Hindu festival dates
160 festivals, fasts and observances, each worked out by Muhurtha from the Moon and the Sun. Dates are for Mumbai.
January 2026
- 3SatArudra Darisanam · ThiruvathiraRegional
Shiva's cosmic dance, seen at Chidambaram on Ardra in Margazhi; Kerala keeps it as Thiruvathira.
- 3SatPausha PurnimaObservance
Magh snan begins; the Kumbh's first bathing day.
- 13TueBhogiRegional
Old things burn in a dawn bonfire and the Pongal festival begins.
- 13TueLohriRegional
Bonfires, sesame and harvest songs on the night before Makar Sankranti (Punjab).
- 14WedMagh Bihu · Bhogali BihuRegional
Assam's harvest feast, with the Meji bonfire.
- 14WedMakar Sankranti · PongalMajor
The Sun enters Capricorn — kites, til, harvest.
- 15ThuMattu Pongal · KanumaRegional
The day for cattle — bathed, decorated and thanked for the harvest.
- 16FriKaanum Pongal · Kanu PidiRegional
Families picnic by the river; sisters pray for their brothers' well-being.
- 23FriVasant PanchamiMajor
Saraswati, spring, and yellow.
- 25SunAdvaita Acharya AppearanceRegional
The appearance of Shri Advaita Acharya.
- 25SunRatha SaptamiObservance
The Sun turns his chariot north.
- 26MonBhishma AshtamiObservance
The day Bhishma chose to leave his body.
- 29ThuJaya EkadashiObservance
Freedom from the curse of a wandering spirit.
- 30FriVaraha DwadashiRegional
The appearance of Lord Varahadeva.
- 31SatNityananda TrayodashiRegional
The appearance of Shri Nityananda Prabhu.
February 2026
- 1SunGuru Ravidas JayantiRegional
The birthday of the Bhakti saint Ravidas, on the Magha full moon.
- 1SunMagha PurnimaObservance
Holy dips; the Kumbh's big bathing day.
- 1SunThaipusamRegional
Murugan receives the vel; kavadi carried in Tamil Nadu and Malaysia.
- 6FriBhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati AppearanceRegional
The appearance of Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura.
- 9MonKeddasaRegional
Three days when the earth is said to menstruate; no digging or ploughing.
- 13FriKumbha SankrantiObservance
The day the Sun enters Aquarius
- 15SunMaha ShivaratriMajor
The great night of Shiva.
- 17TueBhaumvati AmavasyaObservance
A new moon on a Tuesday — ancestors remembered, Hanuman and Mangal worshipped.
- 19ThuPhulera DoojRegional
Braj begins its Holi season with flowers.
- 27FriAmalaki EkadashiObservance
The amla tree worshipped as Vishnu's dwelling.
March 2026
- 2MonHolika DahanMajor
The bonfire the night before Holi.
- 3TueAttukal PongalaRegional
Lakhs of women cook sweet pongala for Bhadrakali in Thiruvananthapuram, on Pooram.
- 3TueGaura PurnimaRegional
The appearance of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
- 3TueHoliMajor
Colours, water, and no rules.
- 5ThuSant Tukaram BeejRegional
The day Sant Tukaram is remembered as going to Vaikuntha, observed at Dehu.
- 8SunRangpanchamiRegional
Holi's last day of colour, five days on (Maharashtra, MP).
- 10TueSheetala SaptamiRegional
Cold food for the goddess of healing (Gujarat, Rajasthan).
- 11WedShitala AshtamiRegional
Basoda — cold food offered to the goddess Shitala.
- 15SunMeena SankrantiObservance
The day the Sun enters Pisces
- 15SunPapmochani EkadashiObservance
The last Ekadashi of the lunar year.
- 19ThuChaitra Navratri beginsMajor
Spring Navratri; nine nights of the Goddess before Ram Navami.
- 19ThuUgadi · Gudi PadwaMajor
Lunar new year in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra and Telangana; Chaitra Navratri begins.
- 20FriCheti ChandRegional
Sindhi new year and the birth of Jhulelal.
- 21SatChaitra Gauri · Haldi Kunku beginsRegional
A month of Gauri worship with haldi-kunku gatherings for married women, ending on Akshaya Tritiya.
- 21SatGangaurRegional
Rajasthan's festival of Gauri, marital happiness and spring.
- 21SatMatsya JayantiObservance
Vishnu's first avatar, the fish who saved the Vedas.
- 23MonRamanujacharya JayantiRegional
The appearance of Shri Ramanujacharya.
