The 2026 Hindu festival year spans from Maha Shivaratri in February through Diwali in November. The dates below follow the Vedic calendar (lunar tithi or solar transit) and are curated for the 14 festivals Indian families plan their year around. Sign in to see how each festival relates to your Janam Kundali and to your local sunrise.
The great night of Shiva on the Magha Krishna Chaturdashi: a day's fast, the four-prahar abhisheka of the linga with milk, curd, honey and bilva leaves, and an all-night vigil. Held to be the night Shiva married Parvati and the night he appeared as the endless column of light.
The spring festival of colours on the Phalguna Purnima. Holika Dahan on the eve burns the year's ill will in a bonfire; Rangwali Holi the next morning is the play of colours that began with Krishna and Radha in Braj. Bengal keeps it as Dol Jatra, the swing festival of Radha-Krishna.
The birth of Rama, Vishnu's seventh avatar, at madhyahna on the Chaitra Shukla Navami, the last day of the spring Navratri. Ayodhya's temples keep the birth at noon; homes read the Ramayana and sing the Ram katha.
The birth of Hanuman, son of Vayu and Anjana, on the Chaitra Purnima. His worship gives courage, strength and protection, and is the chief remedy for Saturn's afflictions, since Shani himself pledged never to trouble Hanuman's devotees.
The birth of Shani, son of Surya and Chhaya, on the Jyeshtha Amavasya. Oil, black sesame and iron are offered; the day matters most to those running Sade Sati, Dhaiya or a Saturn dasha.
The Ashadha Purnima, kept in honour of one's guru and of Veda Vyasa, who was born on this day and arranged the Vedas into four. The best day of the year for Jupiter remedies; monsoon Chaturmas begins for wandering ascetics.
The Shravana Shukla Panchami worship of the serpent deities: milk and durva are offered to images of the Nagas, or to live snakes in the villages, for protection from snakebite and as a remedy for Rahu-Ketu afflictions and Kaal Sarpa dosha.
The Shravana Purnima bond between sisters and brothers: the rakhi tied on the wrist is a vow of protection. The south keeps the same Purnima as Avani Avittam, when the sacred thread is renewed, and the Konkan coast as Narali Purnima, offering coconuts to the sea.
The birth of Krishna, Vishnu's eighth avatar, at midnight on the Bhadrapada Krishna Ashtami. A day-long fast ends with the midnight birth puja; Mathura and Vrindavan keep it grandest, and Maharashtra breaks the Dahi Handi the next morning.
The birth of Ganesha, remover of obstacles and lord of beginnings, worshipped at madhyahna on the Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi. Clay Ganeshas are installed at home and in public pandals for up to ten days and immersed on Anant Chaturdashi; Maharashtra's Ganeshotsav is the largest in the country.
Nine nights of the Devi in her nine forms, from Ghatasthapana on the Ashwin Pratipada to Maha Navami, closing with Vijayadashami. Gujarat dances Garba, Bengal keeps it as Durga Puja, the south sets out the Golu dolls, and the north keeps the vrat and Kanya Puja.
The tenth day after Navratri, when Rama slew Ravana and Durga slew Mahishasura: the victory of dharma over adharma. Ravana's effigies burn in the north, Mysuru holds its Dasara procession, Bengal immerses Durga on Bijoya Dashami, and Shami leaves are exchanged as gold.
The full moon of Ashwin. Kheer is set under the moon through the night and the household keeps the Kojagara vigil, awake for Lakshmi; Braj keeps the same night as Raas Purnima.
The fast married women of north India keep on the Kartik Krishna Chaturthi for the husband's long life: no food or water from before dawn, the evening katha and the karva exchange, and the fast broken only at moonrise, the moon seen through a sieve.
A fast kept by mothers for the wellbeing and long life of their children, chiefly in north and north-west India. The puja is performed after sunset and the fast is broken on sighting the stars.
The festival of lights on the Kartik Amavasya: Lakshmi is welcomed into a lamp-lit home on the darkest night of the year, and the lamps recall Ayodhya lighting Rama's way home after fourteen years of exile. Five days from Dhanteras to Bhai Dooj; the south keeps Naraka Chaturdashi as the main day and Bengal worships Kali on the same night.
Festivals carry different weight depending on the deities and planets they invoke and how they line up with your Janam Kundali. Sign in to see which festivals matter most for your chart, your active dasha, and your family.
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