Quick answer: Wednesday 18 November 2026 is Day 9 of Karthika Masam in India. The tithi is Shukla Navami (began 6:04 AM IST today) for the whole day and night, until 7:05 AM IST on Thu 19 Nov, then Dashami (Drik Panchang, New Delhi). Light the evening deepam at local sunset: 5:40 PM in Hyderabad, 5:39 PM in Chennai and 5:26 PM IST in New Delhi. Today's reading is Karthika Puranam Chapter 9.

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.

Advertisement

Sunrise, sunset and deepam time by city (Day 9)

Light the deepam at sunset in your city. All times below are from Drik Panchang's city pages. Indian cities are for Wednesday 18 November. For cities abroad, the date shown is the local day on which Navami is running at sunrise, and a note is added where the local panchang differs.

  • Hyderabad: sunrise 6:23 AM, sunset 5:40 PM IST
  • Vijayawada: sunrise 6:12 AM, sunset 5:32 PM IST
  • Bengaluru: sunrise 6:19 AM, sunset 5:50 PM IST
  • Chennai: sunrise 6:09 AM, sunset 5:39 PM IST
  • New Delhi: sunrise 6:46 AM, sunset 5:26 PM IST
  • Mumbai: sunrise 6:47 AM, sunset 6:00 PM IST
  • New York: sunrise 6:46 AM, sunset 4:36 PM EST (Wed 18 Nov)
  • Dallas: sunrise 7:00 AM, sunset 5:24 PM CST (Wed 18 Nov)
  • San Jose: sunrise 6:50 AM, sunset 4:55 PM PST (Wed 18 Nov)
  • London: sunrise 7:23 AM, sunset 4:07 PM GMT (Wed 18 Nov)
  • Toronto: sunrise 7:16 AM, sunset 4:49 PM EST (Wed 18 Nov)
  • Dubai: sunrise 6:38 AM, sunset 5:31 PM GST (Wed 18 Nov)
  • Sydney: sunrise 5:42 AM, sunset 7:39 PM AEDT (Wed 18 Nov). Ashtami is at sunrise here on Wed 18 Nov; Navami is at sunrise on Thu 19 Nov. Check your city's panchang
Advertisement

For other cities, check your city's panchang. Country guides: USA, UK, Canada, UAE, Australia.

Today's tithi and nakshatra

  • Tithi: Shukla Navami (began 6:04 AM IST today) for the whole day and night, until 7:05 AM IST on Thu 19 Nov, then Dashami.
  • Nakshatra: Shatabhisha until 6:10 AM IST on Thu 19 Nov, then Purva Bhadrapada (until 6:56 AM IST on Fri 20 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 Navami ends in your time zone:

  • New York and Toronto: Navami ends 8:35 PM EST on Wed 18 Nov
  • Dallas: 7:35 PM CST on Wed 18 Nov
  • San Jose: 5:35 PM PST on Wed 18 Nov
  • London: 1:35 AM GMT on Thu 19 Nov
  • Dubai: 5:35 AM GST on Thu 19 Nov
  • Sydney: 12:35 PM AEDT on Thu 19 Nov
Advertisement

Festival of the day: Akshaya Navami (Amla Navami)

Drik Panchang lists Akshaya Navami, Jagaddhatri Puja and Satya Yuga Diwas on Wednesday 18 November 2026 for New Delhi. Families worship the amla (Indian gooseberry) tree and give charity. See our Akshaya Navami 2026 guide.

Today's Karthika Puranam reading: Chapter 9

On Day 9, the reading is Chapter 9 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 9 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.
Advertisement

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 Wednesday 18 November 2026?

According to Drik Panchang for New Delhi, the tithi is Shukla Navami (began 6:04 AM IST today) for the whole day and night, until 7:05 AM IST on Thu 19 Nov, then Dashami. The nakshatra is Shatabhisha until 6:10 AM IST on Thu 19 Nov, then Purva Bhadrapada (until 6:56 AM IST on Fri 20 Nov).

What time should I light the Karthika deepam on 18 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 5:26 PM IST (Drik Panchang). Other cities are listed on this page.

Which Karthika Puranam chapter is read on Day 9?

Chapter 9. Many families read one chapter a day for the 30 days of Karthika Masam.

Is Day 9 on the same date in the USA, UK and Australia?

Not everywhere. On Drik Panchang, in Sydney the tithi at sunrise on 18 November is different (see the city list). Check your city's panchang.

Which mantra can I chant on Day 9?

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