- 24TueYamuna JayantiObservance
The river Yamuna's descent to earth.
- 25WedNavapada Oli beginsObservance
Nine days of simple ayambil meals and prayer to the nine padas (Jain).
- 26ThuAshoka AshtamiObservance
Durga Ashtami of the spring Navratri.
- 26ThuRam NavamiMajor
Rama's birthday, celebrated at midday.
- 31TueAnang TrayodashiObservance
A spring day for Kamadeva and Rati, kept for love and a happy marriage.
- 31TueMahavir JayantiObservance
The birth of Mahavira, the 24th Jain Tirthankara.
April 2026
- 1WedPanguni UthiramRegional
Divine weddings — Murugan and Deivanai, Shiva and Parvati — celebrated at Tamil temples.
- 2ThuHanuman JayantiMajor
Hanuman's birthday on the Chaitra full moon.
- 13MonVaruthini EkadashiObservance
Protection and prosperity; charity of gold or land.
- 14TueBisu ParbaRegional
Tulu new year — the Bisu kani is arranged the night before and seen first thing.
- 14TueVishu · Baisakhi · Puthandu · Pohela BoishakhMajor
Solar new year across Kerala, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Bengal, Assam, Odisha.
- 20MonAkshaya TritiyaMajor
The never-diminishing day — gold, ventures, weddings.
- 20MonParashurama JayantiObservance
The axe-wielding sixth avatar of Vishnu.
- 21TueAdi Shankara JayantiObservance
The philosopher who unified Advaita Vedanta.
- 25SatSita NavamiObservance
Sita's appearance from the earth, kept at midday.
- 29WedNarasimha JayantiObservance
Vishnu's man-lion form, worshipped at twilight.
May 2026
- 1FriBuddha PurnimaMajor
Birth, enlightenment and passing of the Buddha.
- 1FriKurma JayantiObservance
Vishnu as the tortoise who bore the churning mountain.
- 13WedApara EkadashiObservance
Boundless merit; kept before the summer solstice.
- 15FriVrishabha SankrantiObservance
The day the Sun enters Taurus
- 16SatShani JayantiObservance
Saturn's birthday; oil offered at Shani temples.
- 16SatVat Savitri AmavasyaRegional
Savitri's vow, kept on the new moon in North India.
June 2026
- 1MonPattanajeRegional
Closes the Yakshagana and Bhuta Kola season until the rains pass.
- 15MonMithuna SankrantiObservance
The day the Sun enters Gemini
- 15MonSomvati AmavasyaObservance
A new moon on a Monday — a river dip, and circling the peepal tree 108 times.
- 24WedGanga DussehraObservance
The Ganga's descent to earth; a dip in the river.
- 25ThuGayatri JayantiObservance
The day the Gayatri mantra was revealed.
- 25ThuNirjala EkadashiMajor
The strictest Ekadashi — kept without even water; Bhima's Ekadashi.
- 29MonSnana YatraRegional
The bathing festival of Lord Jagannatha.
- 29MonVat PurnimaRegional
Savitri's vow — married women circle the banyan tree (Maharashtra, Gujarat).
July 2026
- 14TueBhaumvati AmavasyaObservance
A new moon on a Tuesday — ancestors remembered, Hanuman and Mangal worshipped.
- 16ThuJagannath Rath YatraMajor
Puri's chariot festival.
- 17FriKarka SankrantiObservance
The day the Sun enters Cancer
- 25SatDevshayani (Ashadhi) EkadashiMajor
Vishnu begins his four-month sleep and Chaturmas starts; the Pandharpur Wari reaches Vitthal.
- 25SatGauri Vrat beginsRegional
Five days of fasting by unmarried girls in Gujarat.
- 28TueKokila VratObservance
Parvati as the cuckoo; a month-long vow that begins on Ashadha Purnima.
- 29WedGuru PurnimaMajor
Honouring teachers; Vyasa's birthday.
August 2026
- 12WedAati AmavasyaRegional
The monsoon new moon — paleda kashaya, a bitter bark drink, is taken at dawn.
- 12WedGatari AmavasyaRegional
Maharashtra's feast day and Dipa Pooja on Ashadha Amavasya, before vegetarian Shravan begins.
- 15SatHariyali TeejRegional
Monsoon swings and green saris for Parvati (North India).
- 17MonNag PanchamiMajor
Serpent worship at the height of the monsoon.
- 17MonShravan Somvar beginsObservance
The Mondays of Shravan, the most auspicious for Shiva.
