Quick answer: Sunday 27 December 2026 is Day 19 of Margasira Masam in India. The tithi is Krishna Chaturthi until 5:12 PM IST, then Panchami (until 2:57 PM IST on Mon 28 Dec) (Drik Panchang, IST). It is Sabarimala Mandala Pooja. Sunrise in Hyderabad is 6:44 AM IST (Drik Panchang); times for 12 more cities are below. It is day 12 of Dhanurmasam: Tiruppavai pasuram 12 by the count from 16 December.

Margasira Masam 2026 (amanta, the Telugu and Kannada reckoning) began on Wednesday 9 December in India, the USA, Canada, the UK and the UAE (Thursday 10 December in Sydney). It ends with Amavasya on Thursday 7 January 2027 (Friday 8 January in Sydney). Full dates, the five Lakshmivara Thursdays and the month's festivals are in our Margasira Masam 2026 guide.

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Sunrise and sunset by city (Day 19)

Margasira and Dhanurmasam worship is done at dawn, and many families light a lamp again at sunset, so both times are given. Hyderabad times are from Drik Panchang's day page. Times marked 'calculated (approx.)' use the standard sunrise equation because Drik Panchang's page for that city and date was not available to us; on the dates we could check they matched Drik within a minute. Every city is for the same calendar date, Sunday 27 December. A tithi begins and ends at the same moment worldwide, so the tithi at local sunrise can differ from India's: it is shown for each city abroad, and for an Indian city where it differs from Hyderabad.

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  • Hyderabad: sunrise 6:44 AM, sunset 5:50 PM IST
  • Vijayawada: sunrise 6:33 AM, sunset 5:42 PM IST, calculated (approx.)
  • Bengaluru: sunrise 6:39 AM, sunset 6:01 PM IST, calculated (approx.)
  • Chennai: sunrise 6:28 AM, sunset 5:50 PM IST, calculated (approx.)
  • New Delhi: sunrise 7:12 AM, sunset 5:31 PM IST, calculated (approx.)
  • Mumbai: sunrise 7:09 AM, sunset 6:08 PM IST, calculated (approx.)
  • New York: sunrise 7:18 AM, sunset 4:34 PM EST, calculated (approx.); Panchami at local sunrise (until 4:27 AM EST on Mon 28 Dec)
  • Dallas: sunrise 7:28 AM, sunset 5:28 PM CST, calculated (approx.); Panchami at local sunrise (until 3:27 AM CST on Mon 28 Dec)
  • San Jose: sunrise 7:20 AM, sunset 4:56 PM PST, calculated (approx.); Panchami at local sunrise (until 1:27 AM PST on Mon 28 Dec)
  • London: sunrise 8:05 AM, sunset 3:56 PM GMT, calculated (approx.); Chaturthi at local sunrise (until 11:42 AM GMT)
  • Toronto: sunrise 7:50 AM, sunset 4:46 PM EST, calculated (approx.); Panchami at local sunrise (until 4:27 AM EST on Mon 28 Dec)
  • Dubai: sunrise 7:02 AM, sunset 5:37 PM GST, calculated (approx.); Chaturthi at local sunrise (until 3:42 PM GST)
  • Sydney: sunrise 5:43 AM, sunset 8:07 PM AEDT, calculated (approx.); Chaturthi at local sunrise (until 10:42 PM AEDT)
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For other cities, check your city's panchang. Dhanurmasam country guides: USA, UK, Canada, Australia. Margasira Thursdays abroad: USA, UK, Canada, Australia.

Today's tithi and nakshatra

  • Tithi: Krishna Chaturthi until 5:12 PM IST, then Panchami (until 2:57 PM IST on Mon 28 Dec).
  • Nakshatra: Ashlesha until 6:04 PM IST, then Magha (until 4:32 PM IST on Mon 28 Dec).
  • Paksha and month: Krishna Paksha (waning moon), Margasira (Margashirsha, amanta). North Indian (purnimanta) calendars call this fortnight Paush Krishna.

