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2026 Skanda Sashti Dates

Skanda Sashti is the Shukla-paksha Shashthi (6th tithi) of each lunar month, sacred to Skanda — Kartikeya or Murugan, the warrior son of Shiva. The Kartika-month observance, celebrated grandly in Tamil tradition as Soorasamharam, is the principal one. Dates below are computed for New Delhi.

Next Skanda Sashti
Skanda Sashti (Kartika)
in 9 days · on Sunday, 15 November 2026 →
DateTithi BeginsTithi EndsNameDayPaksha / Month (purnimanta)
24 Jan 202624 Jan, 1:46 AM25 Jan, 12:40 AMSkanda Sashti (Magha)SatShukla · Magha
22 Feb 202622 Feb, 11:10 AM23 Feb, 9:09 AMSkanda Sashti (Phalguna)SunShukla · Phalguna
24 Mar 202623 Mar, 6:39 PM24 Mar, 4:08 PMSkanda Sashti (Chaitra)TueShukla · Chaitra
22 Apr 202622 Apr, 1:20 AM22 Apr, 10:50 PMSkanda Sashti (Vaishakha)WedShukla · Vaishakha
21 May 202621 May, 8:27 AM22 May, 6:25 AMSkanda Sashti (Jyeshtha)ThuShukla · Jyeshtha
19 Jun 202619 Jun, 5:00 PM20 Jun, 3:47 PMSkanda Sashti (Jyeshtha)FriShukla · Jyeshtha
19 Jul 202619 Jul, 3:43 AM20 Jul, 3:30 AMSkanda Sashti (Ashadha)SunShukla · Ashadha
17 Aug 202617 Aug, 5:01 PM18 Aug, 5:51 PMSkanda Sashti (Shravana)MonShukla · Shravana
16 Sept 202616 Sep, 9:00 AM17 Sep, 10:48 AMSkanda Sashti (Bhadrapada)WedShukla · Bhadrapada
16 Oct 202616 Oct, 3:25 AM17 Oct, 5:55 AMSkanda Sashti (Ashwina)FriShukla · Ashwina
15 Nov 2026UPCOMING14 Nov, 11:24 PM16 Nov, 2:01 AMSkanda Sashti (Kartika)SunShukla · Kartika
15 Dec 202614 Dec, 7:16 PM15 Dec, 9:20 PMSkanda Sashti (Margashirsha)TueShukla · Margashirsha

All dates & times computed for New Delhi (IST) with the Swiss Ephemeris + Lahiri ayanamsa — not copied.

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BY MONTH

What is Skanda Sashti?

Skanda Sashti honours Kartikeya (Murugan) on the sixth tithi of the waxing fortnight each month. The tithi is his own — Shashthi Devi is associated with his care — and devotees keep it for courage, victory over inner enemies, and the well-being of children.

Soorasamharam

The annual Skanda Sashti of Kartika commemorates the six-day battle in which Murugan vanquished Surapadman, celebrated with dramatic re-enactments at Tiruchendur and Murugan temples worldwide. The monthly Sashtis carry the same devotion through the year.

How the vrat is kept

Skanda Sashti is observed as a fast on the Shukla Sashti, and the great annual observance of Aippasi runs six days from Pratipada to Sashti. Practice ranges widely: some keep a full fast, some take only liquids, and many take a single sattvic meal at night after the puja, avoiding onion and garlic. Non-vegetarian food is set aside for the period. The day begins with an early bath and a sankalp, and worship is offered to Murugan with a ghee lamp, flowers and fruit.

The Kanda Sashti Kavacham

The recitation most associated with the vrat is the Kanda Sashti Kavacham, a Tamil hymn of protection addressed to Kartikeya, composed by Devaraya Swamigal in the nineteenth century at Chennimalai. Devotees recite it through the day, and in Murugan temples it is sung repeatedly over the six days. A kavacham is an armour hymn, and the text is kept in that spirit — a prayer for protection rather than a spell.

Significance

Sashti is Murugan's tithi, and the monthly observance is kept for health, courage and protection, particularly for the wellbeing of children. The six days of the annual vrat mirror his six faces and the six sparks from Shiva's third eye from which tradition says he arose. In the Tamil tradition his six principal shrines, the Arupadai Veedu, are the focus of pilgrimage in this season.

Skanda Sashti puja samagri

Gather these before the puja:

  • An image or idol of Murugan (Kartikeya)
  • A ghee lamp
  • Fresh flowers, especially red ones
  • A vel (spear) if kept in the home shrine
  • Seasonal fruit and coconut
  • Sandalwood and vibhuti
  • Incense (dhoop)
  • Panchamrit
  • Betel leaves and nuts
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Frequently asked questions

How many Skanda Sashti are in 2026?+

There are 12 Skanda Sashti in 2026 for the Delhi region — one each lunar month on the Shukla Shashthi.

Who is Skanda?+

Skanda — also called Kartikeya, Murugan or Subrahmanya — is the son of Shiva and Parvati and the commander of the gods' army, especially revered in Tamil tradition.

Which Skanda Sashti is the main one?+

The Shashthi after Deepavali in the month of Kartika (Aippasi in the Tamil calendar) is the great Skanda Sashti, ending with Soorasamharam — the victory over the demon Surapadman.

How is the vrat kept?+

Devotees fast for the day, visit Murugan temples, and recite the Skanda Sashti Kavacham. Practice varies by region and devotion.

What does this Skanda Sashti mean for your chart?

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