Quick answer: Tula Sankranti 2026 is on Saturday, 17 October 2026, when the Sun moves from Kanya (Virgo) into Tula (Libra) in the sidereal zodiac. It opens the solar month of Tula — Aippasi in Tamil Nadu and Thulam in Kerala. It does not begin Karthika Masam this year: in the lunar calendar Karthika starts on 10 November 2026, after Diwali.

This year Tula Sankranti falls in the middle of Sharad Navratri (Saptami, the day of Saraswati Puja in many regions), so temples and homes combine Surya worship with Devi worship on the same day.

Tula Sankranti 2026 — key details

AspectDetail
DateSaturday, 17 October 2026 (same date in India, the USA, UK, Australia and the Gulf)
Sun’s movementKanya (Virgo) → Tula (Libra), sidereal
Solar month that beginsTula — Aippasi (Tamil Nadu), Thulam (Kerala), Kartika in the Odia and Bengali solar calendars
Punya KaalThe hours around the Sankranti moment — check Drik Panchang for your city
Same dayNavratri Saptami · Saraswati Puja · Kolkata Durga Puja Maha Shashthi rituals (17 October)
Karthika Masam 202610 November – 8 December (lunar, begins after Diwali)

Why Tula Sankranti is not the start of Karthika in 2026

Sankrantis follow the Sun; Hindu lunar months follow the Moon. In many years the solar month of Tula and the lunar month of Karthika overlap closely, which is why the two are often linked. 2026, however, has an extra lunar month (Adhika Jyeshtha, 17 May – 15 June), which pushes every lunar month about three weeks later. As a result, Ashwayuja (with Navratri and Dussehra) runs through late October, and Karthika Masam begins only on 10 November. Karthika Deepam, Karthika Somavaram and Karthika Snanam therefore start in November this year — see Karthika Masam 2026.

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How Tula Sankranti is observed

  • Karnataka — Kaveri Sankramana: at Talacauvery in Kodagu, devotees gather for Theerthodbhava, when the sacred spring at the source of the Kaveri wells up at the Sankranti moment. Kodava families worship the river as Kaveri Amma.
  • Tamil Nadu — Aippasi begins: the month of Aippasi starts, and devotees take Thula Snanam, the holy dip in the Kaveri, especially at Mayiladuthurai, through the month.
  • Odisha — Garbhana Sankranti: farmers pray for a full paddy harvest as the grain ripens in the fields.
  • Kerala — Thulam: the month of Thulam begins, with the north-east (Thulavarsham) rains.
  • Everywhere: Surya puja at sunrise, charity during the Punya Kaal, and remembrance of ancestors.

Tula Sankranti puja vidhi (home)

  1. Wake before sunrise and bathe; add a few drops of Ganga jal to the water.
  2. Offer arghya to the rising Sun from a copper vessel with water, red flowers, kumkum and akshata.
  3. Recite Aditya Hridayam or chant “Om Ghrinih Suryaya Namah” 108 times.
  4. Because it is Navratri Saptami, follow the Surya puja with your Navratri Devi puja and, where observed, Saraswati Puja for books and instruments.
  5. Give charity during the Punya Kaal — food, clothes, sesame or jaggery to those in need.

Tula Sankranti for NRIs

  • The date is Saturday 17 October in the USA, Canada, UK, Australia and the Gulf as well, so it falls on a weekend for most families.
  • Offer arghya from a window or balcony facing east if you cannot go outside at sunrise.
  • Many temples abroad hold Navratri programmes that evening — combine the visit with a Sankranti offering.
  • Kodava and Kannadiga associations in the USA, UK and Australia often hold Kaveri Sankramana gatherings — check your local association.

Frequently asked questions

When is Tula Sankranti 2026?

Tula Sankranti is on Saturday, 17 October 2026, when the Sun enters sidereal Libra.

Does Karthika Masam begin on Tula Sankranti in 2026?

No. Because of the extra lunar month this year, Karthika Masam (Telugu and Kannada calendar) begins on 10 November 2026, the day after the Diwali new moon, and ends on 8 December.

Is Tula Sankranti the same as the Sun entering Libra in Western astrology?

No. In the tropical (Western) zodiac the Sun enters Libra around 23 September. Tula Sankranti uses the sidereal zodiac, so it comes about 24 days later, on 17 October in 2026.

What festivals fall on Tula Sankranti 2026?

It coincides with Navratri Saptami and Saraswati Puja, and with Kaveri Sankramana (Theerthodbhava) at Talacauvery. Dussehra follows three days later, on 20 October.

Dates follow Drik Panchang. Last checked 4 October 2026.

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