AstrologgerWhen is the next Masik Karthigai?
Next Masik Karthigai: Tuesday, 24 November 2026 (Masik Karthigai (Kartika)) — Krittika nakshatra 24 Nov 2:02 AM to 24 Nov 11:25 PM (New Delhi).
Masik Karthigai is observed each month on the day the Moon transits Krittika nakshatra — Murugan's star, tended by the six Krittika mothers. Lamps are lit at dusk, and the Karthigai of the Tamil month of Karthigai is the great festival of lights, Karthigai Deepam. Dates below are computed for New Delhi.
The next 3 Masik Karthigai dates
| Date | Name | Krittika nakshatra |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, 24 November 2026 | Masik Karthigai (Kartika) | 24 Nov 2:02 AM to 24 Nov 11:25 PM |
| Monday, 21 December 2026 | Masik Karthigai (Margashirsha) | 21 Dec 1:08 PM to 22 Dec 10:45 AM |
| Monday, 18 January 2027 | Masik Karthigai (Pausha) | 17 Jan 10:42 PM to 18 Jan 9:05 PM |
All dates & times computed for New Delhi (IST) with the Swiss Ephemeris + Lahiri ayanamsa.
Frequently asked questions
When is the next Masik Karthigai?+
The next Masik Karthigai is Masik Karthigai (Kartika) on Tuesday, 24 November 2026, Krittika nakshatra 24 Nov 2:02 AM to 24 Nov 11:25 PM (New Delhi). After that: Monday, 21 December 2026; Monday, 18 January 2027.
How many Masik Karthigai are in 2026?+
There are 13 Masik Karthigai days in 2026 for the Delhi region — one each time the Moon transits Krittika nakshatra.
Why Krittika nakshatra?+
Krittika is Murugan's birth star — the six Krittika maidens nursed the six-faced Kartikeya — so the day the Moon joins it is kept sacred to him.
What is Karthigai Deepam?+
The annual Karthigai in the Tamil month of Karthigai (November–December), when the Krittika nakshatra coincides with the full moon, is Karthigai Deepam — rows of oil lamps at every home and the great beacon on Arunachala at Tiruvannamalai.
How is the day observed?+
Devotees light oil lamps at dusk, visit Murugan temples and keep a simple fast. It is primarily a Tamil observance kept across South India.