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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 Gorakhpur · 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

  • 3 JanSat

    Pausha Purnima (Shakambhari)

    Full-moon day · Pausha

  • 6 JanTue

    Angarki Lambodara Sankashti Chaturthi

    Fourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise

  • 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.

  • 14 JanWed

    Thai Pongal

    The first day of the Tamil solar month Thai, after the Sun enters sidereal Makara.

  • 14 JanWed

    Shattila Ekadashi

    Eleventh 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 Shivaratri

    Krishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Magha (purnimanta) = Pausha (amanta)

  • 18 JanSun

    Mauni Amavasya

    New-moon day; for remembering the ancestors · Magha Amavasya (purnimanta) = Pausha Amavasya (amanta)

  • 23 JanFri

    Vasant Panchami

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

  • 24 JanSat

    Skanda Shashthi

    Shukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Magha

  • 25 JanSun

    Ratha Saptami

    Magha Shukla Saptami, kept for the Sun with a bath before dawn.

  • 29 JanThu

    Jaya Ekadashi

    Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Magha Shukla

  • 30 JanFri

    Shukra Pradosh (Shukla)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

February 2026

  • 1 FebSun

    Magha Purnima

    Full-moon day · Magha

  • 5 FebThu

    Dwijapriya Sankashti Chaturthi

    Fourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise

  • 13 FebFri

    Vijaya Ekadashi

    Eleventh 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 Shivaratri

    Also: Masik Shivaratri

    The great night of Shiva, on the Chaturdashi before Phalguna's new moon.

  • 17 FebTue

    Magha Amavasya (Bhaumvati)

    New-moon day; for remembering the ancestors · Phalguna Amavasya (purnimanta) = Magha Amavasya (amanta)

  • 22 FebSun

    Skanda Shashthi

    Shukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Phalguna

  • 27 FebFri

    Amalaki Ekadashi

    Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Phalguna Shukla

March 2026

  • 1 MarSun

    Ravi Pradosh (Shukla)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

  • 2 MarMon

    Holika Dahan†

    Also: Phalguna Purnima (vrat and snana-dana), 3 Mar

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

    Almanacs differ on this date this year†; open the festival to read how it was fixed.

  • 3 MarTue

    Holi†

    The festival of colours, on the day after Holika Dahan.

    Almanacs differ on this date this year†; open the festival to read how it was fixed.

  • 3 MarTue

    Phalguna Purnima

    Full-moon day · Phalguna

    Purnima is running at sunrise: the day for the Purnima vrat and for bathing and gifts (snana-dana). Holika Dahan (2 Mar) is the same full moon, kept at dusk.

  • 6 MarFri

    Bhalachandra Sankashti Chaturthi

    Fourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise

  • 15 MarSun

    Papamochani Ekadashi

    Eleventh 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 Shivaratri

    Krishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Chaitra (purnimanta) = Phalguna (amanta)

  • 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.

  • 19 MarThu

    Phalguna Amavasya

    New-moon day; for remembering the ancestors · Chaitra Amavasya (purnimanta) = Phalguna Amavasya (amanta)

  • 21 MarSat

    Gangaur

    Chaitra Shukla Tritiya, the close of the Gauri worship of Rajasthan.

  • 24 MarTue

    Skanda Shashthi

    Shukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Chaitra

  • 26 MarThu

    Ram Navami

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

  • 29 MarSun

    Kamada Ekadashi

    Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Chaitra Shukla

  • 30 MarMon

    Soma Pradosh (Shukla)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

  • 31 MarTue

    Mahavir Jayanti

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

April 2026

  • 2 AprThu

    Hanuman Jayanti

    Also: Chaitra Purnima

    Birth observance of Hanuman on Chaitra Purnima in the north.

