Kartik Puja 2012 date is 9 November. Kartik, also called Skanda and in the south Subramanya, was the god of war. Different accounts are given of his origin. He is usually said to be the son of lord Shiva without the intervention of a woman. Kartik was born for the purpose of destroying Taraka, a Daitya whose austerities had made him formidable to the gods. He is represented as riding on a peacock, with a bow in one hand and an arrow in the other.
A clay image of this god is worshipped on the first day of Kartik Puja at night, once at every watch; and on the following day it is thrown into the river. No bloody sacrifices are offered. Married persons desirous of offspring are among the principal worshippers of Kartik, whose power is believed to be unlimited in conferring that boon. The beauty of Kartik is quite proverbial among the Hindus.