Quick answer: Wednesday 30 December 2026 is Day 22 of Margasira Masam in India. The tithi is Krishna Saptami until 12:36 PM IST, then Ashtami (until 12:32 PM IST on Thu 31 Dec) (Drik Panchang, IST). It is Kalashtami. Sunrise in Hyderabad is 6:46 AM IST (Drik Panchang); times for 12 more cities are below. It is day 15 of Dhanurmasam: Tiruppavai pasuram 15 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 22)

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, Wednesday 30 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 6:46 AM, sunset 5:52 PM IST
  • Vijayawada: sunrise 6:34 AM, sunset 5:44 PM IST, calculated (approx.)
  • Bengaluru: sunrise 6:40 AM, sunset 6:02 PM IST, calculated (approx.)
  • Chennai: sunrise 6:30 AM, sunset 5:51 PM IST, calculated (approx.)
  • New Delhi: sunrise 7:13 AM, sunset 5:33 PM IST, calculated (approx.)
  • Mumbai: sunrise 7:10 AM, sunset 6:10 PM IST, calculated (approx.)
  • New York: sunrise 7:19 AM, sunset 4:37 PM EST, calculated (approx.); Ashtami at local sunrise (until 2:02 AM EST on Thu 31 Dec)
  • Dallas: sunrise 7:29 AM, sunset 5:30 PM CST, calculated (approx.); Ashtami at local sunrise (until 1:02 AM CST on Thu 31 Dec)
  • San Jose: sunrise 7:21 AM, sunset 4:58 PM PST, calculated (approx.); Ashtami at local sunrise (until 11:02 PM PST)
  • London: sunrise 8:06 AM, sunset 3:59 PM GMT, calculated (approx.); Ashtami at local sunrise (until 7:02 AM GMT on Thu 31 Dec)
  • Toronto: sunrise 7:51 AM, sunset 4:48 PM EST, calculated (approx.); Ashtami at local sunrise (until 2:02 AM EST on Thu 31 Dec)
  • Dubai: sunrise 7:03 AM, sunset 5:39 PM GST, calculated (approx.); Saptami at local sunrise (until 11:06 AM GST)
  • Sydney: sunrise 5:45 AM, sunset 8:08 PM AEDT, calculated (approx.); Saptami at local sunrise (until 6:06 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 Saptami until 12:36 PM IST, then Ashtami (until 12:32 PM IST on Thu 31 Dec).
  • Nakshatra: Uttara Phalguni until 3:36 PM IST, then Hasta (until 4:13 PM IST on Thu 31 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 Ashtami ends in your time zone:

  • New York and Toronto: Ashtami ends 2:02 AM EST on Thu 31 Dec
  • Dallas: 1:02 AM CST on Thu 31 Dec
  • San Jose: 11:02 PM PST on Wed 30 Dec
  • London: 7:02 AM GMT on Thu 31 Dec
  • Dubai: 11:02 AM GST on Thu 31 Dec
  • Sydney: 6:02 PM AEDT on Thu 31 Dec
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Festival of the day: Kalashtami

Drik Panchang lists Kalashtami and Masik Krishna Janmashtami on Wednesday 30 December 2026. Krishna Ashtami begins at 12:36 PM IST and runs through tonight, until 12:32 PM IST on Thursday. Kalashtami is the monthly day of Lord Kalabhairava, worshipped with a lamp in the evening.

Today's Margasira practice: Tiruppavai pasuram 15

Today is day 15 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 15. Temples that begin on 17 December are one verse behind, at pasuram 14; 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 15 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

Om Kalabhairavaya Namah

Meaning: "I bow to Lord Kalabhairava," the fierce form of Shiva and guardian of Kashi, worshipped on Kalashtami, the Krishna Ashtami of each month.

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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 30 December 2026?

The tithi is Krishna Saptami until 12:36 PM IST, then Ashtami (until 12:32 PM IST on Thu 31 Dec) (Drik Panchang, IST). The nakshatra is Uttara Phalguni until 3:36 PM IST, then Hasta (until 4:13 PM IST on Thu 31 Dec).

What time is sunrise on 30 December 2026?

In Hyderabad sunrise is 6:46 AM and sunset 5:52 PM IST (Drik Panchang). In Chennai sunrise is 6:30 AM and in New Delhi 7:13 AM IST (calculated, approx.). Other cities are listed on this page.

Which Tiruppavai pasuram is sung on Day 22?

Pasuram 15, 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 14 today. Follow your temple's count.

Is Day 22 on the same date in the USA, UK and Australia?

The calendar date is the same, Wednesday 30 December, but the tithi at local sunrise can differ. Going by the tithi times above and calculated sunrise, Ashtami is at sunrise in New York, Dallas, San Jose, London and Toronto; Saptami is at sunrise in Dubai and Sydney (Hyderabad: Saptami).

Which mantra can I chant on Day 22?

Om Kalabhairavaya Namah. Meaning: I bow to Lord Kalabhairava, the fierce form of Shiva and guardian of Kashi, worshipped on Kalashtami, the Krishna Ashtami of each month.

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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