Hindu Festivals 2026
23 festivals · Drik Panchanga दृक् पञ्चाङ्ग
Next festival
Rath Yatra
Tue, 16 Jun · in 37 days
Hindu festivals follow the lunisolar calendar — most fall on a specific tithi (lunar day) within a specific month, while a few (Sankranti, Vishu, Onam) follow solar transits. Different regional traditions celebrate the same astronomical day under different names and with distinct customs.
This calendar shows all 23 festivals for 2026 according to the Drik Panchanga tradition. Switch tradition above to see Ugadi vs Yugadi vs Gudi Padwa, Diwali vs Kali Puja, Vinayaka Chavithi vs Ganesh Chaturthi — same day, different cultural lens.
January 2026
Makar Sankranti / Pongal / Sankranti / Uttarayan / Pous Sankranti / Thai PongalHoliday
Sun enters Capricorn. In Tamil Nadu this is the most important festival — Thai Pongal: 4-day harvest festival (Bhogi, Thai Pongal, Maattu Pongal, Kaanum Pongal). Pongal sweet rice is cooked outdoors in clay pots; the boiling-over (pongi) is the auspicious moment. In Gujarat: Uttarayan kite festival. In Maharashtra: tilgul. In Bengal: Pithe-puli and Ganga Sagar Mela.
Wed, 14 Jan
major
Basant Panchami / Saraswati Puja
Celebrates the arrival of spring and worships Saraswati, goddess of knowledge, arts, and wisdom. In Bengal this is the major Saraswati Puja — students place their books at the feet of the Devi, schools and homes set up pandals, and yellow flowers fill every household.
Fri, 23 Jan
major
February 2026
March 2026
Holi / Dol Jatra / RangapanchamiHoliday
Festival of colours. In Maharashtra: Holika Dahan / Holi Pournima on this day, Rangapanchami (the colour-throwing) 5 days later. In Bengal: Dol Jatra (Dol Purnima) with Radha-Krishna processions.
Mon, 2 Mar
major
Ugadi / Yugadi / Gudi PadwaHoliday
Saka New Year — first day of Chaitra Shukla Pratipada. Telugus call it Ugadi, Kannadigas call it Yugadi, Marathis call it Gudhi Padwa — they raise a Gudhi (decorated bamboo with a pot, neem leaves, and silk cloth) at the doorway to ward off evil and welcome prosperity. Bevu-Bella, Ugadi Pachadi, or Puran Poli mark the bittersweet first meal of the year.
Thu, 19 Mar
major
Sri Rama NavamiHoliday
Birthday of Lord Rama. In AP/Telangana: Sita Rama Kalyanam at Bhadrachalam. In Kerala: Triprayar Sri Rama Temple. In Maharashtra: observed at Nashik (where Rama lived during exile) and Trimbakeshwar.
Thu, 26 Mar
major
April 2026
Baisakhi / Vishu / Tamil New YearHoliday
Sun enters Aries. Baisakhi (Sikh New Year) in Punjab. Vishu (Kerala New Year). Tamil New Year in Tamil Nadu. Celebrated across India as the solar new year.
Tue, 14 Apr
major
Akshaya Tritiya
The inexhaustible (akshaya) third day. Any good deed — charity, prayer, new beginnings — done on this day yields eternal merit. Considered most auspicious for gold purchase and weddings, especially in Kerala's gold-loving culture.
Mon, 20 Apr
major
Buddha PurnimaHoliday
Birthday, enlightenment, and death of Gautama Buddha all occurred on Vaishakha Purnima. Sacred to Buddhists worldwide (Vesak). Hindus consider it the birthday of Vishnu's 9th avatar.
Thu, 30 Apr
major
June 2026
Rath YatraHoliday
Lord Jagannath's chariot procession from the 12th-century Puri Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple. Three massive wooden chariots — Nandighosa (Jagannath), Taladhwaja (Balabhadra), and Darpadalan (Subhadra) — pulled by lakhs of devotees on the 3km journey. Odisha's most sacred day.
Tue, 16 Jun
major
Guru Purnima
Day to honour the spiritual Guru. Traditionally Vyasa Purnima — birthday of sage Vyasa who compiled the Vedas. Disciples express gratitude to their teachers.
Mon, 29 Jun
major
July 2026
Nag Panchami
Worship of the Naga (serpent) deities. Milk is offered to snake idols. Protects the family from snake bites and brings prosperity. Celebrated especially in Karnataka and Maharashtra.
Sat, 18 Jul
regional
Raksha BandhanHoliday
Sisters tie a protective thread (rakhi) on their brothers' wrists, and brothers vow to protect them. One of the most emotionally significant festivals in North India.
Tue, 28 Jul
major
August 2026
Krishna JanmashtamiHoliday
Birthday of Lord Krishna at midnight. In Kerala called Sri Krishna Jayanthi — observed at Guruvayur Temple with grand processions and Ashtami Rohini ritual when both Ashtami tithi and Rohini nakshatra coincide.
Wed, 5 Aug
major
Naga Chauti / Naga Panchami
Sravana Shukla Panchami — worship of the Naga (serpent) deities. Especially prominent in Karnataka where it is called Naga Chauti, with milk and turmeric offered to anthills (snake abodes). Sisters tie protective threads on brothers wishing protection from snake bites.
Sun, 16 Aug
regional
September 2026
October 2026
Dhanteras (Dhanatrayodashi)
The first day of the Diwali festival. Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Dhanvantari are worshipped. Purchasing gold, silver, or utensils is considered very auspicious for financial prosperity.
Wed, 7 Oct
major
Navratri / Sharannavaratri / Durga Puja
Nine nights of Goddess Durga worship beginning Ashwija Shukla 1. In Bengal: Devi Paksha and Durga Puja. In Gujarat: 9 nights of Garba and Dandiya — Goddess Amba is worshipped at home and community pandals; the world's longest dance festival.
Sat, 10 Oct
major
Chhath PujaHoliday
Devotees (mostly women) fast for 36 hours, stand in water at sunset and sunrise, and offer arghya (oblations) to the Sun god Surya and Chhathi Maiya. Biggest in Bihar, Jharkhand, and UP.
Fri, 16 Oct
regional
Dussehra (Vijayadashami) / Bijoya Dashami / VidyarambhamHoliday
Vijayadashami — Rama's victory over Ravana and Durga's over Mahishasura. In Bengal: Bijoya Dashami (Durga Bisarjan, sindoor khela). In Kerala: VIDYARAMBHAM — children initiated to letters by writing "Hari Sri" on rice/sand, marking start of formal education. The most important learning ritual of the year.
Tue, 20 Oct
major
Karva Chauth
Married women fast from sunrise to moonrise, praying for the long life and well-being of their husbands. The fast is broken only after sighting the moon.
Thu, 29 Oct
regional
November 2026
Diwali (Deepavali) / Kali PujaHoliday
Festival of Lights. Most of India worships Lakshmi tonight; Bengal worships Goddess Kali. In Kerala, Deepavali is a quieter family observance compared to Onam — the celebrations of the Asura king Narakasura's defeat by Krishna are smaller-scale.
Sun, 8 Nov
major
Karthika Pournami / Trikkarthika / Tripurari Pournima
Karthika Pournami. In Kerala: Trikkarthika with massive deepam at Subrahmanya temples. In Maharashtra: Tripurari Pournima — Shiva destroyed the three demon cities; deepams float on rivers; Dev Diwali is celebrated.
Tue, 24 Nov
major