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

  • New York and Toronto: Chaturthi ends 6:42 AM EST on Sun 27 Dec
  • Dallas: 5:42 AM CST on Sun 27 Dec
  • San Jose: 3:42 AM PST on Sun 27 Dec
  • London: 11:42 AM GMT on Sun 27 Dec
  • Dubai: 3:42 PM GST on Sun 27 Dec
  • Sydney: 10:42 PM AEDT on Sun 27 Dec
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Festival of the day: Sabarimala Mandala Pooja

Drik Panchang lists Mandala Pooja on Sunday 27 December 2026, the close of the 41-day Mandala season at Sabarimala. The date is worked out from the Malayalam solar calendar; confirm temple timings with the Travancore Devaswom Board before you travel. Devotees keeping the Mandala vratham at home abroad can mark the day with a lamp and the Ayyappa chant. See our Sabarimala Mandala Pooja 2026 guide.

Today's Margasira practice: Tiruppavai pasuram 12

Today is day 12 of Dhanurmasam. By the one-pasuram-a-day count from 16 December used in our Dhanurmasam 2026-27 guide, the dawn recitation is Tiruppavai pasuram 12. Temples that begin on 17 December are one verse behind, at pasuram 11; follow your temple's count. The guide's table gives a short meaning for each verse, and our Tiruppavai 30 pasurams guide has Telugu meanings.

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5 things to do today

  1. Bath before sunrise: bathe before or around sunrise (see the city list above). Warm water is fine on cold mornings, especially for elders and children.
  2. Lamp and muggu: light a lamp in the morning and again at sunset, and draw a muggu (kolam) at the door.
  3. Tiruppavai: sing or listen to pasuram 12 at dawn, or read its meaning in the Dhanurmasam guide.
  4. Read the Gita: read a few verses of the Bhagavad Gita. Our guide suggests reading through the month, especially from Gita Jayanti on 20 December.
  5. Food and warm clothes: give food or warm clothing to someone in need during the cold weeks of the month, as our Margasira guide suggests.
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3 things to avoid today

  • Sleeping through the dawn: if you are keeping the month's practice, the early bath, lamp and prayer are its heart.
  • Arguments and harsh words: Margasira is kept for prayer, reading and kindness.
  • A fast beyond your health: fasting is optional. Pregnant women, elders, diabetics and anyone on regular medicine should speak to a doctor first and can keep a lighter vratam with fruit or milk.

Mantra for today

Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa

Meaning: "Lord Ayyappa, you are my refuge." The constant chant of Ayyappa devotees through the Mandala season, as our Mandala Pooja guide describes.

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 Sunday 27 December 2026?

The tithi is Krishna Chaturthi until 5:12 PM IST, then Panchami (until 2:57 PM IST on Mon 28 Dec) (Drik Panchang, IST). The nakshatra is Ashlesha until 6:04 PM IST, then Magha (until 4:32 PM IST on Mon 28 Dec).

What time is sunrise on 27 December 2026?

In Hyderabad sunrise is 6:44 AM and sunset 5:50 PM IST (Drik Panchang). In Chennai sunrise is 6:28 AM and in New Delhi 7:12 AM IST (calculated, approx.). Other cities are listed on this page.

Which Tiruppavai pasuram is sung on Day 19?

Pasuram 12, by the one-pasuram-a-day count from Wednesday 16 December 2026 used in our Dhanurmasam guide. Temples that begin on 17 December sing pasuram 11 today. Follow your temple's count.

Is Day 19 on the same date in the USA, UK and Australia?

The calendar date is the same, Sunday 27 December, but the tithi at local sunrise can differ. Going by the tithi times above and calculated sunrise, Panchami is at sunrise in New York, Dallas, San Jose and Toronto; Chaturthi is at sunrise in London, Dubai and Sydney (Hyderabad: Chaturthi).

Which mantra can I chant on Day 19?

Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa. Meaning: Lord Ayyappa, you are my refuge. The constant chant of Ayyappa devotees through the Mandala season, as our Mandala Pooja guide describes.

Sources

Tithi and nakshatra times are from Drik Panchang's Hyderabad day pages (IST, checked on 9 October 2026); a tithi ends at the same moment everywhere in India. Sunrise and sunset for Hyderabad are from Drik Panchang; lines marked calculated (approx.) use the standard sunrise equation, which matched Drik's Hyderabad times within a minute on every December day. Clock times abroad are the same instants converted to local time, and the tithi at local sunrise is worked out from them.

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