Panchangam 16 October 2026 (Friday): Skanda Sashti, Akal Bodhon, Bilva Nimantran, Saraswati Avahan and Navratri Day 6 (Maa Katyayani)

Quick answer: Friday 16 October 2026 is Shukla Shashthi: Skanda Sashti for Lord Murugan, Akal Bodhon, Bilva Nimantran and Kalparambha in Drik's listing, Saraswati Avahan, and Navratri Day 6 for Maa Katyayani. In Hyderabad, Shashthi lasts until 05:54 AM IST on 17 October; Jyeshtha ends at 06:47 AM and Mula follows.

The festival gathers speed today. In Bengal, the Goddess is formally invited for Durga Puja; in Tamil and Telugu homes, Murugan is worshipped on his Shashthi; in Kerala and much of the South, books are readied for Saraswati; and across India, Katyayani, the warrior goddess, is honoured. Friday, the Goddess's own day, ties it together. You do not have to do all of it. Pick the thread that belongs to your family and follow it with care.

Today's panchang (Hyderabad)

Source: Drik Panchang for Hyderabad. Mula nakshatra begins at 06:47 AM and lasts until 09:47 AM on 17 October, which is why Saraswati Avahan falls today.

Navratri Day 6: Maa Katyayani

Katyayani, born in the ashram of the sage Katyayana, is the warrior form of the Goddess who, in many tellings, defeats Mahishasura. She rides a lion and holds a sword and a lotus. Honey is a common bhog and green is the Day 6 colour on many lists. For her mantra, dhyana shloka and full steps, see our Navratri 2026 Day 6: Maa Katyayani guide.

Religious significance

Skanda Sashti: Shashthi tithi is sacred to Murugan (Skanda, Kartikeya, Subrahmanya), and many devotees fast and worship him on every bright Shashthi. On a Navratri Friday, the link is lovely: yesterday the Goddess was Skandamata, his mother, and today her son is worshipped. The great annual Skanda Sashti falls next month; see our Skanda Sashti 2026 (Soora Samharam, 15 November) guide.

Durga Puja begins: Akal Bodhon recalls the Bengali telling (Krittivasi Ramayana) in which Rama awakened Durga out of her usual spring season to seek her blessing before battle. Bilva Nimantran invites the Goddess into a bilva tree, and Kalparambha is the formal resolve that begins the puja. Drik's Hyderabad panchang lists these today; Drik's Kolkata calendar places Kalparambha and Akal Bodhon on Saturday 17 October, so follow your pandal. Our Durga Puja 2026 day-by-day guide has the Bengal schedule.

Saraswati Avahan: the invocation of Saraswati, traditionally under Mula nakshatra, begins the Saraswati days that end with Vidyarambham, which Drik lists on Wednesday 21 October. In Kerala this is the season of Pooja Veppu; see Navaratri and Vijayadashami in Kerala. Also today: Vepakayala Bathukamma in Telangana, and Garuda Seva at the Tirumala Navaratri Brahmotsavam (see Tirumala Garuda Seva on 16 October).

Simple puja vidhi for today

1. Light the Navratri lamp and offer a flower and honey to Maa Katyayani with her naam mantra.
2. For Skanda Sashti, offer a red flower or a lamp before Murugan's image and chant his six-syllable mantra below.
3. After Mula begins (06:47 AM in Hyderabad), place a few books, a pen or a musical instrument before Saraswati's picture or the kalash, apply a dot of turmeric and kumkum, and offer a white flower. Many families leave them there until Vijayadashami.
4. Close with aarti and share the prasadam.

Essentials vs optional: lamp, flower and prayer are essential; the bilva rite belongs to the pandal and the priest. No materials? Place one book before a lamp, fold your hands and ask for clear understanding.

Mantra for the day

Om Saravanabhavaya Namah (oṃ śaravaṇabhavāya namaḥ): "Salutations to the one born in the Saravana reed-pond," Murugan's well-known six-syllable mantra. Chant it 108 times on Skanda Sashti as an offering of devotion, not for any promised result.

