✦ 2026 Skanda Sashti Dates ✦
✦ Monthly vrat for Lord Kartikeya (Murugan) — 6-day tapa-vrat ✦
✦ 12 dates — entire year ✦
Monthly vrat for Lord Kartikeya (Murugan) — 6-day tapa-vrat
First Skanda
24 Jan • Sat
Main Kanda Sashti
19 Jul • Sun
Last Skanda
14 Dec • Mon
✦ About this vrat ✦
Skanda Sashti (Subramanya Sashti) — Kartikeya Swami (Murugan) vrat observed on shukla paksha shashthi (6th tithi).
Main Kanda Sashti on Kartik shukla shashthi — 6 days after Diwali. The 6-day Kanda Sashti Kavacham vrat.
Highly popular in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka. Temples: Palani (TN), Tiruchendur, Swamimalai, Tiruthani.
✦ January ✦
1 day🌖 Shukla • Tithi 6
✦ February ✦
1 day🌖 Shukla • Tithi 6
✦ March ✦
1 day🌖 Shukla • Tithi 6
✦ April ✦
1 day🌖 Shukla • Tithi 6
✦ May ✦
1 day🌖 Shukla • Tithi 6
✦ June ✦
1 day🌖 Shukla • Tithi 6
✦ July ✦
1 day🌖 Shukla • Tithi 6
✦ August ✦
1 day🌖 Shukla • Tithi 6
✦ September ✦
1 day🌖 Shukla • Tithi 6
✦ October ✦
1 day🌖 Shukla • Tithi 6
✦ November ✦
1 day🌖 Shukla • Tithi 6
✦ December ✦
1 day🌖 Shukla • Tithi 6
✦ Puja vidhi ✦
- 1
Morning bath. Install Murugan-Kartikeya murti/picture. Yellow clothing.
- 2
Recite Shanmukha Stotra, Subramanya Kavacham, Kanda Sashti Kavacham.
- 3
Day-long fast (only fruit-milk). Evening Shanmukha Swami puja.
- 4
Kavadi yatra (in Tamil Nadu). Parana morning of Saptami.
✦ FAQs ✦
Q. Why is Kartik Skanda Sashti supreme?
On this day Kartikeya Swami slew the demon Sura-padma. Conclusion of a 6-day battle. Festival in Tamil Nadu.
Q. Is it observed in North India?
Less so. North India primarily celebrates Ganesh Chaturthi and Hanuman Jayanti. Skanda Sashti is South India-centric.