Champa Shashti 2026: Date (15 December), Khandoba of Jejuri, the Six-Day Festival and Kukke Subramanya

Quick answer: Champa Shashti 2026 falls on Tuesday 15 December 2026 (calculated: Shashthi tithi at sunrise in India; confirm on Drik Panchang). It is the great day of Khandoba, the form of Shiva worshipped at Jejuri in Maharashtra. Khandoba's six-day festival begins on Margashirsha Shukla Pratipada, around 9-10 December 2026, and ends on Champa Shashti. In Karnataka the same day is kept as Subrahmanya Shashti, the major festival at Kukke Subramanya.

This guide has been restored at its original hindutone.com address. The dates are calculated by HinduTone's panchang calculator, which we have checked against Drik Panchang to within a minute or two, but they are labelled 'calculated' and you should confirm them on Drik Panchang for your city.

Champa Shashti 2026 date

Source: HinduTone calculator, validated against Drik Panchang (New Delhi). The Shashthi tithi is calculated to be current at sunrise on 15 December and to end late that evening, India time. We do not list muhurat clock times. Outside India, check Drik Panchang for your city, because the date can shift by a day.

Who is Khandoba?

Khandoba is a form of Shiva, known as Martanda Bhairava, Malhari, Malhar and Mhalsakant. He is pictured as a warrior on horseback, holding a sword, often with his consort Mhalsa riding with him and a dog at his side. His second consort, Banai, comes from the shepherd (Dhangar) community, and songs about her are part of Khandoba's folk tradition.

Khandoba is the kuladevata (family deity) of a very large number of families in Maharashtra and North Karnataka, across many communities: farmers, herders, warriors and priests alike. Many families visit his temple after a wedding or another important life event.

His most famous shrine is at Jejuri, a hill town near Pune. The temple stands on top of the hill, reached by a long flight of steps lined with lamp pillars (deepmals). For current darshan arrangements, check the temple's official website or local announcements.

The Mani-Malla story, as commonly told

The story of Champa Shashti is told in the Malhari Mahatmya and in Marathi folk songs. Details vary between tellings. As commonly told:

Two powerful demon brothers, Mani and Malla, had won great boons and began to torment sages and people on earth. The sages prayed to Shiva for help. Shiva took the fierce form of Martanda Bhairava, the radiant one, and rode out with a great army. The battle lasted six days, from Margashirsha Shukla Pratipada to Shashthi. On the sixth day, Champa Shashti, Martanda Bhairava defeated both demons.

In many tellings, Mani surrendered at the end and asked for a boon to stay near the Lord, and he is remembered at Khandoba's shrines. The six days of the battle are why the festival lasts six days and why its last day is the most important.

The six-day Khandoba festival

Because the battle lasted six days, many households and temples keep a six-day festival, often called Khandoba's navratra. In general terms, the observance includes:

1. Ghatasthapana: On Margashirsha Shukla Pratipada a ghat (pot) is set up and worship of Khandoba begins, much like the start of Navratri.
2. Daily worship: A lamp is kept burning, and Khandoba is offered flowers, bel leaves and turmeric each day.
3. Bhandara: Turmeric powder (bhandara) is offered to the deity and thrown in the air, with the chant 'Yelkot yelkot jai Malhar'.
4. Tali bharne: Many families perform the tali ritual, in which a plate with coconut, betel leaves, turmeric and other items is worshipped and lifted together while chanting Khandoba's name.
5. Naivedya: In many Marathi homes the Champa Shashti offering includes vangyache bharit (roasted brinjal) with bhakri or rodga made of millet. Some families who avoid brinjal during the Chaturmas period eat it again from this day.
6. Gondhal and folk songs: Gondhal, the devotional night performance, and songs by Waghya and Murali devotees are part of Khandoba's tradition.

Customs vary from family to family. If your family has a kuladevata tradition, follow what your elders or family priest advise.

Champa Shashti at Jejuri

Jejuri is the centre of the festival. Large numbers of devotees climb the hill during the six days, and the town is covered in turmeric. Palkhi (palanquin) processions and bhandara are part of the celebration. We do not list event times, routes or crowd arrangements, because these are announced locally each year. If you plan to visit, follow the temple trust's and local administration's announcements, carry water, and expect steep steps and heavy crowds.

