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Mandala Kalam (Vratam)
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Kartik · Shukla Saptami · Lord Ayyappa

Mandala Kalam (Vratam) 2026मंडल कालम (व्रतम)

Mandala Kalam (Vratam) 2026 runs from Monday, 16 November to Saturday, 26 December 2026 in Columbus, OH, and The morning saranam: 5:26 AM–7:18 AM EST, UTC−5.

In 40 days · computed for Columbus, OH · EST, UTC−5Your panchang says otherwise?
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Columbus · Monday, 16 November 2026

The day, hour by hour

  1. The morning saranam

    5:26 AM – 7:18 AM

    Every day of the vratham begins with a bath before sunrise, the diya before Lord Ayyappa and the saranam, and only then food.

  2. Malayidal · the mala

    7:18 AM – 9:18 AM

    On the first morning, after the bath, the guru swami or the temple priest puts Lord Ayyappa's mala round the neck of whoever will climb to Sabarimala, and the vratham begins.

  3. The evening diya and bhajan

    5:15 PM – 8:04 PM

    At dusk the diya is lit again before Lord Ayyappa, the saranam called, the bhajans sung, and the Harivarasanam closes the evening.

  4. The morning saranam

    5:27 AM – 7:19 AMTuesday, 17 November

    Every day of the vratham begins with a bath before sunrise, the diya before Lord Ayyappa and the saranam, and only then food.

  5. The evening diya and bhajan

    5:14 PM – 8:03 PMTuesday, 17 November

    At dusk the diya is lit again before Lord Ayyappa, the saranam called, the bhajans sung, and the Harivarasanam closes the evening.

  6. The morning saranam

    5:28 AM – 7:21 AMWednesday, 18 November

    Every day of the vratham begins with a bath before sunrise, the diya before Lord Ayyappa and the saranam, and only then food.

  7. The evening diya and bhajan

    5:13 PM – 8:03 PMWednesday, 18 November

    At dusk the diya is lit again before Lord Ayyappa, the saranam called, the bhajans sung, and the Harivarasanam closes the evening.

  8. The morning saranam

    5:29 AM – 7:22 AMThursday, 19 November

    Every day of the vratham begins with a bath before sunrise, the diya before Lord Ayyappa and the saranam, and only then food.

  9. The evening diya and bhajan

    5:13 PM – 8:03 PMThursday, 19 November

    At dusk the diya is lit again before Lord Ayyappa, the saranam called, the bhajans sung, and the Harivarasanam closes the evening.

  10. The morning saranam

    5:29 AM – 7:23 AMFriday, 20 November

    Every day of the vratham begins with a bath before sunrise, the diya before Lord Ayyappa and the saranam, and only then food.

  11. The evening diya and bhajan

    5:12 PM – 8:02 PMFriday, 20 November

    At dusk the diya is lit again before Lord Ayyappa, the saranam called, the bhajans sung, and the Harivarasanam closes the evening.

  12. The morning saranam

    5:30 AM – 7:24 AMSaturday, 21 November

    Every day of the vratham begins with a bath before sunrise, the diya before Lord Ayyappa and the saranam, and only then food.

  13. The evening diya and bhajan

    5:12 PM – 8:02 PMSaturday, 21 November

    At dusk the diya is lit again before Lord Ayyappa, the saranam called, the bhajans sung, and the Harivarasanam closes the evening.

  14. The morning saranam

    5:31 AM – 7:25 AMSunday, 22 November

    Every day of the vratham begins with a bath before sunrise, the diya before Lord Ayyappa and the saranam, and only then food.

  15. The evening diya and bhajan

    5:11 PM – 8:02 PMSunday, 22 November

    At dusk the diya is lit again before Lord Ayyappa, the saranam called, the bhajans sung, and the Harivarasanam closes the evening.

  16. The morning saranam

    5:32 AM – 7:26 AMMonday, 23 November

    Every day of the vratham begins with a bath before sunrise, the diya before Lord Ayyappa and the saranam, and only then food.

