Quick answer: Tuesday 8 December 2026 is Karthika Amavasya, listed by Drik Panchang as Darsha Amavasya and Margashirsha Amavasya. In Hyderabad Amavasya prevails at sunrise (06:34 AM) and lasts until 06:21 AM on 9 December. It is the last day of Karthika Masam in the Telugu calendar: a day for ancestor remembrance, a final Karthika lamp, and Tuesday prayer to Hanuman or Durga.

After a month of dawn baths, Monday fasts and evening lamps, Karthika closes tonight under a moonless sky. Amavasya is traditionally a quiet, inward day, given to remembering those who came before us and to resting the mind. There is no moonrise in Hyderabad today, which suits the mood: the light comes from the lamps we light ourselves.

Our detailed guide, Karthika Amavasya 2026: significance, deepa daanam and pitru remembrance, covers the rituals in depth. For what follows, see Karthika to Margasira 2026: what comes after Karthika Masam.

Today's panchang (Hyderabad)

ElementToday in Hyderabad (IST)
TithiKrishna Amavasya, until 06:21 AM, 9 Dec, then Pratipada
NakshatraAnuradha, until 06:16 PM
YogaSukarma, until 08:07 AM
Karana (at sunrise)Chatushpada
Sunrise / Sunset (Hyderabad)06:34 AM / 05:42 PM
Moonrise / MoonsetNo moonrise on this date / 04:58 PM
Lunar monthKartika (amanta, Telugu calendar); purnimanta month: Margashirsha
Rahu Kalam and muhurtaNot given here; check a local panchang for your city

Because Amavasya ends at 06:21 AM on Wednesday, before Wednesday's sunrise, the next day begins with Shukla Pratipada: the first day of Margasira Masam.

Religious significance

Ancestors. Amavasya is the day traditionally set aside for the pitrus, the ancestors. Darsha Amavasya is the term used for the monthly rites of tarpanam (offering water with sesame) and darsha shraddha. These are performed according to family custom, usually by sons or designated family members with a priest's guidance. Others simply remember their ancestors with a lamp, a prayer and food given in their name.

Closing Karthika. The last day of Karthika is an occasion to complete the month's deepa daanam, the gift of lamps. Many Telugu families make a special point of lighting lamps this evening to close the month's observances, and some keep the Karthika snanam for the final time before dawn.

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Tuesday. Tuesday is widely dedicated to Lord Hanuman and to the Goddess as Durga. Reciting the Hanuman Chalisa or offering a lamp to Durga on a moonless night is a comforting regional practice, especially for anyone who feels unsettled.

Simple rituals at home

  1. Bathe early; if you have kept Karthika snanam, this is the last morning of the month.
  2. Remember your ancestors: light a lamp, offer water with a few sesame seeds facing south if that is your custom, and say their names with gratitude.
  3. Families who perform tarpanam should follow their priest's or elders' guidance on the procedure.
  4. Feed someone in the ancestors' name: a meal, grains to a temple or food to animals and birds.
  5. In the evening, light the closing Karthika lamps at the doorway, near tulasi and at the puja space.
  6. Offer a lamp to Hanuman or Durga and recite the Hanuman Chalisa or the mantra below.

No materials? Sit quietly, think of your parents, grandparents and teachers, and thank them silently. Then light one lamp. That is a complete Amavasya remembrance; formal tarpanam is for those whose family tradition calls for it.

Mantra for the day

Oṁ Hanumate Namaḥ

Meaning: 'Salutations to Hanuman'. A simple, widely used name-mantra for Hanuman, suited to a Tuesday. Chant it 108 times with the evening lamp. For a longer practice, see our Hanuman mantras for daily chanting.

Vrat guidance

Some families keep a light fast or eat only once on Amavasya, and many avoid elaborate cooking or celebrations. These are customs, not obligations. Elders, pregnant women and anyone with a health condition should eat normally and consult a doctor before fasting.

What you can do today

  • Remember your ancestors with a lamp and a prayer, or perform tarpanam if your family does.
  • Give food in their name to a person in need, a temple kitchen or animals.
  • Light the final Karthika deepams of 2026 this evening.
  • Recite the Hanuman Chalisa or Om Hanumate Namah.
  • Tidy the puja space to welcome Margasira tomorrow.
  • Plan the first Margasira Lakshmivara puja on Thursday 10 December.

For families and children

Amavasya is a gentle time to share family history. Bring out old photographs and tell children one story about a grandparent or great-grandparent. Then let them light a lamp 'for the family'. It turns an abstract ritual into a living sense of belonging.

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Hindus abroad: tithi at local sunrise

CountryCityLocal sunriseLocal sunsetTithi at local sunriseNakshatra at local sunrise
USANew York7:05 AM4:30 PMKrishna AmavasyaAnuradha
UKLondon7:50 AM3:54 PMKrishna AmavasyaAnuradha
CanadaToronto7:36 AM4:42 PMKrishna AmavasyaAnuradha
AustraliaSydney5:35 AM7:58 PMKrishna ChaturdashiAnuradha
BrazilSão Paulo5:10 AM6:46 PMKrishna AmavasyaAnuradha
UAEDubai6:50 AM5:30 PMKrishna AmavasyaAnuradha
SingaporeSingapore6:53 AM6:59 PMKrishna AmavasyaAnuradha
MalaysiaKuala Lumpur7:05 AM7:04 PMKrishna AmavasyaAnuradha
GermanyFrankfurt8:08 AM4:25 PMKrishna AmavasyaAnuradha
South AfricaDurban4:46 AM6:49 PMKrishna AmavasyaAnuradha
EuropeAmsterdam8:34 AM4:29 PMKrishna AmavasyaAnuradha

Computed with HinduTone's panchang calculator, validated against Drik Panchang; festival dates abroad can differ by a day — follow your temple's panchang. The India clock times on this page are for Hyderabad only and are not converted to other countries.

For North American families there is a dedicated guide: Kartika Amavasya 2026 for USA and Canada Hindus.

Frequently asked questions

Is Amavasya on 8 December 2026?

Yes. In Hyderabad, Amavasya prevails at sunrise on Tuesday 8 December 2026 (Chaturdashi ends at 04:12 AM) and lasts until 06:21 AM on Wednesday 9 December. Drik Panchang lists Darsha Amavasya and Margashirsha Amavasya on this day.

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Why is it called both Karthika Amavasya and Margashirsha Amavasya?

The two calendar systems name months differently. In the amanta calendar of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Maharashtra, this new moon ends Karthika, so it is Karthika Amavasya. In the purnimanta calendar of North India, the month began at the last full moon, so the same day is Margashirsha Amavasya.

What is Darsha Amavasya?

Darsha Amavasya is the name for the new-moon day used for monthly rites to the ancestors, such as tarpanam and darsha shraddha. Families who perform monthly pitru rites do so today, usually guided by a priest.

When does Margasira Masam begin?

In the Telugu and Kannada calendar, Margasira Masam begins on Wednesday 9 December 2026, the day after this Amavasya. The first Margasira Thursday (Lakshmivara) is 10 December.

Is Amavasya on 8 December abroad too?

In most of our listed cities, including New York, London, Toronto and Dubai, Amavasya prevails at sunrise on 8 December. In Sydney, Chaturdashi prevails at sunrise on 8 December and Amavasya at sunrise on 9 December. Follow your temple's panchang for ancestor rites.

A closing thought

Karthika ends in darkness so that we notice our own small lamps. Light one tonight for those who lit the way before you, and step into Margasira tomorrow with gratitude.

Previous and next day

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.