Between your inbox overflowing, that one leaky tap that no one bothers to fix, and your attention span lasting shorter than a reel, what you need is not just a break, but a spark. Enter: Masik Karthigai, a cosmic glow-up your soul didn’t know it was craving.

What is Masik Karthigai?

Masik Karthigai is a monthly Hindu festival dedicated to Lord Shiva and Lord Murugan (aka Kartikeya, the God of War and Glow)celebrated mostly in Tamil Nadu and other parts of South India. It is celebrated when the Karthigai Nakshatra (Krittika star) rises in the lunar calendar. Think of it as being kind of like a monthly check-in with greater power.

Why is Masik Karthigai celebrated?

According to lores, Lord Shiva once turned himself into an endless flame of light to remind Brahma and Vishnu who is the actual boss, and that cosmic fire is what is honoured every Masik Karthigai. Another version of the story states that six sparks from Shiva’s third eye landed in a river and were raised by six divine maidens. Those sparks merged to become Lord Murugan. So, on Karthigai night, when you light those oil lamps (Deepams), you are not just making your home look aesthetic, you are connecting with a fire older than time.

When to celebrate Masik Karthigai in 2025

The next Masik Karthigai falls on Sunday, 22 June 2025. Here are all the dates for the year, so you are ready from before:

• 09 January 2025

• 06 February 2025

• 05 March 2025

• 01 April 2025

• 29 April 2025

• 26 May 2025

• 22 June 2025

• 20 July 2025

• 16 August 2025

• 12 September 2025

• 10 October 2025

• 06 November 2025

• 04 December 2025

• 31 December 2025

Why Masik Karthigai Matters?

Masik Karthigai isn’t just about lighting lamps and posting them on your Insta handle. It is a time to clear out darkness, literal and emotional. Lighting the diyas symbolises the removal of ignorance, ego, and everything that has been blocking your inner truth. So, on Masik Karthigai, you are not just honouring lord Shiva and Murugan. You are, in a way, also saying ‘yes’ to clarity, courage and Spiritual glow-ups.  Vedic astrology sees fire as a purifying element, and Krittika Nakshatra is ruled by Agni, the god of fire. So if you have recently been feeling stuck, low, or spiritually scrambled, think of this celebration as a celestial reset button, which is sure to bring you peace and calm your head.

Masik Karthigai rituals

Masik Karthigai doesn’t ask for pomp and show and an endless list of ingredients. It’s rooted in simplicity and here is how to celebrate the festival: 

• Wake up early and take a bath before sunrise.

• Clean your home.

• Set up a puja corner with idols or photos of Lord Shiva, Parvati, and Murugan.

• Light oil lamp in the evening. Use either ghee or sesame oil.

• Offer flowers, prasadam (kheer, dry fruits, fruits), and chant: Kanda Sashti Kavasam to appease Lord Murugan, and Shiva Ashtakam or any Shiva stotram for divine support.

• Reflect or just sit quietly in that warm light, soaking the divine.

If this sounds like a lot to you, don’t stress. We got you.

You can always listen to mantras, aartis, and Karthigai Deepam stories on the AstroSure.ai YouTube channel. 

The importance of Masik Karthigai

Krittika Nakshatra is known for its cleansing and clarifying powers. People born under this star are often blessed with a sharp mind, intense focus, and an inner fire to lead. Masik Karthigai gives all of us a chance to borrow some of that energy, if only for a night. Lighting earthen under this Nakshatra:

• Enhances your willpower

• Heals karmic baggage

• Invokes blessings for family,

• Gives you courage and protection.

Masik Karthigai is also the perfect day to perform remedies for Mars and the Sun, the two grahas associated with strength and vitality.

Why you should celebrate Masik Karthigai even if you’re not religious

Celebrating Masik Karthigai is a meditative process. It’s symbolic. By performing the rituals, you are inviting light in all its forms (spiritual, emotional, literal). Even lighting a lamp in your window while listening to the chants can shift the energy around you. 

Want to align with the cosmic flame? Ask Agastyaa. Let AstroSure.ai light your spiritual path.