Telugu Festival
కార్తీక మాసం
Karthika Masam
The most sacred Telugu month — 30 days of lamps, fasting and Shiva worship
2026 Date
Tuesday, November 3, 2026
ఆశ్వయుజం బహుళ undefined, పరాభవ నామ సంవత్సరం
Panchangam for Karthika Masam 2026
📍 Hyderabad, IST · November 3, 2026
Tithi
Krishna Paksha undefined
బహుళ undefined
Vara
Tuesday
మంగళవారం
Nakshatra
Yoga
Karana
Timings (Hyderabad IST)
Rahu Kalam
2:52 pm – 4:18 pm
Gulika Kalam
7:41 am – 9:07 am
Yamagandam
9:07 am – 10:33 am
Abhijit Muhurtham
11:36 am – 12:24 pm
Sunrise / Sunset
6:15 am / 5:44 pm
Muhurta Guidance
Karthika Pournami (full moon) evening is the peak sacred moment of the entire month. Lighting 100 lamps or 1008 lamps at a Shiva or Vishnu temple during the evening of Pournami is considered equivalent to the merit of a major pilgrimage.
Significance — ప్రాధాన్యత
Karthika Masam is considered the holiest month in the Telugu Hindu calendar — a 30-day period of heightened spiritual practice, daily lamp-lighting, and Shiva worship. In 2026, the month begins on November 3 (Kartika Pournami) and runs through December 2. While the entire country observes Diwali, Telugu families uniquely extend the Karthika lamp tradition throughout this entire month.
According to the Skanda Purana, Lord Vishnu sleeps during Chaturmas (the four-month monsoon period) and awakens on Devutthana Ekadashi. Karthika Masam falls in the final weeks of Chaturmas and the first weeks after Vishnu's awakening — making the entire month especially charged with divine energy. Bathing in rivers before sunrise during Karthika is said to wash away all accumulated sins.
Karthika is also supremely sacred to Lord Shiva — it is the month of his birth star (Krittika). Mondays of Karthika (Karthika Somavaralu) are observed as strict fast days for Shiva devotees across Andhra and Telangana, with special Abhishekam at every Shiva temple.
Rituals — పూజా విధానం
Light a deepam (oil lamp) every day of the month at home — ideally at dusk and before sunrise
Take a pre-dawn bath (Karthika Snanam) in a river, tank, or at home before sunrise every day
Fast on Karthika Mondays (Somavaralu) — observed by Shiva devotees
Visit Shiva temples on every Monday and on Pournami for Bilva Archana
Offer lotus flowers, bilva leaves, and deepams at Shiva temples throughout the month
On Karthika Pournami: bathe in a sacred river if accessible (Pushkaras, Krishna, Godavari)
Read or listen to Karthika Puranam (Skanda Purana sections) on Pournami
Observe Pradosh Vrat on the 13th and 28th — especially powerful in Karthika
Telugu Traditions — తెలుగు సంప్రదాయాలు
Nalugu Deepalu (Four Lamps) — four lamps placed at the four corners of the home courtyard every evening throughout Karthika
Akasha Deepam — a tall bamboo pole with a lamp at the top, lit every evening and visible from a distance, is a Karthika tradition in rural Andhra
Vana Bhojanam — families picnic under trees (traditionally under Amla/Usiri trees which are sacred in Karthika) and eat freshly cooked food in nature
Usiri Ekadashi — special Karthika Ekadashi (Devutthana / Utthana Ekadashi) on which Amla (gooseberry) is offered to Vishnu and eaten as prasadam
Karthika Pournami Deepotsavam — major temples conduct floating lamp festivals (deepotsavam) on rivers and tanks; Srisailam's Karthika festival is renowned
In Telangana, Karthika Somavaralu (Mondays) draw massive crowds to Shiva temples; devotees often walk barefoot
Traditional Foods — పండుగ వంటలు
Usiri (Amla / Indian Gooseberry)
eaten raw, pickled, or in dal throughout Karthika
Atukulu Payasam (flattened rice kheer)
offering made on Utthana Ekadashi
Vada Pappu (raw lentil snack)
traditional Karthika fasting food
Coconut rice (Kobbari Annam)
prepared on Pournami as prasadam
Vana Bhojanam spread
tamarind rice, curd rice, coconut chutney eaten under trees
Related Festivals
2026 Telugu Calendar
All festivals, Ekadashis, Pournami and auspicious dates