Kartik mahina or Karthik month is the 8th month in Marathi calendar followed in Maharashtra and Goa. Kartik month 2012 starts on November 14 and ends on December 13 as per Marathi Kalnirnay.
Kartik Month is the most auspicious Hindu month. Many important festivals are celebrated in Kartik month and the entire month of Kartik is auspicious perform any vrat or puja. It is the favorite month for Lord Vishnu, Goddess Maha Lakshmi and Lord Kartik.
Kartik Sud 1 (Shukla Paksha Pratipada in Karthik Maas) also marks the beginning of Vikram Samvat 2069 year (Krodhi Naam Samvatsar) as per Gujarati calendar.
Bali Pujan (Bali Pratipada) marks the beginning of Marathi Kartik month. Bhai Dooj is the second day of the month. In Maharashtra, most popular Pandharpur Palkhi Yatra is celebrated on Kartik Ekadashi. Tulsi Vivah begins on 24 November and ends on Kartik Purnima (28 November 2012).
Shukla Paksh in Marathi Kartik mahina 2012 begins on 14 November and ends on 28 November.
Krishna Paksh in Marathi Kartik Mahina 2012 starts on 29 November and ends on December 13.
The list of important Marathi festivals in Kartik month 2012:
14 November 2012: Bali Poojan, Bali Pratipada
15 November 2012: Bhai Dooj, Yam Dwitiya
18 November 2012: Pandav Panchami, Sowbhagya Panchami.
21 November 2012: Gopashtami
22 November 2012: Kushmanda Navami (Akshaya Navami)
24 November 2012: Kartik Ekadasi. Pandharpur Yatra. Tulsi Vivah arambh (Tulasi Kalyanam); Prabhodini Ekadashi, Haribhodhini Ekadashi Vratha
25 November 2012: Chamturmasa samapti, Chiluku Dwadashi, Ksheerabdi Dwadashi.
26 November 2012: Vaikunta Chaturdasi upvaasam
27 November 2012: Vaikunta Chauturdasi
28 November 2012: Tripurari Pournima, Kartika Purnima
28 November 2012: Tulsi Vivah ends
1 December 2012: Sankashti Chaturthi
9 December 2012: Utpatti Ekadasi
11 December 2012: Pradosh
13 December 2012: Amavasya