Skanda Shashti (Kanda Sashti) 2026 and Soora Samharam (Sura Samharam) are on Sunday, November 15, 2026 in India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, the UK and Australia, and on Saturday, November 14 in the United States and Canada.
Skanda Shashti is the festival of Lord Skanda, also called Murugan, Kartikeya, Subramanya and Shanmukha, the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati and the commander of the army of the gods. The Skanda Shashti that comes after Diwali, in the bright half of Kartika, is among the most important of the year. Devotees keep a fast for six days, beginning on Pratipada, the first day of the bright half, and ending on Shashti, the sixth day, with Soora Samharam, the Lord's victory over the demon Surapadman. Many chant the Kanda Sashti Kavasam and visit Murugan temples through the six days. In Tamil Nadu the festival is celebrated at the six abodes of Murugan, the Arupadai Veedu, and above all at Tiruchendur by the sea. On the next day comes Thirukalyanam, the divine wedding of the Lord.
Skanda becomes the leader of the gods
In the Mahabharata the sage Markandeya tells the Pandavas how Skanda came to lead the army of the gods. Devasena, a daughter of Prajapati, had refused the asura Kesin, and Indra rescued her. She asked Indra to find her a husband strong enough to conquer gods and asuras alike. Indra searched in vain, until at the new moon he saw wonderful signs in the sky, and Brahma told him that the child to come would be her husband and would lead the gods' army.
That child was Skanda. When he appeared, shining and handsome, the sages asked him to become the Indra of the three worlds, but he said he did not want Indra's throne and would serve Indra instead. So the gods anointed him as the leader of their army, Rudra placed a golden garland around his neck, and a red cock became his banner. Indra then brought Devasena, and Skanda took her hand. The Mahabharata says that Skanda attained his object on the sixth lunar day, and so that day, Shashti, is held to be of great importance.
Soora Samharam
The Kanda Puranam tells of Surapadman, a mighty asura who won great boons from Lord Shiva and ruled the three worlds with cruelty, keeping Indra's son Jayanta and many gods in his prisons. When the gods prayed to Shiva, Murugan was born from divine sparks, with six faces and twelve arms. After his armies and brothers fell, Surapadman fought with every trick of magic. He went into the middle of the sea and became a giant mango tree that covered the oceans, the heavens and the whole earth. Murugan hurled his Vel, his spear, and cut the tree down, and when Surapadman rose again with his sword, the Vel split him in two.
By Shiva's old boon Surapadman did not perish. The two halves rose again as a rooster and a peacock. Then the Lord looked on them with grace, and all the hatred left Surapadman. The Kanda Puranam says it was like dark iron turned into shining gold. Murugan made the rooster the banner on his chariot and the peacock his mount, freed the imprisoned gods, and came back to Tiruchendur, where all the gods worshipped him.
Another telling, kept at Tiruchendur and by the families who keep Kanda Sashti, says that the final battle took place at Tiruchendur by the sea and that Murugan won it on the sixth day, Shashti. That victory is remembered every year as Soora Samharam, on the sixth day of the Kanda Sashti festival.
Skanda Shashti and Soora Samharam 2026, city by city
Click your city for the full Skanda Shashti page, or the Soora Samharam link for that day's page with sunrise and sunset.
India (Sunday, November 15)
Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Singapore (Sunday, November 15)
United Kingdom and Australia (Sunday, November 15)
United States and Canada (Saturday, November 14)
Your city is not here? Open mypanchang.com/skandashashti.php or mypanchang.com/soorasamharam.php and choose your city. In Tamil: ஸ்கந்த சஷ்டி
For the full sankalpa for any day and your city: mypanchang.com/sankalpa
May Lord Murugan's Vel remove every obstacle from your path, and may he bless your family with courage, health and peace. Wishing you a blessed Kanda Sashti.
Pundit Mahesh Shastri
www.mypanchang.com
