Hindu festival calendar 2026
Holi is on Wednesday, 4 March. Ugadi is on Thursday, 19 March. Raksha Bandhan is on Friday, 28 August. Ganesh Chaturthi is on Monday, 14 September. Dussehra (Vijayadashami) is on Tuesday, 20 October. Diwali is on Sunday, 8 November. Dates are calculated for Thiruvananthapuram and can differ by a day in some regions.
January 2026
| Tuesday, 13 January | Bhogi and Lohri Deity: Lord Indra and Agni Bonfire of old things at dawn in the South (Bhogi mantalu). Lohri bonfire in Punjab. |
| Wednesday, 14 January | Makar Sankranti, Pongal and Uttarayan Deity: Surya Deva The Sun enters Makara. Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Sankranti in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Uttarayan kite flying in Gujarat. Charity of sesame and jaggery is traditional. |
| Thursday, 15 January | Kanuma and Mattu Pongal Deity: Cattle and Govardhan Cattle are decorated and worshipped. Travel is traditionally avoided on Kanuma in Andhra Pradesh. |
| Friday, 23 January | Vasant Panchami (Sri Panchami) Deity: Goddess Saraswati Excellent for Aksharabhyasam and starting education. |
| Sunday, 25 January | Ratha Saptami Deity: Surya Deva Birthday of the Sun God. Bath with arka leaves at sunrise. |
February 2026
| Sunday, 1 February | Thaipusam Deity: Lord Murugan Kavadi offerings to Lord Murugan, especially at Palani and in Tamil communities worldwide. |
| Sunday, 15 February | Maha Shivaratri Deity: Lord Shiva Night-long worship of Lord Shiva, fasting and jagaran. |
March 2026
| Tuesday, 3 March | Holika Dahan (Kamuni Punnami) Deity: Lord Vishnu (Narasimha) and Prahlada Bonfire in the evening. Holi colours are played the next day. In 2026 it is observed on 3 March because of the lunar eclipse. |
| Wednesday, 4 March | Holi (Dhulandi) Deity: Lord Krishna Festival of colours, the morning after Holika Dahan. |
| Thursday, 19 March | Ugadi, Gudi Padwa and Chaitra Navaratri begin Deity: Lord Brahma, and Goddess Durga for Navaratri Lunar New Year in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Maharashtra. Ugadi pachadi, panchanga shravanam and a fresh start for the year. |
| Thursday, 26 March | Sri Rama Navami Deity: Lord Rama Birth of Lord Rama, celebrated at midday. Sita Rama Kalyanam is performed in temples, notably at Bhadrachalam. |
| Tuesday, 31 March | Mahavir Jayanti Deity: Bhagwan Mahavir Birth of Bhagwan Mahavir, the most important Jain festival. |
April 2026
| Thursday, 2 April | Hanuman Jayanti (North India) Deity: Lord Hanuman Observed on Chaitra Purnima in North India. In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana it is usually observed later, on Vaishakha Krishna Dashami, and in Tamil Nadu in Margazhi. |
| Tuesday, 14 April | Tamil New Year, Vishu and Baisakhi Deity: Surya Deva The Sun enters Mesha. Puthandu in Tamil Nadu, Vishu in Kerala and Baisakhi in Punjab. Bengali New Year (Pohela Boishakh) and Odia New Year often fall the next day, because those calendars count the Sankranti differently. |
| Sunday, 19 April | Akshaya Tritiya Deity: Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi One of the most auspicious days of the year. Widely considered good for buying gold and starting new ventures. |
May 2026
| Friday, 1 May | Buddha Purnima Deity: Gautama Buddha Birth, enlightenment and passing of the Buddha. |
| Tuesday, 12 May | Hanuman Jayanti (Andhra Pradesh and Telangana) Deity: Lord Hanuman Observed on Vaishakha Krishna Dashami in the Telugu states, ending the 41-day Hanuman Deeksha. |
July 2026
| Thursday, 16 July | Jagannath Rath Yatra Deity: Lord Jagannath The chariot festival of Puri. |
| Saturday, 25 July | Devshayani (Tholi) Ekadashi Deity: Lord Vishnu Start of Chaturmas. Ashadhi Ekadashi of Pandharpur. |
