A complete guide to Karthika Masam — its significance, the Karthika deepam, Somavaram fasting, snanam, Vana Bhojanam, and Karthika Pournami. Read online or save as PDF.
Karthika Masam (కార్తీక మాసం) is the eighth month of the Telugu lunisolar calendar and the most sacred month of the year for devotion. It is unique in honouring both Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu — a month-long celebration of the oneness of Hari and Hara. It is said that Lord Vishnu resides in the Tulasi plant and Lord Shiva in the Bilva (maredu) tree during this month, so the worship of both Tulasi and Bilva is especially meritorious.
The whole month is marked by simple, luminous practices within reach of every household: lighting deepams, fasting on Mondays, an early-morning holy bath, reading the Karthika Puranam, and gathering under amla trees for Vana Bhojanam.
In the southern Amanta calendar followed across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Karthika Masam begins the day after the Deepavali Amavasya. In 2026, Deepavali falls on November 8, so Karthika Masam begins on or about November 10, 2026 and runs until Karthika Pournami on November 24, 2026, after which it continues to the next Amavasya.
The Karthika deepam (కార్తీక దీపం) is the heart of the month. Families light oil or ghee lamps at dawn and at dusk through all of Karthika, beginning the day after Deepavali. The lamp is offered before Tulasi, at the doorstep, in the puja room, and at temples. Lighting a deepam in Karthika — even a single one with devotion — is held to dispel darkness within and without. Many also float lamps on rivers and tanks in the evenings.
The Mondays of Karthika — Karthika Somavaram (కార్తీక సోమవారం) — are dearest to Lord Shiva. Devotees, especially the first five Mondays, observe a full-day fast (upavasam), visit Shiva temples for abhishekam, and break the fast at night after lighting the evening lamp and offering worship. Bilva leaves are offered to the Shivalinga, and many read or hear a chapter of the Karthika Puranam each day.
Karthika snanam (కార్తీక స్నానం) is the tradition of an early pre-dawn bath, ideally in a river or flowing water, through the month. Alongside it, devotees keep a few simple daily observances:
Vana Bhojanam (వన భోజనం) is a beloved Telugu Karthika tradition — a communal outdoor meal, usually held under an amla (usiri) tree. It is believed that Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi reside under the amla tree during Karthika, so families and communities gather beneath it, worship the tree, cook and share a festive meal together. For the Telugu diaspora, Vana Bhojanam is often organised in local parks during Karthika.
Karthika Pournami (కార్తీక పౌర్ణమి) — November 24, 2026 — is the radiant climax of the month and one of the most luminous evenings of the Telugu year. Temples and homes glow with rows of lamps; devotees light the 365-wick deepam (jhari/vottulu), and many temples raise the Jwala Thoranam, a great flame arch. A holy bath, lamp offerings and Shiva-Vishnu worship on this full-moon day are considered supremely auspicious.
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