Quick answers for devotees — festival dates, temple yatras, mantras, astrology, and the living wisdom of Sanatana Dharma.

• When is Karthika Masam 2026?+

  In India, Karthika Masam 2026 (Telugu, Kannada and Marathi amanta calendar) runs from Tuesday 10 November to Tuesday 8 December 2026, with four Karthika Somavarams on 16, 23 and 30 November and 7 December. Karthika Pournami falls on Tuesday 24 November 2026 (Drik Panchang). In the USA, Canada and the UK the month begins a day earlier, on Monday 9 November.
• What is Sanatana Dharma?+

  Sanatana Dharma, often called Hinduism, is the eternal way of life rooted in the Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, and Itihasas. It emphasises dharma (righteous living), karma (cause and effect), bhakti (devotion), jnana (knowledge), and moksha (liberation), with practices spanning temple worship, mantras, yoga, meditation, and festivals.
• What are the Char Dham and why is the yatra important?+

  The Char Dham refers to the four sacred pilgrimage sites — Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri — located in the Himalayas of Uttarakhand. The yatra is believed to wash away lifetimes of karma and grant moksha, and is traditionally undertaken between April/May and October each year.
• How do I plan a Tirumala Tirupati darshan?+

  Book darshan slots in advance through the official TTD portal, arrive early to complete the queue, maintain the dress code (traditional attire for gents and ladies), and plan for the Srivari Mettu or Alipiri trek if you wish to walk the hills. HinduTone publishes daily Tirumala updates with crowd, weather, and sevas information.
• What does the Bhagavad Gita teach?+

  The Bhagavad Gita, spoken by Lord Krishna to Arjuna on the Kurukshetra battlefield, teaches that one must perform duty (svadharma) without attachment to the fruits, and that karma yoga, bhakti yoga, and jnana yoga lead to self-realisation and union with the Supreme.
• How accurate is Vedic astrology?+

  Vedic astrology (Jyotisha) is a traditional system based on sidereal planetary positions and the nakshatras. It is widely used for guidance on muhurat (auspicious timings), personality, relationships, and life cycles. HinduTone publishes daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly predictions for all twelve rashis.
• How can NRIs book Tirumala Tirupati darshan from the USA, UK, Canada, Australia or UAE?+

  Book only on TTD's official portal, ttdevasthanams.ap.gov.in, or the TTDevasthanams app. Rs 300 Special Entry Darshan, seva and room quotas open once a month, about three months ahead. TTD has run special arrangements for NRIs and foreign-passport holders at times, so check the portal for the current rules before you plan; HinduTone's Tirumala guide keeps the steps up to date.
• When will Diwali and other Hindu festivals be celebrated in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, UAE and Europe?+

  Hindu festival tithis are calculated by the Indian lunar calendar, so dates can shift by a day in Western time zones. Diwali 2026 falls on Sunday, 8 November — the same date in India, the USA, Canada, the UK, Australia, the UAE, Singapore and Malaysia — while Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj are a day earlier in the USA, UK and Canada (9 and 10 November) than in India (10 and 11 November). HinduTone publishes festival guides with precise local timings for every diaspora region.
• Are there major Hindu temples in the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, UAE and Europe?+

  Yes — the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham in New Jersey, Sri Venkateswara temple in Pittsburgh, BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in London Neasden, Sri Durka temple in Toronto, Sri Venkateswara temple in Sydney Helensburgh, BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi, and dozens of Venkateswara, Shiva and Devi temples across Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Singapore, Malaysia, New Zealand and South Africa. HinduTone publishes a global temple directory with timings and contact details.
• How can NRI families raise children in Sanatana Dharma while living abroad?+

  Build a small daily practice — a home altar, morning sandhya mantras, reading from the Bhagavad Gita or Ramayana, weekly temple visits, and observing the major festivals with family rituals and prasadam. HinduTone curates age-appropriate Hindu stories, mantra audios, parenting tips, and festival activity guides tailored for NRI parents in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, UAE, Europe and beyond.