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Karkidaka Masam (Ramayana Masam) · 2026

Devi / Bhagavati and Sri Rama

Kerala Traditions

Get a reminder before the next Karkidaka Masam (Ramayana Masam) · 2026

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Karkidaka Masam — also called Ramayana Masam — the last month of the Malayalam calendar (mid-July to mid-August). A month-long sacred observance period of daily Ramayana parayana, Bhagavathi Seva, Lalitha Sahasranamam chanting, and consumption of Karkidaka Kanji (medicinal herbal gruel). Not a single-day fast but a sustained sadhana.

Dates 2026–2027

July 17, 2026August 17, 2026

Mantra

श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम। ॐ श्री भगवत्यै नमः।

Sri Rama Jaya Rama Jaya Jaya Rama · Om Sri Bhagavatyai namah

Glory to Sri Rama. Salutations to the Devi (Bhagavati).

How to recite

This is a month-long observance, not a single fast. Daily Ramayana parayana (Adhyatma Ramayana of Thunchath Ezhuthachan) at home and temple — one canto a day so the whole Ramayana is completed in the month. Visit a Bhagavati temple every evening for Bhagavathi Seva and Sahasranama Archana; chant Lalitha Sahasranamam. Drink Karkidaka Kanji daily — a medicinal Ayurvedic gruel taken to cleanse the body during the monsoon. Married women decorate the puja room with Ashtamangalyam.

Benefits

Karkidakam is considered the most spiritually charged month of the Malayalam calendar — observance is said to bring physical health (via the kanji), Devi's protection through the monsoon, and Sri Rama's grace through the daily parayana. Many Kerala families consider this the most important monthly observance of the year.

✦ Special Note

2026: Jul 17 – Aug 16 (Karkidakam 1 to Karkidakam 31, Malayalam Era 1201–02). Karkidaka Vavu Bali falls within this month (Aug 12, 2026). Sahasranama Archanai at Devi temples every evening of the month.

Foods Allowed

Karkidaka Kanji (medicinal herbal rice gruel with dashapushpam, jeerakam, methi, coconut milk, jaggery)Boiled vegetables — yam, plantain, ash-gourdTender coconut waterSimple sattvic vegetarian meals

Foods to Avoid

Heavy oily foodNon-vegetarian food (preferred avoidance)Onion, garlic (Brahmin households)Stale food

Meal Idea

Karkidaka Kanji (Ayurvedic medicinal gruel) once a day, with simple boiled vegetables and tender coconut water.

🪔 Aarti

Aarti Kije Shri Ramlala Ki

आरती कीजे श्रीरामलला की । पूर्ण निपुण धनुर्वेद कला की ॥ धनुष वाण कर सोहत नीके । शोभा कोटि मदन मद फीके ॥ सुभग सिंहासन आप बिराजैं । वाम भाग वैदेही राजैं ॥ कर जोरे रिपुहन हनुमाना । भरत लखन सेवत बिधि नाना ॥ शिव अज नारद गुन गन गावैं । निगम नेति कह पार न पावैं ॥ नाम प्रभाव सकल जग जानैं । शेष महेश गनेस बखानैं ॥ भगत कामतरु पूरणकामा । दया क्षमा करुना गुन धामा ॥ सुग्रीवहुँ को कपिपति कीन्हा । राज विभीषन को प्रभु दीन्हा ॥ खेल खेल महु सिंधु बंधाये । लोक सकल अनुपम यश छाये ॥ दुर्गम गढ़ लंकापति मारे । सुर नर मुनि सबके भय टारे ॥ देवन थापि सुजस विस्तारे । कोटिक दीन मलीन उधारे ॥ कपि केवट खग निसिचर केरे । करि करुना दुःख दोष निवेरे ॥ देत सदा दासन्ह को माना । जगतपूज्य भे कपि हनुमाना ॥ आरत दीन सदा सत्कारे । तिहुंपुर होत राम जयकारे ॥

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Get a reminder before the next Karkidaka Masam (Ramayana Masam) · 2026

At 7pm the evening before, each time it comes around. Turn it off anytime.

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