Panchangam 19 December 2026, Saturday: Shukla Dashami, Revati Nakshatra and the Eve of Vaikuntha Ekadashi

Quick answer: Saturday 19 December 2026 is Margashirsha Shukla Dashami, the eve of Vaikuntha (Mukkoti) Ekadashi. Drik Panchang for Hyderabad gives Dashami until 10:09 PM IST, after which Ekadashi begins, and Revati nakshatra until 3:58 PM. No festival is listed today, but for Vishnu devotees it is a day of preparation.

A Saturday Dashami before Vaikuntha Ekadashi makes for a natural sequence: Saturday prayers to Lord Venkateswara, a light meal, an early night, and then the most important Ekadashi of the year at dawn. Today is about getting ready in body and mind.

Today's Panchang (Hyderabad)

Source: Drik Panchang day panchang for Hyderabad, Telangana (IST). Tithi and nakshatra end times are the same instant everywhere in India; sunrise, sunset and moonrise shift by a few minutes from city to city.

Religious significance

Dashami is the day before every Ekadashi, and many fasting traditions treat it as the first step of the vrat: a single meal, simple food, no overeating, and an intention for the next day. On the eve of Vaikuntha Ekadashi, this preparation carries extra meaning, since the next morning devotees seek darshan through the northern gate (Vaikuntha Dwaram) of Vishnu temples.

Saturday is widely kept for Lord Venkateswara in South India. It is also the day of Shani, and many people visit Hanuman or Venkateswara temples on Saturdays. There is no need for fear around Shani: Indian tradition presents him as a teacher of patience and fair dealing. You can read more in our guide to Shani Deva, the cosmic judge of karma.

Revati, the last of the 27 nakshatras, is associated with Pushan, the Vedic deity who protects travellers and finds lost paths. It is a thoughtful star for the many pilgrims who will travel to Tirumala, Srirangam and other Vishnu temples tonight.

Simple Saturday Venkateswara puja

• Bathe and light a lamp before Lord Venkateswara or any form of Vishnu. Sesame oil lamps are customary on Saturdays in many homes.
• Offer Tulasi leaves, flowers and a little sandal paste. Tulasi is optional if you do not have a plant.
• Chant the mantra below, or recite the Venkateswara Suprabhatam or Govinda namalu if you know them.
• Offer naivedyam of fruit, jaggery or a simple sweet.
• Read the fourth Tiruppavai pasuram of Dhanurmasam if you are following the month.
• Before bed, set your intention for the Ekadashi fast and keep the next morning's puja items ready.

No materials? Say "Govinda" slowly, a few times, with folded hands. In Tirumala tradition, the Lord's name is offering enough.

Mantra for the day

Om Namo Venkateshaya

Meaning: "Om, salutations to Venkatesha, Lord of the Venkata hill." It is one of the most familiar prayers among devotees of Tirumala. Chant it as remembrance and surrender rather than as a request with a guaranteed result.

Preparing for Ekadashi

If you plan to keep the Vaikuntha Ekadashi fast, eat a simple lunch today and a very light dinner, or follow your family's Dashami rule. Drink enough water. Decide in advance whether you will keep a nirjala, fruit-and-milk or single-meal fast, and plan your parana (breaking the fast) for Monday 21 December during Dwadashi. Please do not fast strictly if you are unwell, pregnant, elderly or on medication; consult a doctor. For full guidance, see our Vaikuntha Ekadashi 2026 guide for India.

What you can do today

• Visit a Venkateswara or Hanuman temple, or pray at home.
• Arrange transport early if you are going to a temple on Ekadashi morning; expect large crowds.
• Check only TTD's official channels for Tirumala Vaikuntha Dwara darshan updates.
• Clean the puja space and prepare Tulasi, flowers and a lamp for tomorrow's dawn.
• Keep a copy of the Bhagavad Gita ready, since Gita Jayanti also falls tomorrow.
• Give sesame, oil or food to someone in need, a common Saturday charity.

For families and children

Explain to children why tomorrow is special: it is the day, in temple tradition, when the gate to Vaikuntha is opened for devotees. Let them help prepare the puja tray and choose one Gita verse to read together tomorrow. Children should not be asked to fast; they can join by eating simple food and taking part in the prayers.

Hindus abroad: Sat 19 Dec at local sunrise

Outside India, go by your local sunrise, not Indian clock times. The table gives local sunrise and sunset and the tithi and nakshatra at local sunrise, computed with HinduTone's panchang calculator, validated against Drik Panchang; festival dates abroad can differ by a day — follow your temple's panchang.

In New York and Toronto, the nakshatra at sunrise is already Ashwini, but Shukla Dashami prevails at local sunrise everywhere listed. Vaikuntha Ekadashi falls on Sunday 20 December in most countries; confirm with your temple.

Frequently asked questions

When does Ekadashi begin for Vaikuntha Ekadashi 2026?

According to Drik Panchang for Hyderabad, Shukla Dashami ends and Ekadashi begins at 10:09 PM IST on Saturday 19 December 2026. Ekadashi prevails at sunrise on Sunday 20 December, which is why the fast and Vaikuntha Ekadashi are observed on Sunday.

Should I fast on Dashami?

Many Vaishnava families eat a single light, sattvic meal on Dashami and avoid grains in the evening, so that the Ekadashi fast starts gently. This is a custom, not a requirement. Anyone elderly, pregnant or with a medical condition should not feel obliged and should consult a doctor.

Is Vaikuntha Dwara darshan at Tirumala open on 19 December?

Vaikuntha Dwara darshan traditionally begins on Vaikuntha Ekadashi itself. As of 9 October 2026, TTD had not announced the 2026 schedule, tokens or quotas, so please rely only on TTD's official announcements.

Why is Saturday special for Lord Venkateswara?

Saturdays are popularly kept for Venkateswara in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka, and many families fast or visit his temples on Saturdays, especially in the month of Purattasi. It is a strong regional custom.

A closing thought

A good fast starts the evening before, with a light meal and a quiet mind. Rest early tonight, and wake tomorrow ready for Vaikuntha Ekadashi, Gita Jayanti and Mokshada Ekadashi all on one day.

Previous day: Panchang Friday 18 December 2026. Next day: Panchang Sunday 20 December 2026. Whole month: December 2026 Hindu festivals, dates and rituals.

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.

Related guides

• Vaikuntha Ekadashi 2026 (Mukkoti Ekadashi) in India
• Tirumala Vaikuntha Ekadasi 2026: Vaikuntha Dwara darshan
• Why Lord Venkateswara is called the Kaliyuga Daivam
• Gita Jayanti 2026 and Mokshada Ekadashi