Quick answer: Margashirsha Masam 2026 USA dates (amanta, as followed by Telugu, Kannada, Marathi and Gujarati families): Wednesday 9 December 2026 to Thursday 7 January 2027 in every US city we checked. The five Margashirsha Thursdays for Guruvar Lakshmi vrat and Lakshmivara vratam are 10, 17, 24 and 31 December 2026 and 7 January 2027. Pausha begins on Friday 8 January 2027.

Margashirsha (Telugu Margasira, Kannada Margashira) is the month Krishna names as his own in the Bhagavad Gita (10.35): among months, he says, "I am Margashirsha". It holds Vivah Panchami, Subrahmanya and Champa Shashti, Gita Jayanti and Vaikuntha Ekadashi, and Datta Jayanti. For Marathi and Telugu families, its Thursdays are devoted to Goddess Lakshmi.

How these dates were made: the US dates below are computed with HinduTone's sunrise-tithi calculator (Drik Panchang method, validated to within 1–2 minutes). Please confirm on Drik Panchang for your own city and follow your temple's calendar.

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Margashirsha Masam 2026 dates by US city

CityMargashirsha beginsMargashirsha endsPausha begins
New YorkWed 9 Dec 2026Thu 7 Jan 2027Fri 8 Jan 2027
Edison, NJWed 9 Dec 2026Thu 7 Jan 2027Fri 8 Jan 2027
Washington DCWed 9 Dec 2026Thu 7 Jan 2027Fri 8 Jan 2027
AtlantaWed 9 Dec 2026Thu 7 Jan 2027Fri 8 Jan 2027
ChicagoWed 9 Dec 2026Thu 7 Jan 2027Fri 8 Jan 2027
HoustonWed 9 Dec 2026Thu 7 Jan 2027Fri 8 Jan 2027
DallasWed 9 Dec 2026Thu 7 Jan 2027Fri 8 Jan 2027
PhoenixWed 9 Dec 2026Thu 7 Jan 2027Fri 8 Jan 2027
Los AngelesWed 9 Dec 2026Thu 7 Jan 2027Fri 8 Jan 2027
San Jose / Bay AreaWed 9 Dec 2026Thu 7 Jan 2027Fri 8 Jan 2027
SeattleWed 9 Dec 2026Thu 7 Jan 2027Fri 8 Jan 2027

The month is the same in all four mainland time zones this year, and it matches India, where amanta Margasira also runs from Wednesday 9 December 2026 to Thursday 7 January 2027 (calculated). If your city is not listed, check Drik Panchang.

Margashirsha Thursdays 2026 in the USA

#DateNote for US families
1Thu 10 Dec 2026First Thursday; begin the vrat and set up the kalash
2Thu 17 Dec 2026Second Thursday; the day after Dhanurmasam begins
3Thu 24 Dec 2026Christmas Eve; plan an early-evening puja
4Thu 31 Dec 2026New Year's Eve; puja before any evening plans
5Thu 7 Jan 2027Last day of Margashirsha; many families do the udyapan

These five Thursdays are the same in New York, Edison, Washington DC, Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Dallas, Phoenix, Los Angeles, the Bay Area and Seattle, and in India.

Margashirsha Guruvar vrat and Margasira Lakshmivara vratam

Marathi families keep the Margashirsha Guruvar Mahalakshmi vrat. On each Thursday a kalash is set up as the goddess, often decorated with a coconut, mango leaves and a face or image of Lakshmi, and the family reads the Mahalakshmi vrat katha. Women invite married friends for haldi-kunku, and many keep a light fast until the evening puja. On the last Thursday the vrat is completed with an udyapan. See Margashirsha Guruvar vrat 2026 dates and the complete guide to Thursday Lakshmi puja.

Telugu families call the Margasira Thursdays Lakshmivaralu and keep the Lakshmivara vratam: the house is cleaned, the threshold decorated with muggulu, and Lakshmi is worshipped with turmeric, kumkum, flowers and naivedyam such as pongali or payasam. Many women recite the Lakshmi Ashtottaram and the vrata katha. See Margasira Masam 2026 and Lakshmivara vratam and Margasira Lakshmi vratam: rituals and benefits.

Kannada and Gujarati families also honour Lakshmi and Vishnu through the month, and some keep a Thursday Lakshmi puja too. Customs vary from family to family, so follow your own.

