Skanda Sashti 2026 falls on Sunday, 15 November, the sixth and final day of a vratam that begins on Tuesday, 10 November. Across Tamil homes, a lamp is lit before Lord Murugan each evening, the Kanda Sashti Kavasam is sung, and on the sixth evening, crowds gather on the seashore at Tiruchendur to watch the Soorasamharam.
The festival remembers Lord Murugan, also known as Skanda, Kartikeya and Subrahmanya, defeating the asura Surapadman. Many devotees see the six days as six steps inward, each one quieting an enemy we carry within ourselves.
This gentle guide brings together the date and timings, the story behind the day, how it is observed across India and beyond, a simple six-day vidhi for home, and the Rudraksha traditionally connected with Lord Kartikeya.
Key takeaways
- Skanda Sashti 2026 is on Sunday, 15 November. The six-day vratam runs from Tuesday, 10 November to Sunday, 15 November
- Shashthi tithi runs from 11:23 PM on 14 November to 2:00 AM on 16 November. In Mumbai, sunrise is 6:46 AM and sunset 6:00 PM on 15 November
- Soorasamharam, the re-enactment of Murugan’s victory over Surapadman, is held on the evening of 15 November; many temples celebrate Thirukalyanam the next day
- Skanda means “the one who leaps”, and Shanmukha means “six-faced”, one face for each of the six Krittika mothers who raised him
- The 6 Mukhi Rudraksha represents Lord Kartikeya himself, and Rudralife recommends Rudraksha by date of birth (Mulank), with every bead ACE energised
When is Skanda Sashti 2026? Date and timings
Skanda Sashti 2026 is observed on Sunday, 15 November, on Kartik Shukla Shashthi. There is no single muhurat; Murugan is worshipped at sunrise, and the Soorasamharam is held in the evening.
Timings for Mumbai:
- Vratam begins: Tuesday, 10 November 2026
- Skanda Sashti and Soorasamharam: Sunday, 15 November 2026
- Shashthi tithi begins: 11:23 PM, 14 November (IST)
- Shashthi tithi ends: 2:00 AM, 16 November (IST)
- Sunrise and sunset in Mumbai on 15 November: 6:46 AM and 6:00 PM
- Abhijit Muhurat (Mumbai): 12:00 PM to 12:45 PM
- Rahu Kaal (Mumbai): 4:36 PM to 6:00 PM
Many families avoid beginning a puja in Rahu Kaal, so in Mumbai the evening lamp is usually lit at sunset, 6:00 PM, or a little after. Please follow your family pandit’s guidance.
Sunrise and sunset in other cities, 15 November:
- New Delhi: 6:44 AM and 5:28 PM
- Kolkata: 5:49 AM and 4:53 PM
- Chennai: 6:08 AM and 5:39 PM
- Bengaluru: 6:18 AM and 5:50 PM
- Hyderabad: 6:21 AM and 5:40 PM
- Pune: 6:41 AM and 5:56 PM
- Ahmedabad: 6:53 AM and 5:55 PM
Find the exact Skanda Sashti timings for your city on Drik Panchang →
Timings shift slightly from city to city, so check your local panchang. Source: Drik Panchang.
Why is Skanda Sashti celebrated?
Skanda is a name of Lord Kartikeya, and Sashti is the sixth day of the lunar fortnight. The day marks the end of a six-day battle in which Lord Murugan defeated the asura Surapadman and freed the devas.
Many devotees read the six days as six inner enemies, desire, anger, greed, delusion, pride and jealousy, quietened one by one. The Vel that Murugan carries is seen as sharp, pure knowledge, the kind that cuts through ego without anger.
Read: Powerful Shiva Mantras → Mantras for Lord Shiva, father of Lord Murugan.