Champa Shashti at Kukke Subramanya, Karnataka

In Karnataka the same Margashirsha Shukla Shashthi is kept as Subrahmanya Shashti, also called Champa Shashti. The best-known centre is the Kukke Subramanya temple in Dakshina Kannada district, where Lord Subrahmanya is worshipped as the protector of the nagas (serpents). Champa Shashti is the temple's main annual festival, and a large chariot festival (rathotsava) is part of it. Many devotees also visit Subrahmanya temples across Karnataka on this day.

For festival dates, sevas and darshan arrangements, check the temple's official website. We do not list timings or prices.

How to observe Champa Shashti 2026 at home

1. Bathe early and clean the puja space. Place a picture of Khandoba (or Subrahmanya, if that is your family's custom).
2. Light a ghee lamp and offer turmeric, bel leaves, flowers and a coconut.
3. Offer a simple naivedya, such as bharit and bhakri, or a sweet, according to family custom.
4. Chant 'Om Martandaya Namah', or Khandoba's name with 'Yelkot yelkot jai Malhar'. Subrahmanya devotees may chant 'Om Saravanabhavaya Namah'.
5. If you fast, break the fast according to your family tradition. Anyone with a health condition, pregnant women and older people should keep a light or partial fast, or none, after speaking with their doctor.

For NRI families

• Check your local date: Use Drik Panchang for your city. Do not convert India's times.
• Keep the six days simply: A lamp, a pinch of turmeric and Khandoba's name each evening is enough to keep the tradition alive at home.
• Teach children: The story of the six-day battle with Mani and Malla is easy to tell, and children enjoy the bhandara.
• Temples abroad: Maharashtra mandals and some temples abroad may hold programmes. Check their own websites or notice boards.

Frequently asked questions

When is Champa Shashti 2026?

Champa Shashti 2026 is on Tuesday 15 December 2026. This date is calculated by HinduTone (Shashthi tithi at sunrise in India) and should be confirmed on Drik Panchang. The same day is also observed as Subrahmanya (Skanda) Shashti in Karnataka and other parts of South India.

When does the six-day Khandoba festival begin in 2026?

The six-day Champa Shashti festival of Khandoba begins on Margashirsha Shukla Pratipada, which falls around 9-10 December 2026. Families and temples fix the exact start by their own panchang, so follow your local temple or family priest.

Who is Khandoba?

Khandoba, also called Martanda Bhairava, Malhari and Mhalsakant, is a form of Shiva worshipped widely in Maharashtra and North Karnataka. He is the family deity (kuladevata) of many households. His best-known temple stands on a hill at Jejuri, near Pune.

What is bhandara at Jejuri?

Bhandara is turmeric powder. Devotees offer it to Khandoba and throw it in the air during worship and processions, which is why Jejuri is often called the 'golden' town. Devotees chant 'Yelkot yelkot jai Malhar'.

Is Champa Shashti the same as Skanda Sashti?

No. Champa Shashti (Subrahmanya Shashti) falls in Margashirsha and in 2026 is calculated for 15 December. Skanda Sashti, the Tamil festival ending in Soora Samharam, falls earlier, in the month of Aippasi or Kartika.

Is the date the same outside India?

Not always. Tithis are calculated for each location, so the date abroad can differ by a day. Check Drik Panchang for your own city; do not convert India's times.

Editor's note

Editor's note (6 October 2026): This guide has been restored at its original address after the earlier version was lost. The dates are calculated by HinduTone's panchang calculator and checked against Drik Panchang; please confirm them on Drik Panchang for your city. We have not listed muhurat clock times, darshan times, event schedules or prices. The Mani-Malla story is presented as commonly told, and customs vary between families and regions.

Related guides

• December 2026 Hindu festival calendar
• Subrahmanya Shashti 2026
• Skanda Sashti 2026: Soora Samharam
• Margashirsha Guruvar Vrat 2026 dates
• December 2026 festivals state-wise
• Dussehra 2026 in Maharashtra