Quick answer: Monday 16 November 2026 is Day 7 of Karthika Masam in India. The tithi is Shukla Saptami (began 2:00 AM IST today) until 4:19 AM IST on Tue 17 Nov, then Ashtami (Drik Panchang, New Delhi). Light the evening deepam at local sunset: 5:40 PM in Hyderabad, 5:39 PM in Chennai and 5:27 PM IST in New Delhi. Today's reading is Karthika Puranam Chapter 7.

Karthika Masam 2026 (amanta) began on Tuesday 10 November in India and a day earlier, on Monday 9 November, in the USA, UK and Canada. Full dates are in our Karthika Masam 2026 guide and the day-by-day calendar.

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Sunrise, sunset and deepam time by city (Day 7)

Light the deepam at sunset in your city. All times below are from Drik Panchang's city pages. Indian cities are for Monday 16 November. For cities abroad, the date shown is the local day on which Saptami is running at sunrise, and a note is added where the local panchang differs.

  • Hyderabad: sunrise 6:21 AM, sunset 5:40 PM IST
  • Vijayawada: sunrise 6:11 AM, sunset 5:33 PM IST
  • Bengaluru: sunrise 6:19 AM, sunset 5:50 PM IST
  • Chennai: sunrise 6:08 AM, sunset 5:39 PM IST
  • New Delhi: sunrise 6:44 AM, sunset 5:27 PM IST
  • Mumbai: sunrise 6:46 AM, sunset 6:00 PM IST
  • New York: sunrise 6:44 AM, sunset 4:37 PM EST (Mon 16 Nov)
  • Dallas: sunrise 6:58 AM, sunset 5:25 PM CST (Mon 16 Nov)
  • San Jose: sunrise 6:48 AM, sunset 4:56 PM PST (Mon 16 Nov)
  • London: sunrise 7:20 AM, sunset 4:10 PM GMT (Mon 16 Nov)
  • Toronto: sunrise 7:13 AM, sunset 4:51 PM EST (Mon 16 Nov)
  • Dubai: sunrise 6:37 AM, sunset 5:31 PM GST (Mon 16 Nov)
  • Sydney: sunrise 5:43 AM, sunset 7:37 PM AEDT (Mon 16 Nov). Shashthi is at sunrise here on Mon 16 Nov; Saptami is at sunrise on Tue 17 Nov. Check your city's panchang
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For other cities, check your city's panchang. Country guides: USA, UK, Canada, UAE, Australia.

Today's tithi and nakshatra

  • Tithi: Shukla Saptami (began 2:00 AM IST today) until 4:19 AM IST on Tue 17 Nov, then Ashtami.
  • Nakshatra: Shravana until 2:17 AM IST on Tue 17 Nov, then Dhanishtha (until 4:34 AM IST on Wed 18 Nov).
  • Paksha and month: Shukla Paksha, Kartika (amanta).

A tithi changes at the same moment everywhere in the world. Only the clock time differs. When Saptami ends in your time zone:

  • New York and Toronto: Saptami ends 5:49 PM EST on Mon 16 Nov
  • Dallas: 4:49 PM CST on Mon 16 Nov
  • San Jose: 2:49 PM PST on Mon 16 Nov
  • London: 10:49 PM GMT on Mon 16 Nov
  • Dubai: 2:49 AM GST on Tue 17 Nov
  • Sydney: 9:49 AM AEDT on Tue 17 Nov
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Festival of the day: First Karthika Somavaram

Monday 16 November 2026 is the first Karthika Somavaram in India, the first Monday of the month. Many devotees fast until evening and offer abhishekam to Lord Shiva. See our First Karthika Somavaram 2026 guide.

In the USA, UK and Canada the month began on Monday 9 November, so today is the second Somavaram there.

Drik also lists Vrishchika Sankranti and Jalaram Jayanti today. Chhath Puja ends this morning with Usha Arghya at sunrise.

Today's Karthika Puranam reading: Chapter 7

On Day 7, read Karthika Puranam Chapter 7. Many families read one chapter each day, often after the evening lamp. For the whole story in one place, see Karthika Puranam: the complete sacred narrative.

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5 things to do today

  1. Early bath: bathe before or around sunrise. Warm water is fine if the morning is cold, especially for elders and children.
  2. Lamp at sunset: light a ghee or sesame-oil deepam at local sunset (see the city list above) at the door, the puja shelf or near Tulasi.
  3. Tulasi puja: offer water and a lamp to the Tulasi plant and walk around it. Our daily Tulasi puja vidhi has the steps.
  4. Read the Puranam: read or listen to Karthika Puranam Chapter 7.
  5. Sattvic food and charity: keep meals simple and vegetarian, and give food, a lamp, oil or clothes to someone in need if you can.
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3 things to avoid today

  • Non-vegetarian food and alcohol, if that is your family tradition for Karthika.
  • Arguments and harsh words: the month is kept for calm, prayer and kindness.
  • Wasting food or skipping the evening lamp: even one small diya at sunset keeps the daily practice going.

Mantra for today

Om Namah Shivaya

Meaning: "I bow to Lord Shiva." This five-syllable (Panchakshari) mantra is the most common chant of Karthika Masam. Chant it 11, 27 or 108 times with the evening lamp.

Chant with devotion and at your own pace. Traditions differ from family to family, so follow your elders or your temple priest where they guide you differently.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the tithi on Monday 16 November 2026?

According to Drik Panchang for New Delhi, the tithi is Shukla Saptami (began 2:00 AM IST today) until 4:19 AM IST on Tue 17 Nov, then Ashtami. The nakshatra is Shravana until 2:17 AM IST on Tue 17 Nov, then Dhanishtha (until 4:34 AM IST on Wed 18 Nov).

What time should I light the Karthika deepam on 16 November 2026?

Light the lamp at local sunset. In Hyderabad sunset is 5:40 PM IST, in Chennai 5:39 PM IST and in New Delhi 5:27 PM IST (Drik Panchang). Other cities are listed on this page.

Which Karthika Puranam chapter is read on Day 7?

Chapter 7. Many families read one chapter a day for the 30 days of Karthika Masam.

Is Day 7 on the same date in the USA, UK and Australia?

Not everywhere. On Drik Panchang, in Sydney the tithi at sunrise on 16 November is different (see the city list). Check your city's panchang.

Which mantra can I chant on Day 7?

Om Namah Shivaya. Meaning: I bow to Lord Shiva. This five-syllable (Panchakshari) mantra is the most common chant of Karthika Masam. Chant it 11, 27 or 108 times with the evening lamp.

Sources

Tithi and nakshatra times are from Drik Panchang (New Delhi). Sunrise and sunset are from Drik Panchang's page for each city, checked on 8 November 2026. Clock times abroad are the same instants converted to local time.

Continue the Karthika journey