- 17MonSimha SankrantiObservance
The day the Sun enters Leo
- 21FriVaralakshmi VratamRegional
Married women worship Lakshmi on the Friday before Shravana Purnima.
- 26WedOnam · ThiruvonamRegional
Kerala's harvest festival — King Mahabali comes home.
- 28FriNarali PurnimaRegional
Fishing communities offer a coconut to the sea and reopen the waters after the monsoon, on the day Raksha Bandhan falls.
- 28FriRaksha BandhanMajor
Siblings' day — the rakhi thread.
- 31MonKajari TeejRegional
Monsoon songs and a fast for married women (UP, Bihar, MP).
September 2026
- 4FriKrishna JanmashtamiMajor
Krishna's birth at midnight.
- 5SatDahi HandiMajor
Human pyramids break the pot of curd, as the young Krishna did.
- 5SatMosaru Kudike · Vittal PindiRegional
The day after Janmashtami, Udupi's Krishna Matha breaks the curd pots in its Leelotsava.
- 5SatPrabhupada Appearance DayRegional
The appearance of Shrila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
- 11FriBail Pola · Pithori AmavasyaRegional
Farmers honour their oxen; mothers keep Pithori Vrat for their children.
- 14MonGanesh ChaturthiMajor
Ganesha comes home for ten days.
- 14MonHartalika TeejRegional
Parvati's fast to win Shiva.
- 16WedRishi PanchamiObservance
Honouring the seven sages; kept after Hartalika Teej.
- 17ThuGauri AvahanaRegional
Jyeshtha Gauri is welcomed home during Ganeshotsav, on Anuradha nakshatra.
- 17ThuKanya SankrantiObservance
The day the Sun enters Virgo
- 17ThuKoral Parba · Kadiru HabbaRegional
The first sheaves of the new rice are cut, offered and eaten. The day varies by family, and Tulu panchangas differ on it.
- 18FriGauri PujanRegional
The main worship of Gauri, with a feast, on Jyeshtha nakshatra.
- 19SatGauri VisarjanRegional
Gauri is sent off, on Mula nakshatra.
- 19SatMahalakshmi Vrat beginsRegional
Sixteen days of fasting for Lakshmi.
- 19SatRadha AshtamiMajor
Radha's birthday, fifteen days after Krishna's.
- 23WedVamana JayantiObservance
Vishnu as the dwarf who measured the worlds in three steps.
- 24ThuBhaktivinoda Thakura AppearanceRegional
The appearance of Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura.
- 25FriAnant ChaturdashiMajor
Ganesh visarjan; Vishnu as Anant.
- 27SunPitru Paksha beginsObservance
A fortnight for ancestors.
October 2026
- 3SatJivitputrika (Jitiya)Regional
Mothers fast without water for their children (Bihar, UP, Jharkhand).
- 10SatBathukamma beginsRegional
Telangana's nine days of flower stacks for the goddess begin on Mahalaya Amavasya and end at Saddula Bathukamma.
- 10SatMahalaya AmavasyaMajor
Pitru Paksha ends; Durga is invited (Bengal).
- 11SunSharad Navratri beginsMajor
Nine nights of the Goddess; Ghatasthapana.
- 16FriMaha ShashthiRegional
Durga Puja begins — the goddess is welcomed at Bodhon.
- 17SatMaha SaptamiRegional
The goddess is installed with Nabapatrika, the nine-plant bathing.
- 17SatNavapada Oli beginsObservance
Nine days of simple ayambil meals and prayer to the nine padas (Jain).
- 17SatNavratri Saraswati PujaObservance
Books, instruments and tools are worshipped on the Mula nakshatra of Navratri.
- 18SunTula SankrantiObservance
The day the Sun enters Libra
- 19MonAyudha PujaRegional
Tools, books and vehicles are cleaned and worshipped on Navami, in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Tulu Nadu.
- 19MonDurga AshtamiMajor
The eighth night — Maha Ashtami, kanya puja.
- 20TueDussehra · VijayadashamiMajor
Good over evil — Ravana burns, Durga returns.
- 20TueMaha NavamiMajor
The ninth night; Ayudha Puja in the South.
- 25SunKojagari Lakshmi PujaRegional
Lakshmi is worshipped at home and the household stays awake under the full moon; in Maharashtra, spiced milk is shared.
- 26MonSharad PurnimaObservance
Kojagiri — kheer under the brightest moon.
- 26MonValmiki JayantiObservance
The birthday of Maharishi Valmiki, composer of the Ramayana.
