Kartika
/ˈkɑːrtɪkə/noun
A Hindu lunar month, generally falling around October–November and associated with major religious observances.
Did you know?Kartika is linked to Kṛttikā, the Pleiades, and its full-moon observances include Kartik Purnima, a major festival celebrated with lamps, pilgrimage, and river rituals.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kert- / *(s)ker-
“A reconstructed root associated with cutting or separating; its connection with Kṛttikā is traditional but not completely certain.”
Vedic Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Kṛttikā
“The Pleiades star cluster, personified as a group of female figures; the name is traditionally connected with “cutters.””
Classical Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Kārttika
“Belonging to Kṛttikā; the lunar month named in relation to the Pleiades.”
Middle Indo-Aryan
Prakrit
Kattia
“A vernacular form of the month-name Kārttika.”
Medieval period
Sanskrit
Kārtika
“The sacred lunar month associated with Kartikeya, Vishnu, Shiva, pilgrimage, fasting, and lamp ceremonies.”
Modern English
English
Kartika
“An English transliteration for the Hindu lunar month, also commonly spelled Kartik or Karthika.”