The story of Lord Murugan and Surapadman
The birth of Shanmukha: The Skanda Purana and the Tamil Kanda Puranam tell of the asura brothers Surapadman, Simhamukha and Tarakasura, whose boons let them trouble the three worlds. When the devas prayed to Lord Shiva, six sparks from his third eye fell into the Saravana pond and became six infants, raised by the six Krittika mothers. When Maa Parvati embraced them, they became one child with six faces, Shanmukha.
The Vel and the mango tree: Maa Parvati gave her son the Vel, a divine spear. Over six days, Murugan defeated Tarakasura and Simhamukha. On the sixth day, at Tiruchendur, Surapadman fled into the sea and became a giant mango tree. Murugan split it in two with his Vel. In his mercy, one half became the peacock he rides and the other the rooster on his flag.
What Skanda Sashti teaches: even the fiercest ego, once cut by wisdom, can be turned to the service of the divine.
How Skanda Sashti is celebrated across India and beyond
- Tamil Nadu: The six Arupadai Veedu, Murugan’s six sacred abodes, hold their biggest festival of the year. At Tiruchendur, on the shore of the Bay of Bengal, the Soorasamharam is re-enacted on the seashore and draws very large crowds.
- Tamil homes everywhere: Families recite the Kanda Sashti Kavasam, a 19th-century hymn of protection by Devaraya Swamigal, each day.
- Kerala: Devotees visit Subrahmanya temples such as Haripad through the six days.
- Maharashtra: Kartik Swami is worshipped in the Kartik month, and in many families women take his darshan only on Kartik Purnima.
- Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Singapore: Tamil communities fill Murugan temples, and in Sri Lanka he is also worshipped as Kataragama.
Read: Kartik Maas 2026 → The month that holds Skanda Sashti, Dev Uthani and Dev Diwali.
Skanda Sashti vratam at home: a simple six-day vidhi
The puja is simple and can be done by anyone in the family. Simple, steady devotion matters more than elaborate ritual.
- Take the sankalp (10 November): After bathing on the first morning, light a lamp before Lord Murugan and take a sankalp for the six days.
- Set up the altar: Place an image of Murugan with his Vel and peacock on a red or yellow cloth, with a ghee diya, red flowers, kumkum and a kalash.
- Keep the vrat that suits you: Some devotees eat one simple vegetarian meal a day, others take only fruit and milk. Onion, garlic and non-vegetarian food are usually avoided. Elders, children and anyone unwell may keep a lighter vrat or simply pray.
- Chant each day: Recite the Kanda Sashti Kavasam, or chant Om Saravana Bhava on a Rudraksha mala, morning and evening.
- Light the sixth-evening lamp (15 November): Light six lamps after sunset, offer fruit or a simple sweet, and remember Murugan’s victory.
- Close the vrat: Break the fast after the Soorasamharam or the next morning, as your family does, with a prayer of thanks.
Watch: how to do Rudraksha japa →
Rudraksha for Skanda Sashti
Rudraksha, born from the tears of Lord Shiva, has a bead that belongs to his six-faced son.
- 6 Mukhi Rudraksha: Representing Lord Kartikeya himself, this bead blesses the wearer with wisdom, willpower and the courage to speak with clarity. The Shiva Purana says the six-faced bead is Kartikeya.
Explore 6 Mukhi Rudraksha →
Explore the 6 Mukhi Wisdom Bracelet → - Gauri Shankar Rudraksha: Representing Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati as one, the parents from whose grace Murugan was born and received his Vel, this bead is associated with harmony in the family and in relationships.
Explore Gauri Shankar Rudraksha → - Saraswati Bandh: A pairing of 4 and 6 Mukhi Rudraksha, blessed by Lord Brahma and Lord Kartikeya, for students and young learners in the family.
Explore the Saraswati Bandh →
Rudralife’s Note: The Shastras support wearing all mukhi Rudraksha together. Different mukhis do not conflict with one another, and Rudraksha always acts positively.