| Wednesday, 29 July | Guru Purnima (Vyasa Purnima) Deity: Sage Vyasa and your guru A day to honour teachers and seek their blessings. |
August 2026
| Saturday, 15 August | Hariyali Teej Deity: Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva Mainly observed by women in North India. |
| Monday, 17 August | Nag Panchami Deity: Naga Devata Worship of serpent deities. |
| Wednesday, 26 August | Thiruvonam (Onam) Deity: Lord Vamana and King Mahabali Kerala's harvest festival, with the Onasadya feast and pookalam. |
| Friday, 28 August | Raksha Bandhan and Shravana Purnima Sisters tie rakhi. Also Jandhyala (Avani Avittam) Purnima, when the sacred thread is renewed. Many avoid tying rakhi during Bhadra kaal, so check the exact time locally. |
| Friday, 28 August | Varalakshmi Vratam Deity: Goddess Varalakshmi (Lakshmi) Married women perform the vratam for the family's prosperity, mainly in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. |
September 2026
| Friday, 4 September | Sri Krishna Janmashtami Deity: Lord Krishna Birth of Lord Krishna, celebrated at midnight. |
| Monday, 14 September | Vinayaka Chaturthi (Ganesh Chaturthi) Deity: Lord Ganesha Ganesha is installed and worshipped, ideally at midday. Avoid looking at the moon tonight, as per tradition. |
| Thursday, 17 September | Vishwakarma Puja Deity: Lord Vishwakarma Tools, machines and workplaces are worshipped, especially in eastern India. |
| Friday, 25 September | Anant Chaturdashi (Ganesh Nimajjanam) Deity: Lord Vishnu (Ananta) and Lord Ganesha Common day for Ganesha immersion. |
October 2026
| Saturday, 10 October | Mahalaya Amavasya Deity: Ancestors (Pitru) Last day of Pitru Paksha, the most important day for tarpanam. In Telangana, Bathukamma festivities begin (Engili Pula Bathukamma). |
| Sunday, 11 October | Sharad Navaratri begins (Ghatasthapana) Deity: Goddess Durga Nine nights of the Goddess begin. |
| Saturday, 17 October | Maha Saptami (Durga Puja) Deity: Goddess Durga Main Durga Puja days begin, especially in Bengal. Saraswati Avahanam in the South is often around this day. |
| Sunday, 18 October | Durga Ashtami Deity: Goddess Durga Maha Ashtami of Navaratri. Saddula Bathukamma in Telangana is usually celebrated around this day. |
| Monday, 19 October | Maha Navami (Ayudha Puja) Deity: Goddess Durga and Saraswati Tools, vehicles and books are worshipped. Last day of Navaratri. |
| Tuesday, 20 October | Vijayadashami (Dussehra) Deity: Goddess Durga and Lord Rama Victory of good over evil. Considered auspicious all day for new starts, Vidyarambham and Shami puja. |
| Sunday, 25 October | Sharad Purnima (Kojagari Lakshmi Puja) Deity: Goddess Lakshmi and the Moon Kheer is kept under the moonlight. Valmiki Jayanti is also observed around Ashwin Purnima. |
| Thursday, 29 October | Karwa Chauth Deity: Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva Married women fast until moonrise, mainly in North India. |
November 2026
| Friday, 6 November | Dhanteras (Dhanatrayodashi) Deity: Lord Dhanvantari, Goddess Lakshmi and Kubera Traditionally good for buying gold, silver and utensils. |
| Sunday, 8 November | Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) Deity: Lord Krishna Abhyanga snanam (oil bath) before sunrise. Celebrated as Deepavali in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu. |
| Sunday, 8 November | Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) Deity: Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha Festival of lights. Lakshmi puja in the evening Pradosh kaal. |
| Tuesday, 10 November | Govardhan Puja and Bali Pratipada Deity: Lord Krishna and King Bali Annakut offering. Gujarati New Year (Bestu Varas) in many years. |
