Next: about 27 Oct to 10 Nov 2026
The dark half of the month
Krishna Paksha, the waning fortnight: many priests prefer the bright half for a wedding, though not all.
When is The dark half of the month in 2026?
The dark half of the month 2026 runs from 27 October to 10 November 2026. The date follows the moon or a local calendar, so it can move by a day. Other years: 2026, 25 December 2026 to 8 January 2027.
About The dark half of the month
The Hindu month is divided into the bright half, shukla paksha, when the moon waxes, and the dark half, krishna paksha, when it wanes. The bright half is the usual choice for a wedding, and the dark half, especially the last days before the new moon, is generally avoided. Some regions, among them Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Bengal, do hold weddings in the waning half, on days chosen from the almanac. The dates listed are the start of each waning fortnight.
The dark half of the month dates: 2026, 2026
| Year | The dark half of the month date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 27 October to 10 November 2026 |
| 2026 | 25 December 2026 to 8 January 2027 |
This date follows the moon or a local calendar and can move by a day, so check with a local source nearer the time.
Also part of it, and being written: Paksha (The two halves of the Hindu lunar month.), Muhurta (The auspicious time chosen from the almanac.).
Written by the EveryShaadi desk with AI assistance. Background: "Paksha" on Wikipedia. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.