Hindu Festival Calendar 2026
The Hindu calendar (Panchang) follows a lunisolar system where months, tithis (lunar days), nakshatras (lunar mansions), yogas, and karanas form the five limbs of timekeeping. Every festival and vrat date is determined by the Moon's phase (tithi) and the lunar month (Amanta or Purnimanta convention), which is why Gregorian dates shift each year.
This calendar provides location-accurate dates for all major festivals, Ekadashi fasting days with Parana (fast-breaking) times, Purnima, Amavasya, Chaturthi, Pradosham, and eclipses. Click on any festival to see detailed puja vidhi, significance, and observance instructions.
Upcoming Major Festivals
| Festival | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|
| గంగా దసరా | 24 Jun 2026 | Ganga Dussehra destroys ten types of sins (Dasha-hara). Bathing in the Ganga on this day is considered equivalent to bathing at all sacred tirthas. The festival celebrates the purifying power of the Ganga, whose waters are believed to bestow moksha and cleanse even the most grievous karmic debts. |
| Vat Savitri Vrat | 29 Jun 2026 | Celebrates the power of a devoted wife's love. The banyan tree symbolizes immortality (it never truly dies). Savitri's story teaches that true devotion and wisdom can conquer even death. |
| Jagannath Rath Yatra | 16 Jul 2026 | One of India's grandest festivals, symbolizing equality before God – Lord Jagannath leaves the sanctum so everyone can have darshan. Even pulling the chariot rope for a moment is considered highly meritorious. |
| Karka Sankranti (Dakshinayana) | 16 Jul 2026 | Sun enters Cancer – marks the southward journey (Dakshinayana). |
| గురు పూర్ణిమ | 29 Jul 2026 | The full moon of Ashadha is dedicated to the Guru principle – the remover of darkness (Gu = darkness, Ru = remover). Also called Vyasa Purnima. |
| నాగ పంచమి | 3 Aug 2026 | Nag Panchami honours the Nagas as protectors of the earth and keepers of the underworld (Patala). Snakes symbolize Kundalini energy, fertility, and cosmic power. Worshipping them is believed to protect from snakebite, grant progeny, and remove Kala Sarpa Dosha from one's horoscope. |
| హరియాలీ తీజ్ | 15 Aug 2026 | Hariyali Teej celebrates marital bliss, devotion, and the bond between husband and wife. It is one of the most important festivals for married Hindu women in North India. The green colour symbolizes fertility, renewal, and the joy of the monsoon season that brings life to the parched earth. |
| Varalakshmi Vratam | 28 Aug 2026 | One of the most important vrats for married women in South India. Worshipping Varalakshmi grants the combined blessings of all eight forms of Lakshmi – wealth, courage, knowledge, progeny, victory, valour, food, and bliss. |
| రక్షా బంధన్ | 28 Aug 2026 | Celebrates the sacred bond between siblings and the duty of protection. The Rakhi thread symbolizes love, trust, and the sister's prayer for her brother's long life. |
| జన్మాష్టమి | 4 Sep 2026 | Birth of the Supreme Being who spoke the Bhagavad Gita. Krishna embodies divine love (Prema), cosmic wisdom (Jnana), and righteous action (Karma Yoga). The midnight birth symbolizes light emerging in the darkest hour. |
| హర్తాళికా తీజ్ | 13 Sep 2026 | Hartalika Teej is one of the most important vrats for Hindu women, especially in North India, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan. It celebrates Parvati's unwavering devotion to Shiva and the power of a woman's resolve. The vrat is considered extremely powerful for marital happiness and the longevity of one's husband. |
| వినాయక చవితి | 14 Sep 2026 | Lord of new beginnings, remover of obstacles (Vighnaharta). Worshipped before all undertakings. The festival celebrates wisdom, prosperity, and the power of devotion. |
| Onam | 23 Sep 2026 | Celebrates the annual homecoming of King Mahabali. It is Kerala's most important festival, symbolizing prosperity, equality, and the golden age of Mahabali's rule when there was no poverty or discrimination. |
| అనంత చతుర్దశి | 25 Sep 2026 | Anant Chaturdashi symbolizes the infinite and imperishable nature of Lord Vishnu. The 14 knots represent the 14 Lokas (realms) of the universe. Observing this vrata is said to bring enduring prosperity and remove past-life debts. The Ganesh Visarjan teaches non-attachment – accepting the cycle of arrival and departure. |
| నవరాత్రి (శరత్) | 11 Oct 2026 | Victory of divine feminine power (Shakti) over evil. Each of the nine forms represents a different aspect of feminine energy – from ferocity to compassion. |
| దుర్గాష్టమి | 19 Oct 2026 | Durga Ashtami is considered the most powerful day of Navaratri. The Sandhi Puja at the junction of Ashtami and Navami is the most sacred ritual of the entire festival. Ayudha Puja on this day is widely observed in South India, where all instruments of livelihood are consecrated. |
| మహా నవమి | 20 Oct 2026 | Maha Navami marks the culmination of nine days of Goddess worship and the final triumph of divine feminine power over evil. It is one of the three most auspicious days (tri-shakti) for starting new ventures, along with the two Navratri commencement days. |
| దసరా | 21 Oct 2026 | Vijayadashami – the "tenth day of victory". Considered the most auspicious day to begin new ventures, buy property, or start learning. The burning of Ravana symbolizes the destruction of the ten vices (ego, greed, lust, etc.). |
Calendar Features
Our calendar is location-aware — all tithi timings, sunrise/sunset, and Ekadashi Parana windows are computed for your city. Switch between Western months (January–December), Hindu lunar months (Chaitra–Phalguna), or a visual Tithi Grid view. Filter by category: festivals only, Ekadashi, Purnima, Amavasya, Chaturthi, Pradosham, or eclipses. Export to your Apple or Google Calendar via ICS download.
Regional Calendar Traditions
India does not follow a single uniform calendar. The Bengali calendar (Bangabda) is solar and starts its year with Boishakh (around April 14). The Tamil calendar (Thiruvalluvar) is also solar, beginning the year with Chithirai at Mesha Sankranti. The Gujarati calendar (Vikram Samvat) is uniquely lunisolar and starts its new year (Bestu Varas) the day after Diwali on Kartik Shukla Pratipada. Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, and Odia calendars follow the lunisolar Amanta system beginning with Chaitra. See month names, new year dates, and key regional festivals for all traditions on our Regional Calendars page.
* Dates above are computed for Ujjain (Indian reference). Enter your city below for location-accurate timings.