Karthika Somavaram 2026

Timings — select your city

Muhurta Guidance

Pradosha Kalam — the time just after sunset — is the most auspicious window for Shiva puja on a Karthika Monday. The fast is broken only after the stars are visible.

Take an early-morning bath (Karthika snanam), ideally before sunrise

Fast through the day; break the fast in the evening only after seeing the stars (nakta)

Perform or attend Shiva abhishekam — milk, water and bilva leaves — at home or at a Shiva temple

Light a ghee or oil deepam before Shiva in the evening

Chant Om Namah Shivaya, the Shiva Panchakshari or Rudram

Keep a night vigil (jagarana) if you can

Give sesame (tila danam) or food (anna danam)

If you cannot fast, eat once in the day or only at night — or simply give sesame — and still do the evening puja

Shiva temples across the Telugu states — Srisailam, the Pancharama kshetras, Vemulawada, Kaleshwaram and countless village temples — draw their biggest crowds of the year on Karthika Mondays

Many families keep the full-day upavasam and break it only after spotting the first stars in the evening sky

Women light rows of lamps at temple courtyards and around the tulasi kota on Monday evenings

Temples hold special Rudrabhishekam and laksha-bilvarchana on each Somavaram

Fruits and milk

through the day for those not keeping a full fast

A simple satvik evening meal after the stars appear

no onion or garlic, as the Karthika rules advise

Prasadam from the temple abhishekam

milk, curd rice or pulihora

What are the Karthika Somavaram dates in 2026?

The four Karthika Mondays in 2026 are November 16, 23 and 30, and December 7. Karthika Masam runs from November 10 to December 8, 2026.

How is the Karthika Somavaram fast kept?

The traditional vow is to fast through the day and eat only after the stars appear, with Shiva abhishekam, a lamp and, if possible, a night vigil, along with a gift of sesame or food.

What if I cannot fast on Karthika Monday?

The Karthika Puranam allows simpler options: eat once in the day or only at night, or simply give sesame in charity — and still offer Shiva puja and a lamp in the evening.