| Wednesday, 11 November | Bhai Dooj (Yama Dwitiya) Deity: Yama and Yamuna Sisters pray for their brothers' long life. |
| Sunday, 15 November | Chhath Puja (Sandhya Arghya) Deity: Surya Deva and Chhathi Maiya Evening offering to the setting Sun, mainly in Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern Uttar Pradesh. |
| Saturday, 21 November | Prabodhini Ekadashi (Dev Uthani) Deity: Lord Vishnu End of Chaturmas. The wedding season traditionally reopens around this day. |
| Tuesday, 24 November | Kartika Purnima, Dev Deepawali and Guru Nanak Jayanti Deity: Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu Lamps are lit in temples and on rivers. Guru Nanak Jayanti is usually observed on this day. |
December 2026
| Wednesday, 16 December | Dhanurmasam begins (Margazhi) Deity: Lord Vishnu and Goddess Andal The month of Tiruppavai recital and early morning worship. Weddings and griha pravesh are traditionally avoided until Makar Sankranti. |
| Sunday, 20 December | Gita Jayanti (Mokshada Ekadashi) Deity: Lord Krishna The day the Bhagavad Gita was taught. |
| Sunday, 20 December | Vaikuntha Ekadashi (Mukkoti Ekadashi) Deity: Lord Vishnu The northern gate (Vaikuntha dwaram) of Vishnu temples opens. Very crowded at Tirumala and Srirangam. |
| Thursday, 24 December | Dattatreya Jayanti Deity: Lord Dattatreya Margashirsha Purnima. |
| Friday, 25 December | Christmas Birth of Jesus Christ. |
National holidays
- Republic Day: Monday, 26 January
- Independence Day: Saturday, 15 August
- Gandhi Jayanti: Friday, 2 October
How these dates are worked out
Each lunar festival falls on a fixed tithi of a lunar month, and must prevail at a particular time of day: sunrise for most, midday for Rama Navami and Ganesh Chaturthi, the afternoon for Dussehra, the evening for Diwali and midnight for Janmashtami and Maha Shivaratri. Shubh Samay calculates this for the chosen city, skips Adhika (extra) months, applies the Bhadra rule for Raksha Bandhan and Holika Dahan, and records verified corrections where the major panchangams differ. Solar festivals such as Makar Sankranti follow the Sun's entry into a sign. Regional calendars, community traditions and moon-sighting festivals can differ by a day, so for vratas and ceremonies confirm with your family purohit. Full method.
Islamic festivals such as Eid depend on the sighting of the moon and are not included.
Questions people ask
When is Makar Sankranti in 2026?
Makar Sankranti is on Wednesday, 14 January, 2026. It honours Surya Deva.
When is Maha Shivaratri in 2026?
Maha Shivaratri is on Sunday, 15 February, 2026. It honours Lord Shiva.
When is Holi in 2026?
Holi is on Wednesday, 4 March, 2026. It honours Lord Krishna.
When is Ugadi in 2026?
Ugadi is on Thursday, 19 March, 2026. It honours Lord Brahma, and Goddess Durga for Navaratri.
When is Sri Rama Navami in 2026?
Sri Rama Navami is on Thursday, 26 March, 2026. It honours Lord Rama.
When is Akshaya Tritiya in 2026?
Akshaya Tritiya is on Sunday, 19 April, 2026. It honours Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi.
When is Raksha Bandhan in 2026?
Raksha Bandhan is on Friday, 28 August, 2026.
When is Krishna Janmashtami in 2026?
Krishna Janmashtami is on Friday, 4 September, 2026. It honours Lord Krishna.
When is Ganesh Chaturthi in 2026?
Ganesh Chaturthi is on Monday, 14 September, 2026. It honours Lord Ganesha.
When is Dussehra (Vijayadashami) in 2026?
Dussehra (Vijayadashami) is on Tuesday, 20 October, 2026. It honours Goddess Durga and Lord Rama.
When is Diwali in 2026?
Diwali is on Sunday, 8 November, 2026. It honours Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha.
When is Bhai Dooj in 2026?
Bhai Dooj is on Wednesday, 11 November, 2026. It honours Yama and Yamuna.