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Festivals in Margashirsha 2026: local US dates

Here are the main festivals of the month for all 11 US cities in our calendar. Dates are local:

CityVivah PanchamiChampa / Subrahmanya ShashtiGita Jayanti / Vaikuntha EkadashiDatta JayantiSaphala Ekadashi
New YorkSun 13 Dec 2026Tue 15 Dec 2026Sun 20 Dec 2026Wed 23 Dec 2026Sat 2 Jan 2027
Edison, NJSun 13 Dec 2026Tue 15 Dec 2026Sun 20 Dec 2026Wed 23 Dec 2026Sat 2 Jan 2027
Washington DCSun 13 Dec 2026Tue 15 Dec 2026Sun 20 Dec 2026Wed 23 Dec 2026Sat 2 Jan 2027
AtlantaSun 13 Dec 2026Tue 15 Dec 2026Sun 20 Dec 2026Wed 23 Dec 2026Sat 2 Jan 2027
ChicagoSun 13 Dec 2026Tue 15 Dec 2026Sun 20 Dec 2026Wed 23 Dec 2026Sat 2 Jan 2027
HoustonSun 13 Dec 2026Tue 15 Dec 2026Sun 20 Dec 2026Wed 23 Dec 2026Sat 2 Jan 2027
DallasSun 13 Dec 2026Tue 15 Dec 2026Sun 20 Dec 2026Wed 23 Dec 2026Sat 2 Jan 2027
PhoenixSun 13 Dec 2026Mon 14 Dec 2026Sun 20 Dec 2026Wed 23 Dec 2026Sat 2 Jan 2027
Los AngelesSun 13 Dec 2026Mon 14 Dec 2026Smarta Sat 19 Dec · Vaishnava Sun 20 DecWed 23 Dec 2026Sat 2 Jan 2027
San Jose / Bay AreaSun 13 Dec 2026Mon 14 Dec 2026Smarta Sat 19 Dec · Vaishnava Sun 20 DecWed 23 Dec 2026Sat 2 Jan 2027
SeattleSun 13 Dec 2026Mon 14 Dec 2026Smarta Sat 19 Dec · Vaishnava Sun 20 DecWed 23 Dec 2026Sat 2 Jan 2027
India (for comparison)Mon 14 Dec 2026Tue 15 Dec 2026Sun 20 Dec 2026Wed 23 Dec 2026Sun 3 Jan 2027

A few patterns stand out. Vivah Panchami and Saphala Ekadashi fall one day earlier than India in every US city. Champa / Subrahmanya Shashti is Tuesday 15 December, as in India, in the Eastern and Central time zones, but Monday 14 December in Phoenix and on the West Coast, where Shashti prevails at local sunrise a day earlier. Gita Jayanti splits by tradition only in Los Angeles, the Bay Area and Seattle. If your city is not listed, check Drik Panchang.

What each festival is

  • Vivah Panchami: the wedding of Rama and Sita, as commonly told. In the USA it falls one day before India. See Vivah Panchami 2026.
  • Champa Shashti / Subrahmanya Shashti: Khandoba's victory over Mani and Malla for Maharashtrian families, as commonly told, and Lord Subrahmanya's day in Karnataka and the South. See Subrahmanya Shashti 2026.
  • Gita Jayanti and Vaikuntha Ekadashi: Mokshada Ekadashi, the day of the Gita, falls inside Dhanurmasam this year, so it is also Vaikuntha Ekadashi. See Gita Jayanti 2026 in the USA and the Vaikuntha Ekadashi 2026 USA guide.
  • Datta Jayanti / Margasira Pournami: the appearance of Lord Dattatreya and Annapurna Jayanti, on the full moon. See Datta Jayanti 2026 in the USA.
  • Saphala Ekadashi: the dark-fortnight Ekadashi of the month, on the Saturday after New Year's Day in the USA.

Dhanurmasam, the solar month of Tiruppavai and dawn worship, also begins inside Margashirsha, with its first dawn on Wednesday 16 December in every US city. See Dhanurmasam 2026 in the USA, city by city.

Amanta and purnimanta: why calendars disagree

South and West Indian calendars are amanta: each lunar month ends on the new moon. That is the Margashirsha in this guide, from Wednesday 9 December 2026 to Thursday 7 January 2027 in the USA.

North Indian calendars are purnimanta: each month ends on the full moon. In that system Margashirsha ends with the Purnima of Wednesday 23 December, and Paush begins on Thursday 24 December 2026 in India (calculated). The festivals themselves fall on the same days in both systems. A Gujarati or Marathi family and a Hindi-speaking family in the same town may name the month differently, but they will keep Gita Jayanti and Datta Jayanti together.

