Karthika Somavaram 2026 in Australia: Four Monday Dates, Vratam Vidhi and Sunset Times by City

Quick answer: Karthika Somavaram 2026 Australia dates are Monday 16 November, Monday 23 November, Monday 30 November and Monday 7 December 2026. The last Monday, 7 December, is also Masik Shivaratri, so it is a doubly auspicious day for Shiva devotees.

Karthika Masam 2026 in Australia runs from Tuesday 10 November to Wednesday 9 December (end of Amavasya), according to Drik Panchang. The dates are the same in all major Australian cities. Times in this guide are local time for each city.

Karthika Somavaram 2026 Australia: the four Mondays

Source: Drik Panchang for Australia. Monday 9 November is not a Karthika Somavaram in Australia, because the month begins on Tuesday 10 November. This is different from the UK, USA and Canada, where the month begins on Monday 9 November.

Other Karthika dates in Australia

For Purnima times in each city, see our Karthika Masam 2026 Australia city-by-city guide.

Why Karthika Mondays are special

Monday (Somavaram) is the day of Shiva, and the Moon (Soma) is said to have been healed by worshipping him. Karthika is regarded as Shiva's most beloved month, especially in the Telugu states and South India. So a Monday in Karthika is believed to bring many times the merit of an ordinary Monday. Devotees fast, offer abhishekam, light lamps and chant "Om Namah Shivaya".

Many Telugu families keep the Karthika Somavaram as a nakta vratam: they fast during the day and eat once after sunset. Others fast fully, or take only fruit and milk. All these forms are traditional.

Somavaram vratam vidhi at home

• Morning: wake early, bathe, wear clean clothes and clean the puja place. Take a sankalpa (a short resolution) to keep the vratam for Shiva.
• Lamp: light a ghee or sesame-oil lamp. Lamps are central to Karthika Masam.
• Abhishekam: pour water slowly over a Shiva linga while chanting "Om Namah Shivaya". You may follow with milk, curd, honey and ghee, and finish with water.
• Bilva: offer bilva leaves, traditionally in sets of three, with white flowers, vibhuti and sandal paste. If you cannot find bilva leaves, offer any clean flowers or leaves with devotion.
• Prayers: chant "Om Namah Shivaya" 108 times, or recite the Shiva Panchakshara Stotram or another prayer you know.
• Evening: light the lamp again at dusk, offer a simple naivedyam such as fruit, and do aarti. Then break the fast.

A priest is not required. A sincere lamp, a little water and the Panchakshari mantra are a complete offering.

Breaking the fast: sunset times on Monday 23 November

The table shows Drik Panchang sunset times on Monday 23 November, the second Somavaram. In late spring the sunset moves a little later each week, so on 16 November it is a few minutes earlier, and on 30 November and 7 December a few minutes later. All times are local.

Australia is in late spring, so sunsets are late, especially in the south. In Melbourne and Hobart the sun sets after 8 PM. A full fast until sunset is therefore a long one. A fruit-and-milk fast is a sensible choice for many people.

Masik Shivaratri on Monday 7 December

In Australia, Masik Shivaratri and the last Karthika Somavaram fall on the same day, Monday 7 December 2026. Devotees often keep the Monday fast, do an evening abhishekam, and, if they can, a short puja late at night, which is the traditional Shivaratri time. For more on this day, see Karthika Masa Shivaratri 2026.

Tips for a working Monday in Australia

• Do a short abhishekam before work, even ten minutes, and the main lamp and aarti in the evening.
• Carry fruit, nuts or milk to work if you keep a partial fast. Drink water through the day, especially on hot days.
• If your temple holds a Somavaram abhishekam in the evening, check its website for the time.
• Families in different cities can join a short video-call aarti at sunset. Remember that Perth and Brisbane do not use daylight saving, so their clocks differ from Sydney's.
• Do not use India's times. India is several hours behind Australia, and local dates can differ.

For a list of Shiva temples, see Shiva temples for Karthika Masam 2026 in Australia.

Health note

A long fast is not suitable for everyone. Elders, diabetics, people with heart, kidney or blood-pressure conditions, pregnant or nursing women, children and anyone on regular medicine should consult a doctor first and keep a gentle fast. In summer heat, drink enough water. Shiva is pleased by devotion, not by harm to the body.

Frequently asked questions

What are the Karthika Somavaram 2026 dates in Australia?

Drik Panchang gives four Karthika Somavarams in Australia: Monday 16 November, Monday 23 November, Monday 30 November and Monday 7 December 2026. Karthika Masam begins on Tuesday 10 November, so Monday 9 November is not a Somavaram in Australia.

Is Masik Shivaratri on a Somavaram in Australia this year?

Yes. Drik Panchang lists Masik Shivaratri in Australia on Monday 7 December 2026, the fourth and last Karthika Somavaram. Many devotees consider this a doubly auspicious day.

When should I break the Somavaram fast in Australia?

Many families break the fast after sunset with a simple meal. On Monday 23 November the sunset is 7:43 PM in Sydney, 8:17 PM in Melbourne, 6:22 PM in Brisbane and 7:00 PM in Perth (local time). Check your own city for the other Mondays.

Are the dates the same in every Australian city?

Yes. Drik Panchang gives the same Karthika dates for all the Australian cities in our table. Only the clock times, such as sunset, differ between cities.

Should I use India's times for the Somavaram in Australia?

No. Use local Australian dates and times. India's times do not apply in Australia, and some festival dates differ by a day.

Is a full fast necessary?

No. A fruit-and-milk fast, or one simple meal after sunset, is a traditional and complete observance. Elders, diabetics, pregnant women, children and anyone on medicine should consult a doctor and keep a gentle fast.

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 Somavaram dates, festival dates and sunset times are from Drik Panchang for Australia and are shown in local time. We have not listed temple timings or events; please check your temple directly. The fasting advice is general and is not medical advice.

Related guides

• Karthika Masam 2026
• Karthika Masam 2026 in Australia, city by city
• Karthika Somavaram 2026
• Shiva temples for Karthika Masam 2026 in Australia
• Karthika Masa Shivaratri 2026
• Karthika Masam rules 2026