2026 features a rich calendar of festivals. Below are the major dates with their significance. Ekadashi (fasting for Vishnu) falls twice monthly; 24 Ekadashis in 2026 are also listed.
Jan 2026
🪔
Sun
11
Putrada Ekadashi
Auspicious festival day.
🌞
Wed
14
Makar Sankranti
Sun enters Capricorn — end of Uttarayan. Kite-flying, til-gur exchange, holy dips at Prayagraj.
🪔
Mon
26
Republic Day
Auspicious festival day.
🪔
Mon
26
Shattila Ekadashi
Auspicious festival day.
Feb 2026
🪔
Tue
10
Jaya Ekadashi
Auspicious festival day.
🔱
Wed
11
Maha Shivratri
Greatest night of Shiva — all-night vigil with 4 prahar pujas. Fasting and bilva offerings grant liberation.
🔥
Tue
17
Holika Dahan
Bonfire ritual symbolising the burning of Holika and triumph of devotion (Prahlad) over evil.
🎨
Wed
18
Holi
Festival of colors marking spring. Celebration of Radha-Krishna's playful love and the arrival of harvest season.
🪔
Wed
25
Vijaya Ekadashi
Auspicious festival day.
Mar 2026
🪔
Thu
12
Amalaki Ekadashi
Auspicious festival day.
🪔
Fri
27
Papmochani Ekadashi
Auspicious festival day.
🎋
Mon
30
Gudi Padwa / Ugadi
Lunar New Year for Maharashtra and South India. Gudi (flag) raised to welcome prosperity and good fortune.
Apr 2026
🏹
Mon
6
Ram Navami
Birth anniversary of Lord Ram (9th Tithi, Chaitra Shukla). Recitation of Ramayana and fasting.
🪔
Fri
10
Kamada Ekadashi
Auspicious festival day.
🕊
Mon
13
Mahavir Jayanti
Birth of Tirthankar Mahavira, founder of Jainism. Non-violence, truth, and compassion emphasized.
🌾
Tue
14
Baisakhi / Ambedkar Jayanti
Harvest festival of Punjab and birth of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. Also founding anniversary of the Khalsa.
🪔
Sat
25
Varuthini Ekadashi
Auspicious festival day.
May 2026
🪔
Sat
9
Mohini Ekadashi
Auspicious festival day.
☸
Sat
16
Buddha Purnima
Birth, enlightenment, and Parinirvana of Gautama Buddha — all on Vaishakha Purnima.
🪔
Wed
27
Apara Ekadashi
Auspicious festival day.
Jun 2026
🪔
Mon
8
Nirjala Ekadashi
Auspicious festival day.
🪔
Sun
21
Father's Day
Auspicious festival day.
🪔
Thu
25
Yogini Ekadashi
Auspicious festival day.
Jul 2026
📿
Sat
4
Guru Purnima
Reverence to the Guru lineage. The full moon of Ashadha — disciples honor their teachers with gratitude.
🪔
Wed
8
Devshayani Ekadashi
Auspicious festival day.
🪔
Thu
23
Kamika Ekadashi
Auspicious festival day.
Aug 2026
🐍
Sun
2
Nag Panchami
Worship of serpent deities (Nagas) for protection and rain. Milk offerings at snake anthills.
🪔
Thu
6
Shravana Putrada Ekadashi
Auspicious festival day.
🪔
Sun
9
Friendship Day
Auspicious festival day.
🪔
Sat
15
Independence Day
Auspicious festival day.
🪢
Wed
19
Raksha Bandhan
Sisters tie rakhi (protective thread) on brothers' wrists; brothers pledge protection and offer gifts.
🪔
Fri
21
Aja Ekadashi
Auspicious festival day.
🦚
Wed
26
Janmashtami
Midnight celebration of Krishna's birth. Dahi Handi, bhajans, and fasting until midnight.
🐘
Mon
31
Ganesh Chaturthi
10-day festival beginning with installation of Ganesha. Grants removal of obstacles and new beginnings.
Sep 2026
🪔
Fri
4
Parsva Ekadashi
Auspicious festival day.
🌊
Wed
9
Ganesh Visarjan (Anant Chaturdashi)
Immersion of Ganesha idols in water — symbolic return of the deity to Kailash.
🪔
Sat
19
Indira Ekadashi
Auspicious festival day.
🪔
Sat
26
Navratri begins
9-night worship of Devi in her Nava-forms. Garba and Dandiya dance in Gujarat; fasting.
Oct 2026
🌺
Thu
1
Maha Ashtami
Eighth day of Navratri — Mahagauri or Chamundeshwari puja. Kanya puja (worship of girls as Devi).
🙏
Fri
2
Maha Navami / Gandhi Jayanti
Culmination of Navratri — Saraswati/Ayudha Puja (worship of tools and knowledge). Also Gandhi's birth anniversary.
✨
Sat
3
Dussehra (Vijayadashami)
Victory of Ram over Ravana. Burning of Ravana effigies. Auspicious for starting new ventures.
🪔
Sat
3
Papankusha Ekadashi
Auspicious festival day.
🌕
Mon
19
Karva Chauth
Wives fast from sunrise to moonrise for husband's longevity. Moon sighting ends the fast.
🪔
Mon
19
Rama Ekadashi
Auspicious festival day.
💰
Wed
28
Dhanteras
Dhanvantari Trayodashi — purchase of gold, silver, or utensils for prosperity. Diya lighting begins.
🪔
Thu
29
Narak Chaturdashi / Choti Diwali
Krishna slew demon Narakasura. Oil bath at dawn, lighting of 14 diyas for deceased ancestors.
✨
Fri
30
Diwali
Festival of Lights — Ram's return to Ayodhya. Lakshmi puja at night, fireworks, exchange of sweets.
Nov 2026
🪢
Sun
1
Bhai Dooj
Brothers visit sisters after Diwali. Sisters apply tilak and pray for brothers' long life.
🪔
Mon
2
Devutthana Ekadashi
Auspicious festival day.
🌅
Thu
5
Chhath Puja
36-hour waterless fast; arghya (offerings) to setting and rising Sun at river banks. Celebrated in Bihar/UP.
🪔
Wed
18
Utpanna Ekadashi
Auspicious festival day.
☬
Mon
23
Guru Nanak Jayanti
Birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, founder of Sikhism. Akhand Path, langar, and Nagar Kirtan.
Dec 2026
🪔
Wed
2
Mokshada Ekadashi
Auspicious festival day.
🪔
Thu
17
Saphala Ekadashi
Auspicious festival day.
🎄
Fri
25
Christmas
Birth of Jesus Christ. Family celebrations, gift-giving, church services, charity.
🪔
Thu
31
Putrada Ekadashi (Pausha)
Auspicious festival day.