  17. The evening diya and bhajan

    5:10 PM – 8:02 PMMonday, 23 November

    At dusk the diya is lit again before Lord Ayyappa, the saranam called, the bhajans sung, and the Harivarasanam closes the evening.

  18. The morning saranam

    5:33 AM – 7:27 AMTuesday, 24 November

    Every day of the vratham begins with a bath before sunrise, the diya before Lord Ayyappa and the saranam, and only then food.

  19. The evening diya and bhajan

    5:10 PM – 8:01 PMTuesday, 24 November

    At dusk the diya is lit again before Lord Ayyappa, the saranam called, the bhajans sung, and the Harivarasanam closes the evening.

  20. The morning saranam

    5:34 AM – 7:28 AMWednesday, 25 November

    Every day of the vratham begins with a bath before sunrise, the diya before Lord Ayyappa and the saranam, and only then food.

  21. The evening diya and bhajan

    5:09 PM – 8:01 PMWednesday, 25 November

    At dusk the diya is lit again before Lord Ayyappa, the saranam called, the bhajans sung, and the Harivarasanam closes the evening.

  22. The morning saranam

    5:35 AM – 7:29 AMThursday, 26 November

    Every day of the vratham begins with a bath before sunrise, the diya before Lord Ayyappa and the saranam, and only then food.

  23. The evening diya and bhajan

    5:09 PM – 8:01 PMThursday, 26 November

    At dusk the diya is lit again before Lord Ayyappa, the saranam called, the bhajans sung, and the Harivarasanam closes the evening.

  24. The morning saranam

    5:36 AM – 7:30 AMFriday, 27 November

    Every day of the vratham begins with a bath before sunrise, the diya before Lord Ayyappa and the saranam, and only then food.

  25. The evening diya and bhajan

    5:09 PM – 8:01 PMFriday, 27 November

    At dusk the diya is lit again before Lord Ayyappa, the saranam called, the bhajans sung, and the Harivarasanam closes the evening.

  26. The morning saranam

    5:36 AM – 7:32 AMSaturday, 28 November

    Every day of the vratham begins with a bath before sunrise, the diya before Lord Ayyappa and the saranam, and only then food.

  27. The evening diya and bhajan

    5:08 PM – 8:01 PMSaturday, 28 November

    At dusk the diya is lit again before Lord Ayyappa, the saranam called, the bhajans sung, and the Harivarasanam closes the evening.

  28. The morning saranam

    5:37 AM – 7:33 AMSunday, 29 November

    Every day of the vratham begins with a bath before sunrise, the diya before Lord Ayyappa and the saranam, and only then food.

  29. The evening diya and bhajan

    5:08 PM – 8:01 PMSunday, 29 November

    At dusk the diya is lit again before Lord Ayyappa, the saranam called, the bhajans sung, and the Harivarasanam closes the evening.

  30. The morning saranam

    5:38 AM – 7:34 AMMonday, 30 November

    Every day of the vratham begins with a bath before sunrise, the diya before Lord Ayyappa and the saranam, and only then food.

  31. The evening diya and bhajan

    5:08 PM – 8:01 PMMonday, 30 November

    At dusk the diya is lit again before Lord Ayyappa, the saranam called, the bhajans sung, and the Harivarasanam closes the evening.

  32. The morning saranam

    5:39 AM – 7:35 AMTuesday, 1 December

    Every day of the vratham begins with a bath before sunrise, the diya before Lord Ayyappa and the saranam, and only then food.

  33. The evening diya and bhajan

    5:07 PM – 8:01 PMTuesday, 1 December

    At dusk the diya is lit again before Lord Ayyappa, the saranam called, the bhajans sung, and the Harivarasanam closes the evening.

  34. The morning saranam

    5:40 AM – 7:36 AMWednesday, 2 December

    Every day of the vratham begins with a bath before sunrise, the diya before Lord Ayyappa and the saranam, and only then food.

  35. The evening diya and bhajan

    5:07 PM – 8:01 PMWednesday, 2 December

    At dusk the diya is lit again before Lord Ayyappa, the saranam called, the bhajans sung, and the Harivarasanam closes the evening.