- 29ThuKarwa ChauthRegional
A day-long fast broken at moonrise (North India).
November 2026
- 1SunAhoi AshtamiRegional
Mothers fast for their children (North India).
- 5ThuGovatsa DwadashiRegional
Vasu Baras — cows and calves honoured as Diwali opens.
- 6FriDhanterasMajor
Diwali begins — buy something metal.
- 8SunDiwali · Lakshmi PujaMajor
The festival of lights, on the darkest night.
- 8SunKali PujaRegional
Bengal and Odisha worship Kali at midnight on the new moon, the same night most of India lights Diwali lamps.
- 8SunNarak Chaturdashi · Choti DiwaliMajor
Krishna defeats Narakasura; the oil bath before dawn.
- 9MonSomvati AmavasyaObservance
A new moon on a Monday — a river dip, and circling the peepal tree 108 times.
- 10TueGovardhan Puja · Bali PratipadaMajor
Krishna lifts the hill; Gujarati new year.
- 11WedBhai DoojMajor
Sisters host brothers; Diwali's last day.
- 13FriChhath: Nahay KhayRegional
Chhath begins with a holy bath and a simple meal.
- 14SatChhath: KharnaRegional
A day-long fast broken at dusk with kheer, before the 36-hour waterless fast.
- 15SunChhath PujaRegional
Sun worship at the river (Bihar, UP, Jharkhand).
- 15SunKanda SashtiRegional
Six days for Murugan, ending in the defeat of Surapadman.
- 16MonChhath: Usha ArghyaRegional
Offerings to the rising Sun end the Chhath fast.
- 17TueGopashtamiObservance
Krishna became a cowherd; cows are decorated and fed.
- 17TueVrishchika SankrantiObservance
The day the Sun enters Scorpio
- 18WedAkshaya NavamiObservance
Amla Navami — a meal eaten under the gooseberry tree.
- 20FriKansa VadhObservance
Krishna's defeat of his uncle Kansa, marked in Mathura.
- 20FriPrabodhini (Devutthana) EkadashiMajor
Vishnu wakes, Chaturmas ends and the season of weddings and Tulsi Vivah begins.
- 21SatTulsi VivahObservance
The tulsi plant is married to Vishnu; wedding season opens.
- 23MonVaikuntha ChaturdashiObservance
Shiva and Vishnu worshipped together at midnight.
- 24TueGuru Nanak Jayanti · GurpurabRegional
The birthday of Guru Nanak, the first Sikh Guru, on Kartik Purnima.
- 24TueKarthigai DeepamRegional
Tamil Nadu's festival of lamps; a great fire on Thiruvannamalai.
- 24TueKartik Purnima · Dev DeepawaliMajor
The gods' Diwali on the ghats; Guru Nanak Jayanti.
December 2026
- 1TueKalabhairav JayantiObservance
Shiva's fierce form, worshipped at midnight.
- 4FriUtpanna EkadashiObservance
The Ekadashi on which Ekadashi herself was born.
- 6SunSant Dnyaneshwar Sanjivan SamadhiRegional
Sant Dnyaneshwar's samadhi at Alandi; the end of the Kartiki Wari for the Varkaris.
- 8TueBhaumvati AmavasyaObservance
A new moon on a Tuesday — ancestors remembered, Hanuman and Mangal worshipped.
- 14MonVivah PanchamiObservance
The wedding of Rama and Sita, kept in Janakpur and Ayodhya.
- 15TueChampa Shashthi (Khandoba)Regional
The last of Khandoba's six-day festival — turmeric, dry coconut and brinjal offered to the family deity.
- 15TueSubrahmanya ShashthiRegional
Kukke Subrahmanya's car festival and the serpent pilgrimage in coastal Karnataka; the same tithi Maharashtra keeps for Khandoba.
- 16WedDhanu SankrantiObservance
The day the Sun enters Sagittarius
- 20SunGita JayantiObservance
The day the Bhagavad Gita was spoken.
- 20SunVaikunta (Mukkoti) EkadashiRegional
The northern gate of Vishnu's temples opens — Srirangam, Tirupati and Udupi. Falls once or twice a year, and some years not at all.
- 23WedAnnapurna JayantiObservance
The goddess who feeds everyone; kitchens are honoured.
- 23WedDattatreya JayantiObservance
The three-in-one guru.
- 24ThuArudra Darisanam · ThiruvathiraRegional
Shiva's cosmic dance, seen at Chidambaram on Ardra in Margazhi; Kerala keeps it as Thiruvathira.