Practical Guide
Chandrashtama Days December 2026: All 12 Rasis, Exact Times
December moves from Karthigai into Margazhi on the 16th and brings two of the year’s great temple days: Vaikunta Ekadasi on the 20th and Arudra Darshan on the 24th. Sabarimala’s Mandala Pooja follows on the 27th, and the month closes with Christmas and New Year travel, when year-end deadlines and holidays collide. Check your window before the calendar fills.
Short answer
Chandrashtama Days December 2026: All 12 Rasis, Exact Times
Chandrashtama days for December 2026: exact start and end times (IST) for all 12 rasis, and who is affected on Vaikunta Ekadasi and Arudra Darshan.
Author
Chandrashtama.in Editorial Team
Role
Vedic Timing & Research
Last reviewed
2026-09-15
EST. READING
6 minutes
1. Complete December 2026 Chandrashtama Calendar
Here is the complete calendar of Chandrashtama periods for all 12 rasis in December 2026. All times are shown in Indian Standard Time (IST, GMT+5:30). If you are outside India, convert these to your local timezone.
| Rasi (Moon Sign) | Starts (IST) | Ends (IST) | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mesha (Aries) | 7 Dec, 09:14 am | 9 Dec, 09:00 pm | 59.8 hours |
| Rishabam (Taurus) | 9 Dec, 09:00 pm | 12 Dec, 09:51 am | 60.9 hours |
| Midhunam (Gemini) | 12 Dec, 09:51 am | 14 Dec, 10:36 pm | 60.8 hours |
| Kadagam (Cancer) | 14 Dec, 10:36 pm | 17 Dec, 09:13 am | 58.6 hours |
| Simmam (Leo) | 17 Dec, 09:13 am | 19 Dec, 03:58 pm | 54.8 hours |
| Kanni (Virgo) | 19 Dec, 03:58 pm | 21 Dec, 06:36 pm | 50.6 hours |
| Thulam (Libra) | 21 Dec, 06:36 pm | 23 Dec, 06:26 pm | 47.8 hours |
| Vrichigam (Scorpio) | 23 Dec, 06:26 pm | 25 Dec, 05:33 pm | 47.1 hours |
| Dhanusu (Sagittarius) | 25 Dec, 05:33 pm | 27 Dec, 06:04 pm | 48.5 hours |
| Makaram (Capricorn) | 1) 30 Nov, 09:42 am 2) 27 Dec, 06:04 pm | 1) 2 Dec, 02:59 pm 2) 29 Dec, 09:37 pm | 1) 53.3 hours 2) 51.5 hours |
| Kumbam (Aquarius) | 1) 2 Dec, 02:59 pm 2) 29 Dec, 09:37 pm | 1) 4 Dec, 11:03 pm 2) 1 Jan, 04:47 am | 1) 56.1 hours 2) 55.2 hours |
| Meenam (Pisces) | 4 Dec, 11:03 pm | 7 Dec, 09:14 am | 58.2 hours |
These timings are computed from the same lunar transit data that powers every calendar page on this site, not transcribed by hand.
2. How December breaks down
December 2026 contains 14 Chandrashtama windows across the twelve rasis. The longest belongs to Rishabam, running 60.9 hours.
2 rasis have two separate windows this month: Makaram, Kumbam. Assuming the month is done once the first one ends is an easy mistake to make.
No rasi is skipped this month — every sign has at least one window.
3. Festivals in December 2026 and who is in Chandrashtama
Margazhi begins (Dhanu Sankranti) — Wednesday, 16 December. The Sun enters Dhanu at 10:29 AM (Drik Panchang, Chennai) and Margazhi begins; Prokerala also lists Margazhi 1 on this day. It is a month of pre-dawn prayer, Tiruppavai and Tiruvempavai, and many families keep weddings and housewarmings for Thai instead. If you are fixing a date for early next year, now is the time to check it. In Chandrashtama on this day: Kadagam (14 Dec, 10:36 pm – 17 Dec, 09:13 am).
Vaikunta Ekadasi — Sunday, 20 December. The Ekadasi tithi runs from 10:09 PM on 19 December to 8:14 PM on 20 December, and the fast is broken on the 21st between 6:26 and 8:43 AM (Drik Panchang, Chennai). Vishnu temples open the Paramapada Vasal before dawn, and queues at Srirangam and Tirupati form the night before. If you are in Chandrashtama, reconsider the overnight wait and the crowd, not the prayer. In Chandrashtama on this day: Kanni (19 Dec, 03:58 pm – 21 Dec, 06:36 pm).
