Panchangam 25 November 2026 (Wednesday): Margashirsha Begins in North India, Rohini Vrat, Krishna Pratipada and Rohini Nakshatra

Quick answer: Wednesday 25 November 2026 is the first day after Karthika Pournami. Margashirsha begins today in North India (purnimanta calendar), while in the Telugu amanta calendar it is Karthika Krishna Pratipada. Pratipada runs until 4:50 PM, Rohini nakshatra until 8:36 PM, and Jain households keep Rohini Vrat. Sunrise in Hyderabad is 6:27 AM.

After the lamps of last night, today is a gentle turning of the page. The moon begins to wane, the festival crowds thin out, and for many families it is a day to tidy the altar, give away leftover lamps and sweets, and settle back into a steady daily practice.

Today's panchang (Hyderabad, IST)

Source: Drik Panchang day panchang for Hyderabad. Tithi and nakshatra end times are in Indian Standard Time and change at the same instant everywhere in India; sunrise, sunset and moonrise differ by a few minutes from city to city.

Two calendars, one sky: why the month name differs

Hindu lunar months are counted in two ways. In the purnimanta system, common in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and much of North India, a month ends on the full moon. So Kartika ended with yesterday's Purnima, and Margashirsha Krishna Pratipada begins today. In the amanta system of the Telugu states, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujarat, a month ends on the new moon, so today is still Karthika Krishna (Bahula) Pratipada.

The tithi, nakshatra and sky are identical in both; only the month label changes. That is why a North Indian friend may say Margashirsha has begun while your Telugu panchangam still reads Karthika. For a clear explanation and both calendars side by side, see Karthika to Margasira 2026. In the Telugu calendar, Margasira Masam 2026 begins after Karthika Amavasya on 8 December.

Religious significance

Margashirsha carries a well-known scriptural honour. In the Bhagavad Gita (10.35), Krishna lists his divine manifestations and says that among months he is Margashirsha. Vaishnava traditions therefore treat the month as a time for steady devotion, and in Maharashtra and other regions, Thursdays in Margashirsha are dedicated to Lakshmi (in the amanta reckoning these Thursdays begin in December; see Margashirsha Guruvar Vrat 2026 dates).

Today's nakshatra, Rohini, is traditionally associated with Krishna's birth and is regarded as the favourite of the Moon among the twenty-seven stars. Its quality is usually described as steady and nourishing, a fitting mood for the first day after a great festival. Wednesday, meanwhile, is commonly given to Ganesha in South Indian households, and Pratipada, the first tithi, is a natural day for fresh beginnings.

Rohini Vrat is a separate Jain observance and is kept by Jain families according to their own tradition.

Simple puja vidhi

• Clean and reset: remove spent wicks and wilted flowers from last night's lamps, and wipe the lamps for reuse.
• Ganesha first: light a lamp and offer a flower or a blade of durva grass to Ganesha, as you begin a new phase of the month.
• Krishna remembrance (optional): if your family is Vaishnava or follows the North Indian calendar, offer tulasi to Krishna to welcome Margashirsha.
• Evening: a single lamp after the 5:40 PM sunset continues the Karthika lamp habit for Telugu households.

No-materials alternative: sit quietly for five minutes, chant the mantra below and set one intention for the coming fortnight.

Mantra for the day

Om Gaṃ Gaṇapataye Namaḥ

Meaning: "Om, salutations to Ganapati," with gam as Ganesha's seed syllable. It is widely chanted at the start of any undertaking. Chant 11, 21 or 108 times, as an act of attention rather than a bargain for results.

What you can do today

• Clean and store last night's lamps carefully for the rest of Karthika.
• Share leftover prasadam and sweets with neighbours or helpers.
• Check which calendar your family follows, so you know when Margashirsha begins for you.
• Begin a small daily practice for the waning fortnight, such as ten minutes of japa.
• Note the coming dates: Ganadhipa Sankashti on 27 November and the third Karthika Somavaram on 30 November.
• Respect Jain friends observing Rohini Vrat with simple, considerate meal plans if you host them.

With family and children

Today is a good day to explain the two calendars to children with a simple drawing: a circle for the moon's cycle, one line at the full moon and one at the new moon. Ask them which line their grandparents' calendar uses. It turns a confusing topic into a small puzzle and teaches them that differences in custom are not mistakes.

Hindus abroad: sunrise, tithi and nakshatra in your city

If you live outside India, do not convert the Hyderabad times above. The table below gives each city's own local sunrise and sunset, with the tithi and nakshatra prevailing at that local sunrise.

Computed with HinduTone's panchang calculator, validated against Drik Panchang; festival dates abroad can differ by a day, so follow your temple's panchang.

In New York and Toronto, Dwitiya already prevails at local sunrise, while most other cities still have Pratipada. This is a normal effect of time zones, and a good example of why temples abroad publish their own calendars.

Frequently asked questions

Does Margashirsha month begin on 25 November 2026?

Only in the purnimanta calendar used in most of North India, where months end on the full moon. In the amanta calendar of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujarat, Karthika continues until Amavasya on Tuesday 8 December, and Margashirsha (Margasira) begins after that.

Is Karthika Masam over after Karthika Pournami?

Not in the Telugu calendar. Karthika Masam continues through its Krishna (Bahula) paksha until 8 December, including the third and fourth Karthika Somavarams on 30 November and 7 December.

What is Rohini Vrat?

Rohini Vrat is a Jain observance kept on the day the moon is in Rohini nakshatra, mostly by Jain women, with fasting and worship of Bhagwan Vasupujya in many families. Today Rohini prevails until 8:36 PM in Hyderabad.

What is the tithi on 25 November 2026?

Krishna Pratipada at sunrise, ending at 4:50 PM IST, after which Dwitiya begins.

Why is Margashirsha considered special?

In the Bhagavad Gita (10.35), Krishna says that among months he is Margashirsha. For this reason many Vaishnava traditions regard the month as especially suited to devotion.

A closing thought

Festivals lift us up; ordinary days show what remains. As the moon begins to wane, keep one small light of practice burning, and let Margashirsha, or the rest of Karthika, find you steady.

Previous and next day

• Previous day: Panchang Tuesday 24 November 2026
• Next day: Panchang Thursday 26 November 2026
• The month at a glance: November 2026 Hindu festivals: dates, rituals and significance

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

• Karthika to Margasira 2026
• November 2026 vrat and fasting days
• Karthika Masam 2026 calendar day by day
• Margasira Pournami 2026