  36. The morning saranam

    5:41 AM – 7:37 AMThursday, 3 December

    Every day of the vratham begins with a bath before sunrise, the diya before Lord Ayyappa and the saranam, and only then food.

  37. The evening diya and bhajan

    5:07 PM – 8:01 PMThursday, 3 December

    At dusk the diya is lit again before Lord Ayyappa, the saranam called, the bhajans sung, and the Harivarasanam closes the evening.

  38. The morning saranam

    5:41 AM – 7:38 AMFriday, 4 December

    Every day of the vratham begins with a bath before sunrise, the diya before Lord Ayyappa and the saranam, and only then food.

  39. The evening diya and bhajan

    5:07 PM – 8:01 PMFriday, 4 December

    At dusk the diya is lit again before Lord Ayyappa, the saranam called, the bhajans sung, and the Harivarasanam closes the evening.

  40. The morning saranam

    5:42 AM – 7:38 AMSaturday, 5 December

    Every day of the vratham begins with a bath before sunrise, the diya before Lord Ayyappa and the saranam, and only then food.

  41. The evening diya and bhajan

    5:07 PM – 8:01 PMSaturday, 5 December

    At dusk the diya is lit again before Lord Ayyappa, the saranam called, the bhajans sung, and the Harivarasanam closes the evening.

  42. The morning saranam

    5:43 AM – 7:39 AMSunday, 6 December

    Every day of the vratham begins with a bath before sunrise, the diya before Lord Ayyappa and the saranam, and only then food.

  43. The evening diya and bhajan

    5:07 PM – 8:01 PMSunday, 6 December

    At dusk the diya is lit again before Lord Ayyappa, the saranam called, the bhajans sung, and the Harivarasanam closes the evening.

  44. The morning saranam

    5:44 AM – 7:40 AMMonday, 7 December

    Every day of the vratham begins with a bath before sunrise, the diya before Lord Ayyappa and the saranam, and only then food.

  45. The evening diya and bhajan

    5:07 PM – 8:01 PMMonday, 7 December

    At dusk the diya is lit again before Lord Ayyappa, the saranam called, the bhajans sung, and the Harivarasanam closes the evening.

  46. The morning saranam

    5:45 AM – 7:41 AMTuesday, 8 December

    Every day of the vratham begins with a bath before sunrise, the diya before Lord Ayyappa and the saranam, and only then food.

  47. The evening diya and bhajan

    5:07 PM – 8:02 PMTuesday, 8 December

    At dusk the diya is lit again before Lord Ayyappa, the saranam called, the bhajans sung, and the Harivarasanam closes the evening.

  48. The morning saranam

    5:45 AM – 7:42 AMWednesday, 9 December

    Every day of the vratham begins with a bath before sunrise, the diya before Lord Ayyappa and the saranam, and only then food.

  49. The evening diya and bhajan

    5:07 PM – 8:02 PMWednesday, 9 December

    At dusk the diya is lit again before Lord Ayyappa, the saranam called, the bhajans sung, and the Harivarasanam closes the evening.

  50. The morning saranam

    5:46 AM – 7:43 AMThursday, 10 December

    Every day of the vratham begins with a bath before sunrise, the diya before Lord Ayyappa and the saranam, and only then food.

  51. The evening diya and bhajan

    5:07 PM – 8:02 PMThursday, 10 December

    At dusk the diya is lit again before Lord Ayyappa, the saranam called, the bhajans sung, and the Harivarasanam closes the evening.

  52. The morning saranam

    5:47 AM – 7:44 AMFriday, 11 December

    Every day of the vratham begins with a bath before sunrise, the diya before Lord Ayyappa and the saranam, and only then food.

  53. The evening diya and bhajan

    5:07 PM – 8:02 PMFriday, 11 December

    At dusk the diya is lit again before Lord Ayyappa, the saranam called, the bhajans sung, and the Harivarasanam closes the evening.

  54. The morning saranam

    5:47 AM – 7:44 AMSaturday, 12 December

    Every day of the vratham begins with a bath before sunrise, the diya before Lord Ayyappa and the saranam, and only then food.

