Margashirsha Purnima 2026

How to observe Margashirsha Purnima

1. 1Bathe early -- in a river, or at home with a few drops of Ganga jal in the water -- and take the sankalp for the vrat.
2. 2Fast through the day; most take fruit, milk and water, or one satvik meal.
3. 3Perform the Satyanarayan Puja or a simple Vishnu puja: offer Tulsi, yellow flowers, panchamrit and panjiri or sheera.
4. 4Read or listen to the Satyanarayan Vrat Katha, then do aarti.
5. 5After moonrise, offer Arghya to the Moon: water mixed with raw milk, rice and white flowers.
6. 6Break the fast after the Moon's Arghya, and give food or alms (daan) if you can.

When the full-moon tithi starts in the afternoon, some households keep the fast on the day before -- follow your family's practice.

Samagri (what you need)

• Ganga jal
• Tulsi leaves
• Panchamrit (milk, curd, ghee, honey, sugar)
• Bananas and yellow flowers
• Panjiri or sheera for prasad
• Kalash, mango leaves and a coconut (for Satyanarayan Puja)
• Diya, ghee and incense
• Raw milk and rice for the Moon's Arghya