami, Akshay Navami, Hari Bodhini or Prabodhini Ekadashi, Vaikunth Chaturdashi, Vyasa Puja, Karthika Poornima or Tripura Purnima, Tulasi Vivah (Marriage of Goddess Tulasi).

Kartik month is the most auspicious month for Hindus. Kartik Maas vrat is observed during the month. In 2009, Kartik month starts on October 5 and ends on November 2 as per the North Indian calendar followed in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Haryana, Bihar and Chhattisgarh. As per the Telugu, Kannada, Marathi and Gujarati calendars, Kartik month begins on October 19 and ends on October 16.

 The important & Major Festivals celebrated in Kartik Maas:

• Karwa Chauth – October 8
• Dhanteras 2009 – Dhantriodasi – October 15
• Choti Diwali – October 16 – Naraka Chaturdashi
• Diwali 2009 – Deepavali – October 17
• Diwali Lakshmi Pooja – October 17
• Bhai Dooj 2009 – Bhai Phota – Bhav Bij – October 19
• Chhat Nahai Khai – October 22
• Kharna Chhat Festival – October 23
• Labh Panchami 2009 - Laakheni Panchami or Saubhagya Panchami – October 23
• Chhat Puja 2009 – October 24
• Chhat Sandhya Argh – October 24
• Chhat Suryoday Argh – October 25
• Gopashtami – October 27
• Ekadashi – October 29
• Shani Trayodashi – October 31
• Kartik purnima – November 2

October 2009 is one of the biggest months for Hindus in 2009 in which the biggest festival for Hindus, Diwali, is celebrated along with the holy month Kartik.

Here is the list of important Hindu festivals and auspicious days celebrated in October 2009:

• Padmanabha Dwadashi 2009 – October 1
• Dwidala Vrata arambh (Dwidala vrat begins) – October 1
• Kojagari Purnima – October 3
• Kojagari Lakshmi Puja – October 3
• Sharad Purnima 2009 – October 3 – Ashwin Poornima
• Koumudi Pooja – October 3 – Kaumudi Utsav
• Valmiki Jayanthi – October 4
• Lalitha Devi Yatra – October 5
• Atla Thaddi 2009 – October 7
• Sankashta hara chaturthi – October 7
• Karwa Chauth – October 8
• Chitta Karthe – October 11
• Ekadashi – October 14
• Dhanteras 2009 – Dhantriodasi – October 15
• Dhanvantari Jayanti 2009 – October 16
• Pradosh Pooja – October 16
• Choti Diwali – October 16
• Diwali 2009 – Deepavali – October 17
• Kali Puja 2009 – October 17
• Narak Chaturdashi – October 17
• Tula Sankraman – Tula Sankranthi – October 17
• Pitru Tarpanam – October 17
• Dhana Lakshmi Pooja – October 18
• Govardhan Puja 2009 – October 18
• Kedareshwara Vrata – October 18
• Ashwayuja Amavasya – October 18
• Vikram New Year 2066 – October 18
• Akasha deepa arambh – October 18
• Bhai Dooj 2009 – Bhai Phota – Bhav Bij – October 19
• Yama Dwitiya – October 19
• Bali Puja – October 19
• Bhagini Hastha bhojanam – October 19
• Dhanvantari Dwitiya – October 20
• Trilochana Gauri Vrata – October 21
• Nagula Chavithi 2009 – October 22
• Chhat Nahai Khai – October 22
• Kharna Chhat Festival – October 23
• Nagula Panchami – October 23
• Swathi Karthe – October 23
• Chhat Puja 2009 – October 24
• Chhat Sandhya Argh – October 24
• Chhat Suryoday Argh – October 25
• Bhanu Saptami – October 25
• Goshtashtami – October 26
• Karthaveeryarjuna Jayanthi – October 26
• Krutha Yugadi – October 27
• Yagnavalkya Jayanthi – October 27
• Ekadashi – October 29
• Ksheerabdhi Dwadashi – October 3o
• Chilku Dwadashi – October 30
• Chukkala Dwadashi – October 30
• Yogeeshwara Dwadasi or Yogini Dwadasi – October 30
• Shani Trayodashi – October 31

It is to be noted that as per Telugu, Kannada, Marathi and Gujarati calendars, October 2009 begins on Ashwayuj Shukla Dwadashi and ends on Karthik Shukla Trayodashi. As per North Indian calendars, October 2009 starts on Ashwin Shukla Dwadasi and ends on Kartik Shukla Triodasi.