Vrat guidance

Murugan devotees often fast on Shashthi, taking fruit or one simple meal, and many combine this with their Navratri vrat. Both are optional. Elderly people, pregnant women and anyone with a medical condition should consult a doctor and need not fast.

What you can do today

• Offer honey and a green cloth or flower to Maa Katyayani.
• Chant Om Saravanabhavaya Namah 108 times for Skanda Sashti.
• Set out books and instruments for Saraswati after Mula begins.
• If you belong to a Durga Puja committee, check the pandal's Bodhon and Shashthi schedule.
• Watch or listen to the Tirumala Garuda Seva if you follow the Brahmotsavam.
• Prepare vepakaya (neem-fruit shaped) naivedyam for Bathukamma in Telangana.

With family and children

Let each child choose one book or instrument to place before Saraswati, and promise not to touch it until Vijayadashami, which gives them a little lesson in patience. Tell them Katyayani's story, and how Murugan, the son of Parvati, rides a peacock. Our Navratri stories for kids include Katyayani's tale.

Hindus abroad: today's panchang in your city

These are local clock times for each city, computed with HinduTone's panchang calculator, validated against Drik Panchang; festival dates abroad can differ by a day — follow your temple's panchang. Never add or subtract hours from the Hyderabad times to get your local time.

Today the picture is mixed: most cities have Shashthi at sunrise, but Sydney still has Panchami. Nakshatras also differ, with Mula in the Americas, Europe, the UAE and Africa and Jyeshtha in Singapore, Malaysia and Sydney. Durga Puja committees abroad set their own schedules, often on the nearest weekend.

Frequently asked questions

Is 16 October 2026 Skanda Sashti?

Yes. Drik Panchang for Hyderabad lists Skanda Sashti on Friday 16 October 2026, the monthly Shukla Shashthi for Lord Murugan. It is not the main annual Skanda Sashti (Soora Samharam), which falls on 15 November 2026.

What are Akal Bodhon and Bilva Nimantran?

Akal Bodhon means the "untimely awakening" of Goddess Durga in autumn, linked in Bengali tradition to Rama's worship of Durga before his battle with Ravana. Bilva Nimantran is the ritual invitation to the Goddess in a bilva (bael) tree. Both belong to the opening rites of Durga Puja.

Why does the Kolkata Durga Puja calendar show different dates?

Drik's Hyderabad panchang lists Akal Bodhon and Kalparambha today, while Drik's Kolkata Durga Puja calendar gives Bilva Nimantran on Friday 16 October and Kalparambha, Akal Bodhon and Maha Shashthi on Saturday 17 October. Pandals follow the Bengali panjika, so go by your pandal's schedule.

What is Saraswati Avahan?

Saraswati Avahan is the invocation of Goddess Saraswati during Navratri, traditionally performed when Mula nakshatra prevails. In Hyderabad, Mula begins at 06:47 AM today. Books and instruments are often placed before the Goddess from this point until Vijayadashami.

Which goddess is worshipped on Navratri Day 6?

Maa Katyayani, worshipped on Friday 16 October 2026. In many tellings she is the warrior form who defeats Mahishasura.

A reflection

Katyayani fights, Saraswati teaches, Murugan leads and the Mother is invited home. Today asks us to be brave in what we must face and humble in what we still have to learn.

Editor's note

Editor's note (9 October 2026): Panchang timings and festival observances can vary by location, regional calendar and family tradition. This guide follows Drik Panchang for Hyderabad (IST). Please verify local puja timings with a trusted panchang or priest.

Previous and next day

Previous day: Panchang Thursday 15 October: Upang Lalita Vrat. Next day: Panchang Saturday 17 October: Ashwina Navapada Oli Begins, Navpatrika Puja. Whole month: October 2026 Hindu festival calendar.

Related guides

• Navratri 2026 Day 6: Maa Katyayani
• Durga Puja 2026 dates in Kolkata
• Kartikeya: history, significance and pooja
• Saraswati Puja and Vidyarambham on Vijayadashami
• Saraswati Stuti (Ya Kundendu): lyrics and meaning
• Srivari Navaratri Brahmotsavam 2026 at Tirumala