  55. The evening diya and bhajan

    5:07 PM – 8:03 PMSaturday, 12 December

    At dusk the diya is lit again before Lord Ayyappa, the saranam called, the bhajans sung, and the Harivarasanam closes the evening.

  56. The morning saranam

    5:48 AM – 7:45 AMSunday, 13 December

    Every day of the vratham begins with a bath before sunrise, the diya before Lord Ayyappa and the saranam, and only then food.

  57. The evening diya and bhajan

    5:07 PM – 8:03 PMSunday, 13 December

    At dusk the diya is lit again before Lord Ayyappa, the saranam called, the bhajans sung, and the Harivarasanam closes the evening.

  58. The morning saranam

    5:49 AM – 7:46 AMMonday, 14 December

    Every day of the vratham begins with a bath before sunrise, the diya before Lord Ayyappa and the saranam, and only then food.

  59. The evening diya and bhajan

    5:07 PM – 8:03 PMMonday, 14 December

    At dusk the diya is lit again before Lord Ayyappa, the saranam called, the bhajans sung, and the Harivarasanam closes the evening.

  60. The morning saranam

    5:49 AM – 7:47 AMTuesday, 15 December

    Every day of the vratham begins with a bath before sunrise, the diya before Lord Ayyappa and the saranam, and only then food.

  61. The evening diya and bhajan

    5:08 PM – 8:04 PMTuesday, 15 December

    At dusk the diya is lit again before Lord Ayyappa, the saranam called, the bhajans sung, and the Harivarasanam closes the evening.

  62. The morning saranam

    5:50 AM – 7:47 AMWednesday, 16 December

    Every day of the vratham begins with a bath before sunrise, the diya before Lord Ayyappa and the saranam, and only then food.

  63. The evening diya and bhajan

    5:08 PM – 8:04 PMWednesday, 16 December

    At dusk the diya is lit again before Lord Ayyappa, the saranam called, the bhajans sung, and the Harivarasanam closes the evening.

  64. The morning saranam

    5:51 AM – 7:48 AMThursday, 17 December

    Every day of the vratham begins with a bath before sunrise, the diya before Lord Ayyappa and the saranam, and only then food.

  65. The evening diya and bhajan

    5:08 PM – 8:04 PMThursday, 17 December

    At dusk the diya is lit again before Lord Ayyappa, the saranam called, the bhajans sung, and the Harivarasanam closes the evening.

  66. The morning saranam

    5:51 AM – 7:49 AMFriday, 18 December

    Every day of the vratham begins with a bath before sunrise, the diya before Lord Ayyappa and the saranam, and only then food.

  67. The evening diya and bhajan

    5:09 PM – 8:05 PMFriday, 18 December

    At dusk the diya is lit again before Lord Ayyappa, the saranam called, the bhajans sung, and the Harivarasanam closes the evening.

  68. The morning saranam

    5:52 AM – 7:49 AMSaturday, 19 December

    Every day of the vratham begins with a bath before sunrise, the diya before Lord Ayyappa and the saranam, and only then food.

  69. The evening diya and bhajan

    5:09 PM – 8:05 PMSaturday, 19 December

    At dusk the diya is lit again before Lord Ayyappa, the saranam called, the bhajans sung, and the Harivarasanam closes the evening.

  70. The morning saranam

    5:52 AM – 7:50 AMSunday, 20 December

    Every day of the vratham begins with a bath before sunrise, the diya before Lord Ayyappa and the saranam, and only then food.

  71. The evening diya and bhajan

    5:10 PM – 8:06 PMSunday, 20 December

    At dusk the diya is lit again before Lord Ayyappa, the saranam called, the bhajans sung, and the Harivarasanam closes the evening.

  72. The morning saranam

    5:53 AM – 7:50 AMMonday, 21 December

    Every day of the vratham begins with a bath before sunrise, the diya before Lord Ayyappa and the saranam, and only then food.

