Kharmas
Kharmas, or Malmas, is the month when the Sun is in Dhanu (mid-December to mid-January) and, in many traditions, also Meena (mid-March to mid-April). Auspicious ceremonies are paused.
Dates this year · Delhi
- Dhanu → Makara Wednesday, 2026-12-16 10:24 → Thursday, 2027-01-14 21:10
- Meena → Mesha Monday, 2027-03-15 06:59 → Wednesday, 2027-04-14 15:28
Computed for Delhi. Other city
What Kharmas is
When the Sun enters sidereal Sagittarius (Dhanu) at Dhanu Sankranti, Kharmas begins, and it ends at Makar Sankranti when the Sun enters Capricorn. Because the sign is ruled by Jupiter, the guru of the gods, the Sun’s presence there is held to weaken Jupiter’s blessing on ceremonies. The same reasoning applies to Meena (Pisces), and many almanacs treat Meena Sankranti to Mesha Sankranti as a second Kharmas.
The dates depend on the sidereal zodiac and hence on the ayanamsa; with Lahiri the Sun enters Dhanu around 16 December and Makara around 14 January.
What is avoided
Marriage, engagement, griha pravesh, mundan, upanayana and starting a new home or business are held over. Vehicle purchase lists also mark the period as unsuitable. Daily worship, festivals and travel continue; Kharmas contains Christmas-season holidays and Lohri, and ends with Makar Sankranti and Pongal.
Hastro’s muhurat rules exclude windows while the Sun is in Dhanu or Meena for the events above.
FAQ
Why is it called Malmas?
Mal means impure or inferior; the month is considered unsuitable for auspicious rites. The same word is also used for an adhik (extra) lunar month, which is a different thing.
Is Kharmas observed in the South?
The Dhanu month, Margazhi in Tamil, is a month of devotion and early-morning worship rather than weddings, so the effect is similar though the name differs.
Related: Sankranti Chaturmas Muhurat Adhik Maas