Karthika Somavara 2026

Karthika Somavara (कार्तिक सोमवार) is the observance of Monday (Somavara, sacred to Lord Shiva) falling within the auspicious month of Karthika -- one of the most sacred months in the Hindu calendar, dedicated to both Shiva and Vishnu. This page tracks Karthika Somavara under two independent reckonings: the Chandramana (lunar) Amanta Karthika masa, and the Sauramana (solar) month the Sun spends in Vrischika (Scorpio) rashi -- known in Tamil as Karthikai.

The two spans overlap for most of their length but diverge by roughly the lunar/solar calendar offset at the edges, so a given year's Mondays are marked (C) when they qualify only under the Chandramana reckoning, (S) when only under the Sauramana one, and left unmarked when both agree. Devotees observe a fast (upavasa) through the day, worship Lord Shiva with Bilva leaves and Rudrabhishekam, and visit Shiva temples, especially in the evening.