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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.

Times in Vancouver (America/Vancouver, PST/PDT).

January 2026

February 2026

March 2026

  • 2 MarMon

    Holika Dahan

    Also: Phalguna Purnima

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

  • 2 MarMon

    Holi

    The festival of colours, on and after Phalguna Purnima.

  • 6 MarFri

    Bhalachandra Sankashti Chaturthi

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

  • 14 MarSat

    Papamochani Ekadashi

    Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Phalguna

  • 16 MarMon

    Soma Pradosh (Krishna)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

  • 18 MarWed

    Phalguna Amavasya

    New-moon day; for remembering the ancestors · Phalguna

  • 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.

  • 28 MarSat

    Kamada Ekadashi

    Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Chaitra

  • 29 MarSun

    Ravi Pradosh (Shukla)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

  • 30 MarMon

    Mahavir Jayanti

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

April 2026

May 2026

June 2026

July 2026

August 2026

September 2026

October 2026

November 2026

  • 1 NovSun

    Ahoi Ashtamiin 7 days

    Mothers' fast for their children, eight days before Diwali, ended at star-rise.

  • 4 NovWed

    Rama Ekadashi

    Eleventh lunar day; a fast for Vishnu · Ashwina

  • 6 NovFri

    Dhanteras

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

  • 6 NovFri

    Naraka Chaturdashi

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

  • 6 NovFri

    Shukra Pradosh (Krishna)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

  • 8 NovSun

    Diwali

    Also: Ashwina Amavasya

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

  • 9 NovMon

    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.

  • 14 NovSat

    Chhath Puja

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

  • 20 NovFri

    Devutthana Ekadashi

    Also: Devutthana (Prabodhini) Ekadashi

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

  • 20 NovFri

    Tulsi Vivah

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

  • 21 NovSat

    Shani Pradosh (Shukla)

    Thirteenth lunar day; Shiva is worshipped at dusk

  • 23 NovMon

    Kartika Purnima

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

  • 26 NovThu

    Ganadhipa Sankashti Chaturthi

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

December 2026

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

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