Festivals and vrats in Bhubaneswar

November 2026

1. 11Wed
   Bhai Phonta

   A day celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters.

2. 15Sun
   Chhath Puja

   Worship of the Sun God at sunset and sunrise, especially in Bihar and Jharkhand.

3. 24Tue
   Kartik Purnima (Boita Bandana)

   Birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji; Dev Deepawali in Varanasi.

December 2026

1. 20Sun
   Gita Jayanti

   The day the Bhagavad Gita was spoken.

January 2027

1. 15Fri
   Makar Sankranti / Magh Bihu

   The Sun enters Makara: harvest thanksgiving as Pongal, Sankranti, Uttarayan, Bihu and Maghi.

February 2027

1. 11Thu
   Saraswati Puja

   Worship of Goddess Saraswati and the coming of spring.

March 2027

1. 6Sat
   Maha Shivaratri

   The great night of Lord Shiva, kept with fasting and vigil.

2. 21Sun
   Dol Purnima / Holika Dahan

   The bonfire on the eve of Holi; Dol Jatra in Bengal and Odisha.

3. 22Mon
   Holi (Dol Jatra)

   The festival of colours.

April 2027

1. 7Wed
   Chaitra Navratri begins

   Nine nights of devotion to the Divine Mother in spring.

2. 14Wed
   Pohela Boishakh / Bohag Bihu / Pana Sankranti

   The Sun enters Mesha: Puthandu, Vishu, Baisakhi, Pohela Boishakh and Bihu.

3. 15Thu
   Ram Navami

   Birth of Lord Rama, celebrated at midday.

4. 19Mon
   Mahavir Jayanti

   Birth of Bhagavan Mahavira, the 24th Jain Tirthankara.

5. 20Tue
   Hanuman Jayanti

   Birth of Lord Hanuman, observed on Chaitra Purnima in North India.

May 2027

1. 9Sun
   Akshaya Tritiya

   A day of lasting blessings, for new beginnings, charity and gratitude.

2. 20Thu
   Buddha Purnima

   Birth, enlightenment and passing of the Buddha.

July 2027

1. 5Mon
   Rath Yatra

   Lord Jagannath’s chariot festival, famous in Puri.

2. 18Sun
   Guru Purnima

   A day to honour teachers and the Guru.

August 2027

1. 6Fri
   Nag Panchami

   Worship of the serpent deities.

2. 17Tue
   Raksha Bandhan

   Sisters tie rakhi on their brothers’ wrists; in the South, the sacred thread is renewed (Upakarma).

3. 24Tue
   Krishna Janmashtami

   Birth of Lord Krishna, celebrated at midnight. Some traditions (such as ISKCON) may observe it a day later.

September 2027

1. 4Sat
   Ganesh Chaturthi

   Birth of Lord Ganesha, remover of obstacles.

2. 16Thu
   Pitru Paksha begins

   Fortnight of remembering and honouring the ancestors.

3. 29Wed
   Mahalaya

   The last day of Pitru Paksha, for ancestor offerings; in Bengal, the Goddess is invoked at dawn.

4. 30Thu
   Sharad Navratri begins

   Nine nights honouring Goddess Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati.

October 2027

1. 5Tue
   Durga Puja begins (Maha Shashthi)

   Goddess Durga is welcomed; the five days of Durga Puja begin.

2. 7Thu
   Maha Ashtami

   The eighth day of Navratri, honouring Goddess Durga.

3. 9Sat
   Maha Navami

   The ninth day of Navratri; Saraswati and Ayudha Puja in the South.

4. 9Sat
   Bijoya Dashami

   Victory of good over evil, an auspicious day to begin learning.

5. 14Thu
   Kojagari Lakshmi Puja

   The bright autumn full moon, a night of Lakshmi worship.

6. 27Wed
   Dhanteras

   The first day of Diwali, for health and prosperity.

7. 28Thu
   Naraka Chaturdashi

   Deepavali in South India, with an early oil bath; Choti Diwali in the North.

8. 29Fri
   Kali Puja / Diwali

   The festival of lights and Lakshmi Puja; Kali Puja in Bengal.

9. 31Sun
   Bhai Phonta

   A day celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters.

November 2027

1. 4Thu
   Chhath Puja

   Worship of the Sun God at sunset and sunrise, especially in Bihar and Jharkhand.

2. 14Sun
   Kartik Purnima (Boita Bandana)

   Birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji; Dev Deepawali in Varanasi.