Quick answer: Wednesday 9 December 2026 is Margasira Shukla Pratipada, the first day of Margasira Masam in the Telugu calendar. In Hyderabad Pratipada lasts through the day and night (until 08:45 AM on 10 December); Jyeshtha nakshatra runs until 09:00 PM, then Mula. No major festival is listed. Begin the month with a Ganesha prayer.

Karthika's lamps have just been put away, and a new month opens. In the Bhagavad Gita (10.35) Krishna says that among months he is Margashirsha, so the month is held especially dear for Vishnu worship and Gita reading. It also brings the Margasira Lakshmivara Thursdays, Subrahmanya Shashti, Gita Jayanti with Mukkoti Ekadashi, and Datta Jayanti.

Today's panchang (Hyderabad)

ElementToday in Hyderabad (IST)
TithiShukla Pratipada, continues through the night
NakshatraJyeshtha, until 09:00 PM
YogaDhriti, until 08:40 AM
Karana (at sunrise)Kinstughna
Sunrise / Sunset (Hyderabad)06:35 AM / 05:42 PM
Moonrise / Moonset06:49 AM / 05:48 PM
Lunar monthMargashirsha (amanta, Telugu calendar); purnimanta month: Margashirsha
Rahu Kalam and muhurtaNot given here; check a local panchang for your city

Religious significance

Shukla Pratipada is the first step of the waxing moon, a natural symbol of beginnings. Wednesday is widely associated with Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles who is worshipped before any new undertaking. Together they make today a good day to set an intention for the month: a daily reading, a Thursday vratam, or simply an earlier start to the morning.

Jyeshtha nakshatra is presided over by Indra in the traditional nakshatra list. Its name means 'the eldest', and a pleasant way to honour it is to seek the blessing of an elder in the family today.

In parts of Andhra Pradesh the morning of Margasira Padyami is also kept as Poli Padyami, when some families float small lamps on water before dawn as a farewell to Karthika. It is a regional custom; follow your family's practice.

Simple puja for the first day of the month

  1. Bathe, light a lamp and incense, and offer flowers or durva grass to Ganesha.
  2. Offer a sweet such as jaggery, modak or a banana as naivedya.
  3. Chant the mantra below, then state your intention for Margasira quietly.
  4. Read a few verses of the Bhagavad Gita, chapter 10 perhaps, in honour of the month.

No materials? Fold your hands, picture Ganesha, chant his mantra eleven times and ask for a smooth month. Essentials are a clean mind and a sincere start; durva and modak are lovely traditional extras.

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Mantra for the day

Oṁ Gaṁ Gaṇapataye Namaḥ

Meaning: 'Om, salutations to Ganapati', with Gam as Ganesha's seed syllable. It is one of the most widely chanted Ganesha mantras and a natural opening for any new beginning.

What you can do today

  • Offer durva grass and a sweet to Ganesha.
  • Choose one Margasira practice and write it down: Gita reading, a Thursday Lakshmi puja or an early-morning prayer.
  • Read Bhagavad Gita 10.35, where Krishna names this month as his own.
  • Set out what you need for tomorrow's first Margasira Lakshmivara puja.
  • Seek the blessing of an elder, in the spirit of Jyeshtha nakshatra.
  • Look west after sunset tomorrow for the first crescent moon.

For families and children

Ask each child to pick one small 'Margasira promise' for the month, such as helping set up the Thursday puja or learning one Gita verse, and write it on a card beside the altar. Little children can place durva on Ganesha's picture.

Hindus abroad: tithi at local sunrise

CountryCityLocal sunriseLocal sunsetTithi at local sunriseNakshatra at local sunrise
USANew York7:06 AM4:30 PMShukla PratipadaJyeshtha
UKLondon7:51 AM3:53 PMShukla PratipadaJyeshtha
CanadaToronto7:37 AM4:42 PMShukla PratipadaJyeshtha
AustraliaSydney5:35 AM7:59 PMKrishna AmavasyaJyeshtha
BrazilSão Paulo5:11 AM6:46 PMShukla PratipadaJyeshtha
UAEDubai6:51 AM5:30 PMShukla PratipadaJyeshtha
SingaporeSingapore6:54 AM6:59 PMKrishna AmavasyaJyeshtha
MalaysiaKuala Lumpur7:05 AM7:05 PMKrishna AmavasyaJyeshtha
GermanyFrankfurt8:09 AM4:25 PMShukla PratipadaJyeshtha
South AfricaDurban4:46 AM6:50 PMShukla PratipadaJyeshtha
EuropeAmsterdam8:35 AM4:29 PMShukla PratipadaJyeshtha

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.

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Frequently asked questions

Does Margasira Masam start on 9 December 2026?

Yes, in the amanta calendar used in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Maharashtra. Amavasya ends at 06:21 AM, before sunrise, so Shukla Pratipada and the new month begin with Wednesday's sunrise.

Why does Pratipada last until the next day?

Tithis are not tied to the civil day. Today's Pratipada runs through the whole night and ends at 08:45 AM on Thursday 10 December, so Pratipada prevails at sunrise on both days.

Is there a festival today?

Drik Panchang lists no major festival for Hyderabad. It is an ordinary day, but the first day of a sacred month is a natural time for a fresh resolution and a Ganesha prayer.

Is it Pratipada abroad today?

In New York, London, Toronto and Frankfurt, Shukla Pratipada prevails at local sunrise. In Sydney, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur it is still Amavasya at sunrise, so the new month begins a day later there by sunrise reckoning.

A closing thought

A month dedicated to Krishna begins with a prayer to Ganesha. Start small and steady; the waxing moon will grow with your practice.

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.