  • 5 AprSun

    Vikata Sankashti Chaturthi

    Fourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise

  • 13 AprMon

    Varuthini Ekadashi

    Eleventh 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 Shivaratri

    Krishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Vaishakha (purnimanta) = Chaitra (amanta)

  • 17 AprFri

    Chaitra Amavasya

    New-moon day; for remembering the ancestors · Vaishakha Amavasya (purnimanta) = Chaitra Amavasya (amanta)

  • 19 AprSun

    Akshaya Tritiya

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

  • 22 AprWed

    Skanda Shashthi

    Shukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Vaishakha

  • 27 AprMon

    Mohini Ekadashi

    Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Vaishakha Shukla

  • 29 AprWed

    Budha Pradosh (Shukla)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

May 2026

  • 1 MayFri

    Buddha Purnima

    Also: Vaishakha Purnima

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

  • 5 MayTue

    Angarki Ekadanta Sankashti Chaturthi

    Fourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise

  • 13 MayWed

    Apara Ekadashi

    Eleventh 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 Shivaratri

    Krishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Jyeshtha (purnimanta) = Vaishakha (amanta)

  • 16 MaySat

    Vat Savitri

    Also: Vaishakha Amavasya

    Women's vow at the banyan, on the Amavasya before Jyeshtha in the north.

  • 21 MayThu

    Adhika Skanda Shashthi

    Shukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Adhika Jyeshtha

  • 25 MayMon

    Ganga Dussehra

    Jyeshtha Shukla Dashami, the descent of the Ganga.

  • 27 MayWed

    Padmini Ekadashi

    Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Adhika Jyeshtha Shukla

  • 28 MayThu

    Guru Pradosh (Shukla)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

  • 31 MaySun

    Adhika Jyeshtha Purnima

    Full-moon day · Jyeshtha

June 2026

July 2026

  • 3 JulFri

    Krishnapingala Sankashti Chaturthi

    Fourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise

  • 11 JulSat

    Yogini Ekadashi

    Eleventh 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 Shivaratri

    Krishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Ashadha (purnimanta) = Jyeshtha (amanta)

  • 14 JulTue

    Jyeshtha Amavasya (Bhaumvati)

    New-moon day; for remembering the ancestors · Ashadha Amavasya (purnimanta) = Jyeshtha Amavasya (amanta)

  • 16 JulThu

    Rath Yatra

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

  • 19 JulSun

    Skanda Shashthi

    Shukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Ashadha

  • 25 JulSat

    Devshayani Ekadashi

    Ashadha 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

  • 29 JulWed

    Guru Purnima

    Ashadha Purnima, dedicated to the teacher and to Vyasa.

August 2026

  • 2 AugSun

    Gajanana Sankashti Chaturthi

    Fourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise

  • 3 AugMon

    Shravan Somvar

    The Mondays of Shravana as North India counts it (purnimanta), kept for Shiva.

  • 9 AugSun

    Kamika Ekadashi

    Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Shravana Krishna (purnimanta) = Ashadha Krishna (amanta)

  • 10 AugMon

    Shravan Somvar

    The 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 Shivaratri

    Krishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Shravana (purnimanta) = Ashadha (amanta)

  • 12 AugWed

    Hariyali Amavasya

    New-moon day; for remembering the ancestors · Shravana Amavasya (purnimanta) = Ashadha Amavasya (amanta)

  • 17 AugMon

    Shravan Somvar

    The Mondays of Shravana as North India counts it (purnimanta), kept for Shiva.

  • 17 AugMon

    Nag Panchami

    Shravana Shukla Panchami, the day of the serpent deities.

  • 17 AugMon

    Skanda Shashthi

    Shukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Shravana

  • 23 AugSun

    Shravana Putrada Ekadashi

    Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Shravana Shukla

  • 24 AugMon

    Shravan Somvar

    The 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

  • 26 AugWed

    Onam

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

  • 28 AugFri

    Raksha Bandhan

    Also: Shravana Purnima

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

  • 31 AugMon

    Heramba Sankashti Chaturthi

    Fourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise

September 2026

October 2026

  • 6 OctTue

    Indira Ekadashi

    Eleventh 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 Shivaratri

    Krishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Ashwina (purnimanta) = Bhadrapada (amanta)

  • 10 OctSat

    Mahalaya / Sarvapitri Amavasya (Shani)

    New-moon day; for remembering the ancestors · Ashwina Amavasya (purnimanta) = Bhadrapada Amavasya (amanta)

  • 11 OctSun

    Sharad Navratri begins

    Nine nights of Durga from Ashwina Shukla Pratipada to Navami.

  • 16 OctFri

    Skanda Shashthi

    Shukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Ashwina

  • 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.

