Makar Sankranti
The Sun enters Capricorn; harvest festival marked by til-gud, kite flying and holy dips.
Hindu Festivals 2026
Dates of the major Hindu festivals and observances in 2026, month by month.
Next festival
January
Vasant Panchami
Saraswati Puja welcoming spring; devotees honour learning and the arts.
February
Maha Shivaratri
The great night of Lord Shiva, observed with fasting, night-long vigil and abhishek.
March
Holika Dahan
Bonfire on the eve of Holi, recalling the victory of Prahlad’s devotion.
Holi
The festival of colours celebrating the triumph of good over evil and the arrival of spring.
Ugadi / Gudi Padwa
New Year for many Hindu communities; Chaitra Navratri also begins.
Rama Navami
Birth anniversary of Lord Rama, observed on Chaitra Shukla Navami.
April
Hanuman Jayanti
Birth anniversary of Lord Hanuman, on Chaitra Purnima.
Akshaya Tritiya
An auspicious day for new beginnings, charity and prayers.
July
Jagannath Rath Yatra
The grand chariot festival of Lord Jagannath at Puri.
Devshayani Ekadashi
Marks the start of Chaturmas, the four-month period of heightened devotion.
Guru Purnima
A day to honour one’s guru and Sage Vyasa, on Ashadha Purnima.
August
Hariyali Teej
Monsoon festival honouring Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva.
Nag Panchami
Worship of serpent deities on Shravana Shukla Panchami.
Raksha Bandhan
Celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters with the tying of rakhi.
September
Krishna Janmashtami
Birth anniversary of Lord Krishna, with fasting, bhajans and midnight celebrations.
Ganesh Chaturthi
Birth anniversary of Lord Ganesha; the ten-day Ganeshotsav begins.
Anant Chaturdashi
Final day of Ganeshotsav, with Ganesh Visarjan; also worship of Lord Vishnu.
October
Sharad Navratri begins
Nine nights of worship of Goddess Durga.
Durga Ashtami
Maha Ashtami, the eighth day of Navratri.
Maha Navami
The ninth day of Navratri; Ayudha Puja in the south.
Dussehra (Vijayadashami)
Victory of Lord Rama over Ravana and of Goddess Durga over Mahishasura.
November
Dhanteras
First day of Diwali; worship of Lakshmi and Dhanvantari.
Diwali (Lakshmi Puja)
The festival of lights. Narak Chaturdashi (Chhoti Diwali) falls on the same day.
Govardhan Puja
Annakut offerings remembering Lord Krishna lifting Govardhan hill.
Bhai Dooj
Sisters pray for their brothers’ well-being.
Chhath Puja
Four-day worship of the Sun God; main arghya on Shashthi.
Dev Uthani Ekadashi
Lord Vishnu awakens; Chaturmas ends and weddings resume.
Tulasi Vivah
Ceremonial marriage of Tulasi with Lord Vishnu (Shaligram).
Kartik Purnima / Dev Diwali
Festival of lights for the gods; holy dips and lamps by the river.
About these dates: Hindu festivals follow the lunisolar calendar, so dates change every year. The dates above are for India (IST) and follow Drik Panchang. Depending on your location and the local panchang, a festival may fall a day earlier or later. For puja timings (muhurat), please check your local panchang.