  73. The evening diya and bhajan

    5:10 PM – 8:06 PMMonday, 21 December

    At dusk the diya is lit again before Lord Ayyappa, the saranam called, the bhajans sung, and the Harivarasanam closes the evening.

  74. The morning saranam

    5:53 AM – 7:51 AMTuesday, 22 December

    Every day of the vratham begins with a bath before sunrise, the diya before Lord Ayyappa and the saranam, and only then food.

  75. The evening diya and bhajan

    5:11 PM – 8:07 PMTuesday, 22 December

    At dusk the diya is lit again before Lord Ayyappa, the saranam called, the bhajans sung, and the Harivarasanam closes the evening.

  76. The morning saranam

    5:54 AM – 7:51 AMWednesday, 23 December

    Every day of the vratham begins with a bath before sunrise, the diya before Lord Ayyappa and the saranam, and only then food.

  77. The evening diya and bhajan

    5:11 PM – 8:07 PMWednesday, 23 December

    At dusk the diya is lit again before Lord Ayyappa, the saranam called, the bhajans sung, and the Harivarasanam closes the evening.

  78. The morning saranam

    5:54 AM – 7:52 AMThursday, 24 December

    Every day of the vratham begins with a bath before sunrise, the diya before Lord Ayyappa and the saranam, and only then food.

  79. The evening diya and bhajan

    5:12 PM – 8:08 PMThursday, 24 December

    At dusk the diya is lit again before Lord Ayyappa, the saranam called, the bhajans sung, and the Harivarasanam closes the evening.

  80. The morning saranam

    5:55 AM – 7:52 AMFriday, 25 December

    Every day of the vratham begins with a bath before sunrise, the diya before Lord Ayyappa and the saranam, and only then food.

  81. The evening diya and bhajan

    5:12 PM – 8:08 PMFriday, 25 December

    At dusk the diya is lit again before Lord Ayyappa, the saranam called, the bhajans sung, and the Harivarasanam closes the evening.

  82. The morning saranam

    5:55 AM – 7:52 AMSaturday, 26 December

    Every day of the vratham begins with a bath before sunrise, the diya before Lord Ayyappa and the saranam, and only then food.

  83. The Mandala Puja

    7:52 AMSaturday, 26 December

    The forty-first day: the Mandala Puja at Sabarimala closes the season of the vratham.

  84. The evening diya and bhajan

    5:13 PM – 8:09 PMSaturday, 26 December

    At dusk the diya is lit again before Lord Ayyappa, the saranam called, the bhajans sung, and the Harivarasanam closes the evening.

Day 1 · 16 NovDay 2 · 17 NovDay 3 · 18 NovDay 4 · 19 NovDay 5 · 20 NovDay 6 · 21 NovDay 7 · 22 NovDay 8 · 23 NovDay 9 · 24 NovDay 10 · 25 NovDay 11 · 26 NovDay 12 · 27 NovDay 13 · 28 NovDay 14 · 29 NovDay 15 · 30 NovDay 16 · 1 DecDay 17 · 2 DecDay 18 · 3 DecDay 19 · 4 DecDay 20 · 5 DecDay 21 · 6 DecDay 22 · 7 DecDay 23 · 8 DecDay 24 · 9 DecDay 25 · 10 DecDay 26 · 11 DecDay 27 · 12 DecDay 28 · 13 DecDay 29 · 14 DecDay 30 · 15 DecDay 31 · 16 DecDay 32 · 17 DecDay 33 · 18 DecDay 34 · 19 DecDay 35 · 20 DecDay 36 · 21 DecDay 37 · 22 DecDay 38 · 23 DecDay 39 · 24 DecDay 40 · 25 DecDay 41 · 26 Dec

Times for Columbus, OH in EST, UTC−5, rounded to the minute, computed by Kalava's engine for this town's own sunrise, sunset and moonrise. How

For forty-one days from Vrischikam 1, the men and girls of the house who will climb to Sabarimala wear Lord Ayyappa's mala and keep His vratham — the bath before sunrise, the saranam before food, plain food and plain black cloth. The whole house keeps the season with them, with the diya lit morning and evening and "Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa" in every room.