  • 22 OctThu

    Papankusha Ekadashi

    Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Ashwina Shukla

  • 23 OctFri

    Shukra Pradosh (Shukla)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

  • 25 OctSun

    Sharad Purnima

    Also: Ashwina Purnima (vrat and snana-dana), 26 Oct

    The night of the Ashwina full moon (Kojagari), kept from moonrise.

  • 26 OctMon

    Ashwina PurnimaToday

    Full-moon day · Ashwina

    Purnima is running at sunrise: the day for the Purnima vrat and for bathing and gifts (snana-dana). Sharad Purnima (25 Oct) is the same full moon, kept at moonrise, on the night of the full moon.

  • 29 OctThu

    Karwa Chauthin 3 days

    Wives' fast from dawn to moonrise on the Chaturthi after Sharad Purnima.

  • 29 OctThu

    Vakratunda Sankashti Chaturthiin 3 days

    Fourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise

November 2026

  • 1 NovSun

    Ahoi Ashtamiin 6 days

    Mothers' fast for their children on Kartika Krishna Ashtami (purnimanta), ended at star-rise.

  • 5 NovThu

    Rama Ekadashi

    Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Kartika Krishna (purnimanta) = Ashwina Krishna (amanta)

  • 6 NovFri

    Dhanteras

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

  • 6 NovFri

    Shukra Pradosh (Krishna)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

  • 7 NovSat

    Kali Chaudas

    The night of Kartika Krishna Chaturdashi (purnimanta), kept for Kali in Gujarat.

  • 7 NovSat

    Masik Shivaratri

    Krishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Kartika (purnimanta) = Ashwina (amanta)

  • 8 NovSun

    Naraka Chaturdashi

    Kartika Krishna Chaturdashi (purnimanta): the oil bath before dawn, while the waning Moon is up.

  • 8 NovSun

    Diwali

    Also: Ashwina Amavasya (vrat and snana-dana), 9 Nov

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

  • 9 NovMon

    Ashwina Amavasya

    New-moon day; for remembering the ancestors · Kartika Amavasya (purnimanta) = Ashwina Amavasya (amanta)

    Amavasya is running at sunrise: the day for the Amavasya rites (shraddha, bathing and gifts). Diwali (8 Nov) is the same new moon, kept at dusk.

  • 10 NovTue

    Govardhan Puja

    Kartika Shukla Pratipada, usually the day after Diwali; the mound of food.

  • 11 NovWed

    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.

  • 15 NovSun

    Skanda Shashthi

    Kartika Shukla Shashthi in the Tamil reckoning, the day of Soorasamharam.

  • 21 NovSat

    Devutthana Ekadashi

    Also: Devutthana (Prabodhini) Ekadashi

    Kartika Shukla Ekadashi, the end of chaturmasa and the reopening of the wedding season.

  • 21 NovSat

    Tulsi Vivah

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

  • 22 NovSun

    Ravi Pradosh (Shukla)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

  • 24 NovTue

    Kartika Purnima

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

  • 27 NovFri

    Ganadhipa Sankashti Chaturthi

    Fourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise

December 2026

  • 4 DecFri

    Utpanna Ekadashi

    Eleventh 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 Shivaratri

    Krishna Chaturdashi, kept at midnight · Margashirsha (purnimanta) = Kartika (amanta)

  • 8 DecTue

    Kartika Amavasya (Bhaumvati)

    New-moon day; for remembering the ancestors · Margashirsha Amavasya (purnimanta) = Kartika Amavasya (amanta)

  • 15 DecTue

    Skanda Shashthi

    Shukla Shashthi, on the day it joins the tithi before · Margashirsha

  • 20 DecSun

    Gita Jayanti

    Also: Mokshada Ekadashi

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

  • 21 DecMon

    Soma Pradosh (Shukla)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

  • 23 DecWed

    Dattatreya Jayanti

    Also: Margashirsha Purnima (vrat and snana-dana), 24 Dec

    Birth of Dattatreya at dusk on Margashirsha Purnima.

  • 24 DecThu

    Margashirsha Purnima

    Full-moon day · Margashirsha

    Purnima is running at sunrise: the day for the Purnima vrat and for bathing and gifts (snana-dana). Dattatreya Jayanti (23 Dec) is the same full moon, kept at dusk.

  • 26 DecSat

    Akhuratha Sankashti Chaturthi

    Fourth day of the dark half; a Ganesha fast broken at moonrise

† Practice varies between schools; our faculty is reviewing these rules.

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

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