Margashirsha in the American holiday season: practical tips

  • Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve Thursdays: two of the five Thursdays fall on 24 and 31 December. Do the Lakshmi puja in the early evening, before family gatherings or parties, or in the morning if your tradition allows.
  • Winter break: school winter break usually starts around the third week of December in many districts, so children can help with the kalash, rangoli and naivedyam on the later Thursdays.
  • Travel to India: the month and the Thursdays are the same in India, so the vrat continues without a break if you travel. Note that Vivah Panchami and Saphala Ekadashi fall one day later in India.
  • Winter weather: in New York, Chicago, DC and Seattle, draw the muggulu or rangoli indoors on a board near the door. Houston, Dallas, Phoenix and Southern California are mild enough for an outdoor design.
  • Lamps indoors: keep diyas on a metal plate, away from Christmas trees, curtains and smoke alarms, and never leave a flame alone.

For all December dates, see December 2026 Hindu festivals in the USA.

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Margashirsha Masam 2026 USA: frequently asked questions

When does Margashirsha Masam 2026 start in the USA?

In the amanta calendar followed by Telugu, Kannada, Marathi and Gujarati families, Margashirsha begins on Wednesday 9 December 2026 in every US city in our table, from New York to Seattle. It ends on Thursday 7 January 2027, and Pausha begins on Friday 8 January 2027.

What are the Margashirsha Thursdays in 2026 in New York?

Thursday 10 December, Thursday 17 December, Thursday 24 December, Thursday 31 December 2026 and Thursday 7 January 2027. The same five Thursdays apply in every US city in our table and in India.

When are the Margasira Lakshmivara vratam Thursdays in 2026 in the USA?

The same five days: 10, 17, 24 and 31 December 2026 and 7 January 2027. Telugu families call them Margasira Lakshmivaralu or Guruvaralu and worship Lakshmi on each one.

Is the last Margashirsha Thursday 7 January 2027?

Yes. Thursday 7 January 2027 is the last day of amanta Margashirsha in the USA and in India, so it is the fifth and final Thursday. Many families do the udyapan, the formal completion of the vrat, on the last Thursday; follow your family's custom.

Why do North Indian calendars show a different Margashirsha?

North Indian calendars are purnimanta: each month ends on the full moon. In that system Margashirsha ends with the Purnima on Wednesday 23 December 2026, and Paush begins on Thursday 24 December 2026 (India, calculated). The festivals fall on the same days; only the month names around them differ.

When is Gita Jayanti in Margashirsha 2026 in the USA?

Sunday 20 December 2026 in most US cities, the same day as India. In Los Angeles, the Bay Area and Seattle, Smarta households keep Saturday 19 December and Vaishnava traditions Sunday 20 December.

Editor's note

Editor's note (6 October 2026): This guide has been restored at its original address after the earlier version was lost. The US month dates, Margashirsha Thursdays and festival dates are computed with our sunrise-tithi calculator (Drik Panchang method, validated to 1–2 minutes). Please confirm on Drik Panchang for your city and follow your temple's calendar. We do not list temple events, darshan timings or programmes; check your temple directly. Legends are given as commonly told.

Frequently asked questions

When does Margashirsha Masam 2026 start in the USA?

In the amanta calendar followed by Telugu, Kannada, Marathi and Gujarati families, Margashirsha begins on Wednesday 9 December 2026 in every US city in the table. It ends on Thursday 7 January 2027, and Pausha begins on Friday 8 January 2027.

What are the Margashirsha Thursdays in 2026 in the USA?

The five Thursdays are 10, 17, 24 and 31 December 2026 and 7 January 2027. They are the same in every US city listed and in India.

When is Vivah Panchami 2026 in the USA?

Vivah Panchami falls on Sunday 13 December 2026 in all 11 US cities listed, one day earlier than in India, where it is Monday 14 December. It marks the wedding of Rama and Sita, as commonly told.

How do I schedule Lakshmi puja on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve Thursdays?

Two of the five Thursdays fall on 24 and 31 December. Do the Lakshmi puja in the early evening, before family gatherings or parties, or in the morning if your tradition allows.

Why do some calendars end Margashirsha on 23 December?

North Indian calendars are purnimanta, so the month ends on the full moon, and Margashirsha ends with the Purnima of Wednesday 23 December. South and West Indian amanta calendars end it on the new moon, on 7 January 2027, but the festivals fall on the same days in both.

How should I keep diyas safely during Margashirsha in a US home?

Keep diyas on a metal plate, away from Christmas trees, curtains and smoke alarms, and never leave a flame alone. In cold cities like New York, Chicago and Seattle, draw the muggulu or rangoli indoors on a board near the door.