The vrat

The mandala vratham is a discipline, not a day without food: a bath before sunrise and at dusk, the saranam before food, plain vegetarian food, brahmacharya, black or blue cloth, and no anger or harsh words — until the mala is taken off after the pilgrimage, where it was put on.

Every town is its own sunrise

Mandala Kalam (Vratam) 2026 in other towns

Highlighted rows keep the day on another date than India. Tap a town for its full day.

TownDateThe morning saranam
Delhi17 Nov–27 Dec4:59 AM–6:45 AM
Mumbai17 Nov–27 Dec5:05 AM–6:47 AM
Kolkata17 Nov–27 Dec4:07 AM–5:50 AM
Chennai17 Nov–27 Dec4:29 AM–6:08 AM
Bengaluru17 Nov–27 Dec4:39 AM–6:19 AM
Hyderabad17 Nov–27 Dec4:40 AM–6:22 AM
Ahmedabad17 Nov–27 Dec5:10 AM–6:54 AM
Jaipur17 Nov–27 Dec5:02 AM–6:48 AM
Lucknow17 Nov–27 Dec4:41 AM–6:27 AM
Patna17 Nov–27 Dec4:23 AM–6:08 AM
Abroad
Columbus US16 Nov–26 Dec a day before India5:26 AM–7:18 AM
London GB17 Nov–27 Dec5:20 AM–7:22 AM
Leicester GB17 Nov–27 Dec5:27 AM–7:30 AM
Birmingham GB17 Nov–27 Dec5:30 AM–7:33 AM
New York US16 Nov–26 Dec a day before India4:51 AM–6:44 AM
Edison US16 Nov–26 Dec a day before India4:52 AM–6:45 AM
Jersey City US16 Nov–26 Dec a day before India4:51 AM–6:44 AM
Chicago US16 Nov–26 Dec a day before India4:48 AM–6:41 AM
Houston US16 Nov–26 Dec a day before India5:00 AM–6:47 AM
Dallas US16 Nov–26 Dec a day before India5:10 AM–6:58 AM
San Francisco US16 Nov–26 Dec a day before India5:00 AM–6:51 AM
San Jose US16 Nov–26 Dec a day before India4:57 AM–6:48 AM
Los Angeles US16 Nov–26 Dec a day before India4:38 AM–6:27 AM
Atlanta US16 Nov–26 Dec a day before India5:22 AM–7:11 AM
Washington, DC US16 Nov–26 Dec a day before India5:00 AM–6:52 AM
Boston US16 Nov–26 Dec a day before India4:42 AM–6:36 AM
Seattle US16 Nov–26 Dec a day before India5:18 AM–7:16 AM
Toronto CA16 Nov–26 Dec a day before India5:18 AM–7:13 AM
Brampton CA16 Nov–26 Dec a day before India5:20 AM–7:15 AM
Vancouver CA16 Nov–26 Dec a day before India6:25 AM–8:25 AM
Sydney AU17 Nov–27 Dec4:22 AM–5:43 AM
Melbourne AU17 Nov–27 Dec4:41 AM–5:59 AM
Auckland NZ17 Nov–27 Dec4:43 AM–6:02 AM
Singapore SG17 Nov–27 Dec5:12 AM–6:48 AM
Kuala Lumpur MY17 Nov–27 Dec5:23 AM–6:59 AM
Dubai AE17 Nov–27 Dec4:52 AM–6:37 AM
Doha QA17 Nov–27 Dec4:07 AM–5:52 AM
Nairobi KE17 Nov–27 Dec4:38 AM–6:12 AM
Durban ZA17 Nov–27 Dec3:28 AM–4:51 AM
Port Louis MU17 Nov–27 Dec3:55 AM–5:22 AM

Find your town →

How Mandala Kalam (Vratam) is kept

Puja vidhi

18 steps, each drawn

The method at the day's own hours, every mantra with its meaning.

Samagri

9 things to set out

Every item pictured, a list to tick and send.

Mandala Kalam (Vratam) 2026Mandala Kalam (Vratam) 2027