Karthika Masam begins on Tuesday, November 10, and ends on Tuesday, December 8, giving Telugu families 29 days of observances after Deepavali. The month is associated with Hari-Hara worship, honouring both Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. In Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, the observances often begin at home with a lamp lit at dusk near the tulasi plant, at the entrance or in the puja room. Families may also read or listen to passages from the Karthika Puranam. families mark it with early-morning baths, temple visits, Monday fasts and oil lamps lit at dusk. The four Karthika Somavarams fall on November 16, 23 and 30 and December 7, while Karthika Pournami falls on Tuesday, November 24.
Karthika Masam 2026 Dates And Calendar
| Observance | Date | Traditional Practice |
|---|---|---|
| Karthika Masam begins | Tuesday, November 10 | Families begin the month’s prayers and evening lamp-lighting. |
| Bhagini Hasta Bhojanam | Wednesday, November 11 | Brothers visit their sisters and share a meal served by them. |
| Nagula Chavithi | Friday, November 13 | Families offer prayers to serpent deities for protection and well-being. |
| First Karthika Somavaram | Monday, November 16 | Devotees worship Lord Shiva through prayers, fasting and abhishekam. |
| Ksheerabdi Dwadasi | Saturday, November 21 | Families worship tulasi and observe the ceremonial union of Tulasi and Damodara. |
| Second Karthika Somavaram | Monday, November 23 | Devotees continue Monday prayers and visit Shiva temples. |
| Karthika Pournami | Tuesday, November 24 | Homes and temples mark the full moon with lamps, offerings and vratams. |
| Third Karthika Somavaram | Monday, November 30 | Families observe Monday fasting and Shiva worship according to their customs. |
| Fourth Karthika Somavaram | Monday, December 7 | The final Karthika Monday coincides with Masa Shivaratri in the Hyderabad calendar. |
| Karthika Amavasya | Tuesday, December 8 | The new moon marks the last day of Karthika Masam. |
These dates follow the Hyderabad Telugu panchangam. Tithi-based observances can differ by location and calendar, particularly for families following a local temple calendar outside India.
Karthika Masam 2026 Somavarams And Pournami
Karthika Somavaram is the name given to each Monday in the month. These days are associated with Shiva worship, and many devotees begin with a morning bath and prayers before visiting a temple or performing abhishekam at home. Those who fast follow their household’s practice for when to break it. At dusk, families often light a lamp in the puja room, at the entrance or near the tulasi kota, the raised planter that holds the sacred tulasi plant.
Karthika Pournami is the full-moon observance on November 24. Lighting Karthika Deepam is one of its best-known customs, and devotees also practise deepa danam, the offering of lamps. Some households light a lamp with 365 wicks, one for each day of the year. Families may perform Satyanarayana Vratam or Kedareswara Vratam, while some Shiva temples hold Jwala Thoranam as part of their evening observances.
In parts of Andhra Pradesh, the observances continue into the morning after Karthika Amavasya. On Wednesday, December 9, some families mark Poli Swargam by setting small lit lamps afloat on rivers or tanks, a custom associated with Margasira Padyami.
Karthika Masam 2026 Rudrabhishekam At Home
Rudrabhishekam is the ceremonial bathing of a Shiva lingam while Sri Rudram, which includes Namakam and Chamakam, is chanted. For a home observance, families prepare the puja space and gather water, milk, curd, ghee, honey and sugar, along with bilva leaves, flowers and vibhuti. The offerings are made in the order followed by the household or guided by a purohit. A family observing Karthika Somavaram can also keep the worship simple with Shiva prayers and an evening deepam.
Eka Rudram involves one complete recitation of Sri Rudram during the abhishekam. Ekadasa Rudram involves eleven recitations and takes longer, often with several priests taking part. Both forms centre on the same act of worship, with the number of recitations determining the length of the ceremony.
For families in India and abroad who wish to participate remotely, Karishye has scheduled Rudrabhishekam each evening from November 10 through December 8 at a mutt in Hyderabad. According to the organiser, a purohit will include each registered family’s name and gotra in the sankalpam, the formal statement of intention made before the ritual. The programme concludes with a Rudra Homam on December 8.