Every devotee is different. Rudralife’s recommendation is based on your date of birth through astro-numerology (Mulank). Your Mulank shows your ruling planet, and a Rudraksha for that planet is suggested only when it needs balancing.
Every Rudraksha from Rudralife is authenticated through X-ray at RRTL, Rudralife’s own ISO 9001:2015 lab, and ACE energised before it reaches you.
Get your personalised Rudraksha recommendation →
Prefer to see Rudraksha in person? Visit us at an upcoming Rudralife exhibition →
Sankalp Puja with Rudralife
Personalised Puja through Rudralife
A puja to Lord Murugan performed by Vedic pandits during the six days is a traditional way to seek his blessings of courage and clarity. Over its 25 years, Rudralife has conducted pujas like these for devotees across the world.
Through a Personalised Puja, Rudralife’s puja experts help devotees organise a puja to Lord Murugan at home, for themselves and their family. Vedic pandits perform it as per Vedic vidhi vidhan, speaking the devotee’s name and gotra in the sankalp.
Book a Personalised Puja through Rudralife →
Rudralife also conducts Sankalp Pujas, in which Vedic pandits perform each puja as per Vedic vidhi vidhan and speak the devotee’s name and gotra in the sankalp, wherever the devotee may be. The puja is streamed live on YouTube, and the devotee receives mahaprasad energised in the puja itself.
Explore Sankalp Pujas with Rudralife →
During the vratam, on Saturday, 14 November, Rudralife’s Vedic pandits also perform the Dosh Nivaran Maha Anushthan, with the sankalp taken in each devotee’s name and gotra.
See the Dosh Nivaran Maha Anushthan →
Frequently asked questions
- When is Skanda Sashti in 2026? Skanda Sashti 2026 falls on Sunday, 15 November. The six-day vratam begins on Tuesday, 10 November.
- What are the Skanda Sashti timings in Mumbai? Shashthi tithi runs from 11:23 PM on 14 November to 2:00 AM on 16 November. In Mumbai, sunrise is 6:46 AM and sunset 6:00 PM on 15 November. In New Delhi, sunrise is 6:44 AM and sunset 5:28 PM. For any other city, please check Drik Panchang.
- What is Soorasamharam? Soorasamharam is the re-enactment of Lord Murugan’s victory over Surapadman, held on the evening of Skanda Sashti. The best known is on the seashore at Tiruchendur.
- What should I eat during the Skanda Sashti vrat? Customs vary. Many devotees eat one simple vegetarian meal a day, or only fruit and milk, and avoid onion and garlic. A lighter vrat is widely accepted.
- Is Skanda Sashti on the same day as Chhath Puja? Yes, in 2026 both fall on Sunday, 15 November, but Chhath honours Surya Dev and Chhathi Maiya.
- Which Rudraksha is associated with Lord Murugan? The 6 Mukhi Rudraksha represents Lord Kartikeya. The Shiva Purana describes the six-faced bead as Kartikeya himself.
- Can I begin wearing Rudraksha on Skanda Sashti? Yes. It is a meaningful day to begin, ideally after a short prayer and japa. For a recommendation suited to you, Rudralife looks at your date of birth through astro-numerology.
The bottom line
Skanda Sashti asks very little of us: six days of simple food, a lamp lit each evening and the willingness to let wisdom quiet what holds us back.
On Sunday, 15 November, light your lamp and remember the six-faced Lord. For 25 years, Rudralife has walked alongside devotees through every festival season. We wish you and your family a blessed Skanda Sashti.
Check our upcoming exhibitions in your city →
Related reading
Read: 6 Mukhi Rudraksha: The Best Guide to Kartikeya’s Sacred Bead
Read: What Is Rudraksha? A Complete Beginner’s Guide
Disclaimer: Timings differ by city, and vrat and puja customs vary between families and communities. Please confirm your observance with your family tradition or local panchang. Those with health conditions, expecting mothers and the elderly should choose a fast that suits them.
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