Skanda Shashti 2026: Soorasamharam Nov 15 India, Nov 14 USA · Kanda Sashti fast dates, story and times

1The story: Murugan and Surapadman

The asura Surapadman, with his brothers Simhamukha and Tarakasura, had won a boon that only a son of Shiva could defeat him, and he oppressed the devas. Shiva opened his third eye and six sparks of fire fell into the Saravana lake, where they became six infant boys, nursed by the six Krittika stars. Parvati gathered them into one child with six faces: Shanmukha, also called Karthikeya, Skanda, Subrahmanya and Murugan.

Parvati gave him the Vel, her own spear of wisdom, and he led the army of the devas. The war lasted six days. On the sixth day, Shashti, at Tiruchendur by the sea, Surapadman took the form of a giant mango tree. Murugan's Vel split it in two: one half became the peacock that Murugan rides, the other the rooster on his flag. Surapadman was not destroyed but transformed and taken into the Lord's service. The next day Murugan married Devasena (Deivanai), daughter of Indra: Thirukalyanam.

The story is told in the Skanda Purana and, in Tamil, in Kachiappa Sivachariyar's Kanda Puranam. Families and temples tell it in many ways.

2How to keep the Kanda Shashti vratam

1. Choose your fast: a full fast, one meal a day, or fruit and milk only, for all six days or only on Shashti. Elders, children and anyone unwell can keep a lighter vrat.
2. Every day: bathe, light a lamp before Murugan, offer red flowers and fruit, and read Kanda Sashti Kavacham or chant “Om Saravanabhavaya Namah”.
3. Day 6, Shashti: visit a Murugan temple for the evening Soorasamharam, the enactment of the battle, or watch the Tiruchendur telecast with the family.
4. Break the fast after the Soorasamharam darshan that evening, or the next morning after Thirukalyanam, as your family does.

3Checklist: what you need

9 items

• Murugan / Subrahmanya picture or vel
• Kavadi or simple flower offerings
• Milk, panchamritam for abhishekam
• Red flowers and a garland
• Vibhuti, sandalwood, kumkum
• Kanda Shashti Kavacham book or audio
• Fruits and simple food for the six-day fast
• Ghee lamp, camphor
• Sweet pongal or another naivedyam for the last day

4A priest, or do it yourself

▶How to do Skanda Shashti puja at home · Pooja Luthra · YouTube

A video by another channel, added after our review. If your family’s custom differs, follow it.

5Puja items near you

6Soorasamharam: Shashti times by city

Skanda Shashti is kept on the first day whose daylight hours meet Shashti tithi (Panchami-yukta Shashti). Soorasamharam itself is enacted at temples in the evening, around sunset.

Your city isn't listed? Open Global Panchang: the Calendar tab shows Kanda Shashti and every monthly Skanda Shashti for your city.

Kanda Shashti in your city

Each city page has the date, the Shashti times and the date in India.

USA

India