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School of Vedic Sciences, FORE

Panchang · Festivals and vrats

Festivals and vrats in 2026

Each date is worked out from the lunar day, the Moon’s nakshatra or the Sun’s entry into a sign, by the sunrise of the chosen city. Open a festival to read how its date was fixed.

January 2026

  • 13 JanTue

    Lohri

    Bonfire festival of Punjab on the evening before Makar Sankranti.

  • 14 JanWed

    Makar Sankranti

    The Sun's entry into sidereal Makara (Capricorn), around 14 January.

  • 23 JanFri

    Vasant Panchami

    Magha Shukla Panchami; the day of Saraswati and the first sign of spring.

March 2026

  • 2 MarMon

    Holika Dahan

    The Holi bonfire, lit after dusk on Phalguna Purnima outside Bhadra.

  • 3 MarTue

    Holi

    The festival of colours, on and after Phalguna Purnima.

  • 19 MarThu

    Ugadi / Gudi Padwa

    Lunar new year on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada in the Deccan and Maharashtra.

  • 19 MarThu

    Chaitra Navratri

    Nine nights of the goddess from Chaitra Shukla Pratipada to Ram Navami.

  • 26 MarThu

    Ram Navami

    Birth of Rama, observed at midday on Chaitra Shukla Navami.

  • 31 MarTue

    Mahavir Jayanti

    Birth of Vardhamana Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara, on Chaitra Shukla Trayodashi.

April 2026

  • 2 AprThu

    Hanuman Jayanti

    Birth observance of Hanuman on Chaitra Purnima in the north.

  • 20 AprMon

    Akshaya Tritiya

    Vaishakha Shukla Tritiya, one of the three and a half 'unbroken' muhurta days.

May 2026

  • 1 MayFri

    Buddha Purnima

    Vaishakha Purnima, remembered as the birth, awakening and passing of the Buddha.

July 2026

  • 16 JulThu

    Rath Yatra

    The chariot procession of Jagannath at Puri on Ashadha Shukla Dwitiya.

  • 29 JulWed

    Guru Purnima

    Ashadha Purnima, dedicated to the teacher and to Vyasa.

August 2026

  • 17 AugMon

    Nag Panchami

    Shravana Shukla Panchami, the day of the serpent deities.

  • 28 AugFri

    Raksha Bandhan

    Shravana Purnima; the rakhi is tied in the afternoon, outside Bhadra.

September 2026

  • 4 SepFri

    Krishna Janmashtami

    Birth of Krishna at midnight on the Ashtami after Shravana Purnima.

  • 14 SepMon

    Ganesh Chaturthi

    Installation of Ganesha at midday on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi.

  • 23 SepWed

    Onam

    Kerala's harvest festival on Thiruvonam (Shravana) nakshatra in the month of Chingam.

  • 25 SepFri

    Anant Chaturdashi

    Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturdashi; the Ananta vow and Ganesha immersion.

  • 27 SepSun

    Pitru Paksha begins

    The fortnight of the ancestors, from the day after Bhadrapada Purnima to the new moon.

October 2026

  • 11 OctSun

    Sharad Navratri begins

    Nine nights of Durga from Ashwina Shukla Pratipada to Navami.

  • 19 OctMon

    Durga Ashtami

    Eighth day of Sharad Navratri, the principal day of Durga worship.

  • 20 OctTue

    Maha Navami

    Ninth and last night of Sharad Navratri; Ayudha Puja in the south.

  • 20 OctTue

    Vijayadashami

    Ashwina Shukla Dashami, kept in the afternoon; Ravana's effigy and the Shami tree.

  • Today · 25 Oct

    25 OctSun

    Sharad PurnimaToday

    Ashwina Purnima, the full moon of the clear autumn sky, kept at night.

November 2026

  • 6 NovFri

    Dhanteras

    First day of the Diwali season, on the Trayodashi before Ashwina's new moon.

  • 7 NovSat

    Naraka Chaturdashi

    The day before Diwali, with an oil bath before dawn while the Moon is up.

  • 8 NovSun

    Diwali

    The festival of lamps and Lakshmi Puja on the new moon that ends Ashwina.

  • 10 NovTue

    Govardhan Puja

    The day after Diwali; Kartika Shukla Pratipada and the mound of food.

  • 10 NovTue

    Bhai Dooj

    Kartika Shukla Dwitiya, the brother–sister day that closes Diwali.

  • 15 NovSun

    Chhath Puja

    Four-day Sun observance of Bihar, centred on Kartika Shukla Shashthi.

  • 21 NovSat

    Tulsi Vivah

    The ceremonial wedding of the tulsi plant to Vishnu, on Kartika Shukla Dwadashi.

  • 24 NovTue

    Kartika Purnima

    The full moon of Kartika; lamps at Varanasi and the birthday of Guru Nanak.

December 2026

  • 20 DecSun

    Gita Jayanti

    Margashirsha Shukla Ekadashi, remembered as the day the Gita was spoken.

  • 23 DecWed

    Dattatreya Jayanti

    Birth of Dattatreya at dusk on Margashirsha Purnima.

Plain-language notes are the School’s summaries of common almanac usage, for study. They are not advice.

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