Quick answer: Tuesday 17 November 2026 is Day 8 of Karthika Masam in India. The tithi is Shukla Ashtami (began 4:19 AM IST today) until 6:04 AM IST on Wed 18 Nov, then Navami (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 8.

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 8)

Light the deepam at sunset in your city. All times below are from Drik Panchang's city pages. Indian cities are for Tuesday 17 November. For cities abroad, the date shown is the local day on which Ashtami is running at sunrise, and a note is added where the local panchang differs.

  • Hyderabad: sunrise 6:22 AM, sunset 5:40 PM IST
  • Vijayawada: sunrise 6:12 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 6:45 AM, sunset 5:27 PM IST
  • Mumbai: sunrise 6:47 AM, sunset 6:00 PM IST
  • New York: sunrise 6:45 AM, sunset 4:36 PM EST (Tue 17 Nov)
  • Dallas: sunrise 6:59 AM, sunset 5:25 PM CST (Tue 17 Nov)
  • San Jose: sunrise 6:49 AM, sunset 4:56 PM PST (Tue 17 Nov)
  • London: sunrise 7:22 AM, sunset 4:09 PM GMT (Tue 17 Nov)
  • Toronto: sunrise 7:14 AM, sunset 4:50 PM EST (Tue 17 Nov)
  • Dubai: sunrise 6:37 AM, sunset 5:31 PM GST (Tue 17 Nov)
  • Sydney: sunrise 5:43 AM, sunset 7:38 PM AEDT (Tue 17 Nov). Saptami is at sunrise here on Tue 17 Nov; Ashtami is at sunrise on Wed 18 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 Ashtami (began 4:19 AM IST today) until 6:04 AM IST on Wed 18 Nov, then Navami.
  • Nakshatra: Dhanishtha until 4:34 AM IST on Wed 18 Nov, then Shatabhisha (until 6:10 AM IST on Thu 19 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 Ashtami ends in your time zone:

  • New York and Toronto: Ashtami ends 7:34 PM EST on Tue 17 Nov
  • Dallas: 6:34 PM CST on Tue 17 Nov
  • San Jose: 4:34 PM PST on Tue 17 Nov
  • London: 12:34 AM GMT on Wed 18 Nov
  • Dubai: 4:34 AM GST on Wed 18 Nov
  • Sydney: 11:34 AM AEDT on Wed 18 Nov
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Festival of the day: Gopashtami

Drik Panchang lists Gopashtami and Masik Durgashtami on Tuesday 17 November 2026 for New Delhi. On Gopashtami, families worship cows and calves in memory of Lord Krishna as a young cowherd. See our Gopashtami 2026 guide.

Drik also marks the start of the Mandala Pooja season (Sabarimala) today.

Today's Karthika Puranam reading: Chapter 8

On Day 8, the reading is Chapter 8 of the Karthika Puranam. Many families read one chapter each day, often after the evening lamp. Read the story in Karthika Puranam: the complete sacred narrative.

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 Chapter 8 of the Karthika Puranam. The complete narrative tells the whole story.
  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 Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya

Meaning: "I bow to Lord Vasudeva (Vishnu), the Supreme." Karthika is dear to both Vishnu and Shiva, so many families chant this along with Om Namah Shivaya.

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 Tuesday 17 November 2026?

According to Drik Panchang for New Delhi, the tithi is Shukla Ashtami (began 4:19 AM IST today) until 6:04 AM IST on Wed 18 Nov, then Navami. The nakshatra is Dhanishtha until 4:34 AM IST on Wed 18 Nov, then Shatabhisha (until 6:10 AM IST on Thu 19 Nov).

What time should I light the Karthika deepam on 17 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 8?

Chapter 8. Many families read one chapter a day for the 30 days of Karthika Masam.

Is Day 8 on the same date in the USA, UK and Australia?

Not everywhere. On Drik Panchang, in Sydney the tithi at sunrise on 17 November is different (see the city list). Check your city's panchang.

Which mantra can I chant on Day 8?

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya. Meaning: I bow to Lord Vasudeva (Vishnu), the Supreme. Karthika is dear to both Vishnu and Shiva, so many families chant this along with Om Namah Shivaya.

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