Quick answer: Tuesday 15 December 2026 is Day 7 of Margasira Masam in India. The tithi is Shukla Shashthi until 9:19 PM IST, then Saptami (until 10:45 PM IST on Wed 16 Dec) (Drik Panchang, IST). It is Subrahmanya Shashti. Sunrise in Hyderabad is 6:38 AM IST (Drik Panchang); times for 12 more cities are below.

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.

Advertisement

Sunrise and sunset by city (Day 7)

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, Tuesday 15 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.

Advertisement
  • Hyderabad: sunrise 6:38 AM, sunset 5:44 PM IST
  • Vijayawada: sunrise 6:27 AM, sunset 5:36 PM IST, calculated (approx.)
  • Bengaluru: sunrise 6:33 AM, sunset 5:55 PM IST, calculated (approx.)
  • Chennai: sunrise 6:23 AM, sunset 5:44 PM IST, calculated (approx.)
  • New Delhi: sunrise 7:06 AM, sunset 5:26 PM IST, calculated (approx.)
  • Mumbai: sunrise 7:03 AM, sunset 6:03 PM IST, calculated (approx.)
  • New York: sunrise 7:12 AM, sunset 4:29 PM EST, calculated (approx.); Shashthi at local sunrise (until 10:49 AM EST)
  • Dallas: sunrise 7:22 AM, sunset 5:22 PM CST, calculated (approx.); Shashthi at local sunrise (until 9:49 AM CST)
  • San Jose: sunrise 7:14 AM, sunset 4:51 PM PST, calculated (approx.); Shashthi at local sunrise (until 7:49 AM PST)
  • London: sunrise 7:59 AM, sunset 3:51 PM GMT, calculated (approx.); Shashthi at local sunrise (until 3:49 PM GMT)
  • Toronto: sunrise 7:44 AM, sunset 4:41 PM EST, calculated (approx.); Shashthi at local sunrise (until 10:49 AM EST)
  • Dubai: sunrise 6:56 AM, sunset 5:32 PM GST, calculated (approx.); Shashthi at local sunrise (until 7:49 PM GST)
  • Sydney: sunrise 5:38 AM, sunset 8:01 PM AEDT, calculated (approx.); Shashthi at local sunrise (until 2:49 AM AEDT on Wed 16 Dec)
Advertisement

For other cities, check your city's panchang. Margasira Masam 2026 abroad: USA, UK, Canada, Australia.

Today's tithi and nakshatra

  • Tithi: Shukla Shashthi until 9:19 PM IST, then Saptami (until 10:45 PM IST on Wed 16 Dec).
  • Nakshatra: Dhanishtha until 11:52 AM IST, then Shatabhisha (until 2:02 PM IST on Wed 16 Dec).
  • Paksha and month: Shukla Paksha (waxing moon), Margasira (Margashirsha, amanta).

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

  • New York and Toronto: Shashthi ends 10:49 AM EST on Tue 15 Dec
  • Dallas: 9:49 AM CST on Tue 15 Dec
  • San Jose: 7:49 AM PST on Tue 15 Dec
  • London: 3:49 PM GMT on Tue 15 Dec
  • Dubai: 7:49 PM GST on Tue 15 Dec
  • Sydney: 2:49 AM AEDT on Wed 16 Dec
Advertisement

Festival of the day: Subrahmanya Shashti

Drik Panchang lists Subrahmanya Shashti (Skanda Sashti, Champa Shashthi) on Tuesday 15 December 2026, with Shukla Shashthi from 7:15 PM IST on 14 December to 9:19 PM IST today. Margasira Shukla Shashti is sacred to Lord Subrahmanya: Telugu and Kannada devotees worship at Subrahmanya temples and snake shrines, Kukke Subramanya holds its great festival, and Maharashtra keeps Champa Shashti for Khandoba. See our Subrahmanya Shashti 2026 guide and Champa Shashti 2026.

Abroad, our Subrahmanya Shashti guide gives Tuesday 15 December for eastern North America, the UK, the Gulf and Australia, and Monday 14 December for the US West Coast and western Canada.

Advertisement

Today's Margasira practice

Margasira is the month Krishna calls his own ("masanam margashirsho'ham", Bhagavad Gita 10.35). The daily practices in our Margasira Masam 2026 guide are simple: wake early and bathe before sunrise, light a lamp morning and evening, draw a muggu at the door, read a few verses of the Bhagavad Gita, and chant the Vishnu Sahasranama or the Sri Lakshmi Ashtottaram. Dhanurmasam, with its dawn Tiruppavai, begins on Wednesday 16 December.

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. 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.
  4. Vishnu Sahasranama: chant it, or the Lakshmi Ashtottaram, at the morning or evening lamp.
  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.
Advertisement

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 Saravanabhavaya Namah

Meaning: "I bow to the one born in the Saravana (reed) forest," a name of Lord Subrahmanya. Our Subrahmanya Shashti guide gives it with Om Sri Subrahmanyaya Namah.

Advertisement

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 15 December 2026?

The tithi is Shukla Shashthi until 9:19 PM IST, then Saptami (until 10:45 PM IST on Wed 16 Dec) (Drik Panchang, IST). The nakshatra is Dhanishtha until 11:52 AM IST, then Shatabhisha (until 2:02 PM IST on Wed 16 Dec).

What time is sunrise on 15 December 2026?

In Hyderabad sunrise is 6:38 AM and sunset 5:44 PM IST (Drik Panchang). In Chennai sunrise is 6:23 AM and in New Delhi 7:06 AM IST (calculated, approx.). Other cities are listed on this page.

What can I do on Day 7 of Margasira Masam?

Bathe early, light a lamp morning and evening, draw a muggu at the door, read a few verses of the Bhagavad Gita and chant the Vishnu Sahasranama or the Lakshmi Ashtottaram, as our Margasira guide suggests. Giving food or warm clothing to someone in need is also a month's practice.

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

Yes. Tuesday 15 December is Day 7 everywhere, and going by the tithi times above and calculated sunrise, Shashthi is at sunrise in New York, Dallas, San Jose, London, Toronto, Dubai and Sydney, as in Hyderabad. Only the clock times differ. Our Subrahmanya Shashti guide gives Monday 14 December for the US West Coast and western Canada.

Which mantra can I chant on Day 7?

Om Saravanabhavaya Namah. Meaning: I bow to the one born in the Saravana (reed) forest, a name of Lord Subrahmanya. Our Subrahmanya Shashti guide gives it with Om Sri Subrahmanyaya Namah.

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.

Continue the Margasira journey