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.
Dates for Chennai · change city
Month names: the rules use the amanta month, which ends at the new moon (as in South and West India). In the dark half of the month North India’s purnimanta calendar has already moved to the next month, so dark-half entries show both names, for example Kamika Ekadashi: Shravana Krishna (purnimanta) = Ashadha Krishna (amanta). Shravan Somvar follows the purnimanta month, as Delhi almanacs print it.
January 2026
1 JanThu
Guru Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
6 JanTue
Angarki Lambodara Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
14 JanWed
Shattila EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Magha Krishna (purnimanta) = Pausha Krishna (amanta)
16 JanFri
Shukra Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
16 JanFri
Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Magha (purnimanta) = Pausha (amanta)
24 JanSat
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Magha
29 JanThu
Jaya EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Magha Shukla
30 JanFri
Shukra Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
February 2026
5 FebThu
Dwijapriya Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
13 FebFri
Vijaya EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Phalguna Krishna (purnimanta) = Magha Krishna (amanta)
14 FebSat
Shani Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
15 FebSun
Maha ShivaratriAlso: Masik Shivaratri
The great night of Shiva, on the Chaturdashi before Phalguna's new moon.
22 FebSun
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Phalguna
27 FebFri
Amalaki EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Phalguna Shukla
March 2026
1 MarSun
Ravi Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
6 MarFri
Bhalachandra Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
15 MarSun
Papamochani EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Chaitra Krishna (purnimanta) = Phalguna Krishna (amanta)
16 MarMon
Soma Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
17 MarTue
Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Chaitra (purnimanta) = Phalguna (amanta)
24 MarTue
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Chaitra
29 MarSun
Kamada EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Chaitra Shukla
30 MarMon
Soma Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
April 2026
5 AprSun
Vikata Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
13 AprMon
Varuthini EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Vaishakha Krishna (purnimanta) = Chaitra Krishna (amanta)
15 AprWed
Budha Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
15 AprWed
Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Vaishakha (purnimanta) = Chaitra (amanta)
22 AprWed
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Vaishakha
27 AprMon
Mohini EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Vaishakha Shukla
29 AprWed
Budha Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
May 2026
5 MayTue
Angarki Ekadanta Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
13 MayWed
Apara EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Jyeshtha Krishna (purnimanta) = Vaishakha Krishna (amanta)
14 MayThu
Guru Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
15 MayFri
Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Jyeshtha (purnimanta) = Vaishakha (amanta)
16 MaySat
Vat SavitriWomen's vow at the banyan, on the Amavasya before Jyeshtha in the north.
21 MayThu
Adhika Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Adhika Jyeshtha
26 MayTue
Padmini EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Adhika Jyeshtha Shukla
28 MayThu
Guru Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
June 2026
4 JunThu
Adhika Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
11 JunThu
Parama EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Adhika Jyeshtha Krishna
12 JunFri
Shukra Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
13 JunSat
Adhika Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Adhika Jyeshtha
19 JunFri
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Jyeshtha
25 JunThu
Nirjala EkadashiThe waterless Ekadashi of Jyeshtha Shukla, held equal to all twenty-four.
27 JunSat
Shani Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
July 2026
3 JulFri
Krishnapingala Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
11 JulSat
Yogini EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Ashadha Krishna (purnimanta) = Jyeshtha Krishna (amanta)
12 JulSun
Ravi Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
12 JulSun
Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Ashadha (purnimanta) = Jyeshtha (amanta)
19 JulSun
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Ashadha
25 JulSat
Devshayani EkadashiAshadha Shukla Ekadashi, when Vishnu is said to begin his four-month rest.
26 JulSun
Ravi Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
August 2026
2 AugSun
Gajanana Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
3 AugMon
Shravan SomvarThe Mondays of Shravana as North India counts it (purnimanta), kept for Shiva.
9 AugSun
Kamika EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Shravana Krishna (purnimanta) = Ashadha Krishna (amanta)
10 AugMon
Shravan SomvarThe Mondays of Shravana as North India counts it (purnimanta), kept for Shiva.
10 AugMon
Soma Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
11 AugTue
Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Shravana (purnimanta) = Ashadha (amanta)
17 AugMon
Shravan SomvarThe Mondays of Shravana as North India counts it (purnimanta), kept for Shiva.
17 AugMon
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Shravana
23 AugSun
Shravana Putrada EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Shravana Shukla
24 AugMon
Shravan SomvarThe Mondays of Shravana as North India counts it (purnimanta), kept for Shiva.
25 AugTue
Bhauma Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
31 AugMon
Heramba Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
September 2026
7 SepMon
Aja EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Bhadrapada Krishna (purnimanta) = Shravana Krishna (amanta)
8 SepTue
Bhauma Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
9 SepWed
Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Bhadrapada (purnimanta) = Shravana (amanta)
14 SepMon
Hartalika TeejWomen's fast for Parvati on Bhadrapada Shukla Tritiya.
16 SepWed
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Bhadrapada
22 SepTue
Parsva (Parivartini) EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Bhadrapada Shukla
24 SepThu
Guru Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
29 SepTue
Angarki Vighnaraja Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
October 2026
6 OctTue
Indira EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Ashwina Krishna (purnimanta) = Bhadrapada Krishna (amanta)
8 OctThu
Guru Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
8 OctThu
Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Ashwina (purnimanta) = Bhadrapada (amanta)
16 OctFri
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Ashwina
22 OctThu
Papankusha EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Ashwina Shukla
23 OctFri
Shukra Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
Today · 26 Oct
29 OctThu
Karwa ChauthNext · in 3 daysWives' fast from dawn to moonrise on the Chaturthi after Sharad Purnima.
29 OctThu
Vakratunda Sankashti Chaturthiin 3 daysFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
November 2026
1 NovSun
Ahoi Ashtamiin 6 daysMothers' fast for their children on Kartika Krishna Ashtami (purnimanta), ended at star-rise.
5 NovThu
Rama EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Kartika Krishna (purnimanta) = Ashwina Krishna (amanta)
6 NovFri
Shukra Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
7 NovSat
Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Kartika (purnimanta) = Ashwina (amanta)
15 NovSun
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Kartika
21 NovSat
Devutthana EkadashiAlso: Devutthana (Prabodhini) Ekadashi
Kartika Shukla Ekadashi, the end of chaturmasa and the reopening of the wedding season.
22 NovSun
Ravi Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
27 NovFri
Ganadhipa Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
December 2026
4 DecFri
Utpanna EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Margashirsha Krishna (purnimanta) = Kartika Krishna (amanta)
6 DecSun
Ravi Pradosh (Krishna)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
7 DecMon
Masik ShivaratriKrishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Margashirsha (purnimanta) = Kartika (amanta)
15 DecTue
Skanda ShashthiShukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Margashirsha
20 DecSun
Mokshada EkadashiEleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Margashirsha Shukla
21 DecMon
Soma Pradosh (Shukla)Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk
26 DecSat
Akhuratha Sankashti ChaturthiFourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise
Plain-language notes are the School’s summaries of common almanac usage, for study. They are not advice.
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