Arudra Darshan — Thursday, 24 December. Thiruvathirai nakshatra runs from 4:53 AM on the 24th to 1:47 AM on the 25th (Drik Panchang, Chennai). Families rise early for Nataraja’s darshan, at Chidambaram above all, and make kali at home. A darshan at a nearby temple keeps the observance without the travel. In Chandrashtama on this day: Vrichigam (23 Dec, 06:26 pm – 25 Dec, 05:33 pm).
Christmas — Friday, 25 December. A public holiday and one of the busiest travel days of the year. If a journey is fixed, a day outside your window is the calmer one to travel on. In Chandrashtama on this day: Vrichigam (23 Dec, 06:26 pm – 25 Dec, 05:33 pm); Dhanusu (25 Dec, 05:33 pm – 27 Dec, 06:04 pm).
Mandala Pooja — Sunday, 27 December. The Mandala Pooja at Sabarimala closes the 41-day Mandala season (Drik Panchang). Devotees who have kept the vratham since 17 November are often on the road this week. If your window falls here, plan the long drive and the climb carefully. In Chandrashtama on this day: Dhanusu (25 Dec, 05:33 pm – 27 Dec, 06:04 pm); Makaram (27 Dec, 06:04 pm – 29 Dec, 09:37 pm).
New Year’s Eve — Thursday, 31 December. Late nights, travel and resolutions. Where a window runs past midnight into 1 January, keep the evening small rather than skip it, and save the big resolution for a clearer day. In Chandrashtama on this day: Kumbam (29 Dec, 09:37 pm – 1 Jan, 04:47 am).
Festival dates: Drik Panchang (Chennai). Local observance can differ by a day, so confirm with your family’s practice.
4. Guidance for your specific rasi
Each rasi has its own December 2026 page with a calendar view, the window timings again in your own timezone, and month-specific practical guidance:
Mesha · Rishabam · Midhunam · Kadagam · Simmam · Kanni · Thulam · Vrichigam · Dhanusu · Makaram · Kumbam · Meenam
Margazhi is traditionally a month for practice rather than enterprise. If your window falls inside it, treat that as permission to do less, not as a warning that something will go wrong.
Chandrashtama.in Editorial Team
Vedic Timing & Research
The Chandrashtama.in Editorial Desk focuses on bridging the gap between traditional Vedic astrological rhythms and modern mindful living. Our mission is to provide clear, data-driven insights to help readers navigate their daily timing with confidence.
Check Current Month Dates
Quickly access the specific dates and timings for your rasi for the current month.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find my Chandrashtama dates in December 2026?
Find your Janma Rasi — the sign the Moon occupied at your birth — in the table above. If you do not know it, our guide on finding your Janma Rasi works it out from your birth nakshatra.
What timezone are these timings in?
Indian Standard Time (IST, GMT+5:30). Chandrashtama depends on the Moon's actual position, so the moment is the same everywhere in the world — only the clock time you read it as changes.
Should I avoid important work during Chandrashtama?
Traditional practice suggests postponing new ventures and major decisions. In practice, keeping those days lighter and moving the date when you have the choice is usually enough.
Which rasis have two Chandrashtama windows in December 2026?
Makaram and Kumbam each have two separate windows this month, so check both lines in the table.
Which rasis are in Chandrashtama on Margazhi begins (Dhanu Sankranti), Wednesday, 16 December?
Kadagam. Every other rasi is clear that day; the exact times are in the festival section above.
Which rasis are in Chandrashtama on Vaikunta Ekadasi, Sunday, 20 December?
Kanni. Every other rasi is clear that day; the exact times are in the festival section above.
Which rasis are in Chandrashtama on Arudra Darshan, Thursday, 24 December?
Vrichigam. Every other rasi is clear that day; the exact times are in the festival section above.
Which rasis are in Chandrashtama on Christmas, Friday, 25 December?
Vrichigam, Dhanusu. Every other rasi is clear that day; the exact times are in the festival section above.
Which rasis are in Chandrashtama on Mandala Pooja, Sunday, 27 December?
Dhanusu, Makaram. Every other rasi is clear that day; the exact times are in the festival section above.
Which rasis are in Chandrashtama on New Year’s Eve, Thursday, 31 December?
Kumbam. Every other rasi is clear that day; the exact times are in the festival section above.