Festival and vrat calendar
November 2026
- 20FriPrabodhini Ekadashi / Tulsi Vivah
Lord Vishnu wakes from his four-month rest; Tulsi is married to Lord Krishna.
- 23MonGuru Nanak Jayanti / Kartik Purnima
Birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji; Dev Deepawali in Varanasi.
- 24TueKarthigai Deepam
The festival of lamps, on the Krittika star in Karthigai month.
December 2026
- 19SatGita Jayanti
The day the Bhagavad Gita was spoken.
- 19SatVaikunta Ekadashi
The gates of Vaikuntha open; the holiest Ekadashi of the year in the South.
January 2027
- 13WedBhogi
The day before Sankranti: old things go into the bonfire and new ones are welcomed.
- 14ThuMakar Sankranti / Pongal
The Sun enters Makara: harvest thanksgiving as Pongal, Sankranti, Uttarayan, Bihu and Maghi.
February 2027
- 11ThuVasant Panchami
Worship of Goddess Saraswati and the coming of spring.
March 2027
- 5FriMaha Shivaratri
The great night of Lord Shiva, kept with fasting and vigil.
- 21SunHolika Dahan
The bonfire on the eve of Holi; Dol Jatra in Bengal and Odisha.
- 22MonHoli
The festival of colours.
April 2027
- 7WedUgadi / Gudi Padwa
Lunar New Year: Ugadi in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra.
- 7WedChaitra Navratri begins
Nine nights of devotion to the Divine Mother in spring.
- 14WedRam Navami
Birth of Lord Rama, celebrated at midday.
- 14WedTamil New Year / Vishu / Baisakhi
The Sun enters Mesha: Puthandu, Vishu, Baisakhi, Pohela Boishakh and Bihu.
- 18SunMahavir Jayanti
Birth of Bhagavan Mahavira, the 24th Jain Tirthankara.
- 20TueHanuman Jayanti
Birth of Lord Hanuman, observed on Chaitra Purnima in North India.
May 2027
- 8SatAkshaya Tritiya
A day of lasting blessings, for new beginnings, charity and gratitude.
- 19WedBuddha Purnima
Birth, enlightenment and passing of the Buddha.
July 2027
- 5MonRath Yatra
Lord Jagannath’s chariot festival, famous in Puri.
- 18SunGuru Purnima
A day to honour teachers and the Guru.
August 2027
- 6FriNag Panchami
Worship of the serpent deities.
- 13FriVaralakshmi Vratam
Married women pray to Goddess Lakshmi for the family’s wellbeing.
- 16MonRaksha Bandhan
Sisters tie rakhi on their brothers’ wrists; in the South, the sacred thread is renewed (Upakarma).
- 24TueKrishna Janmashtami
Birth of Lord Krishna, celebrated at midnight. Some traditions (such as ISKCON) may observe it a day later.
September 2027
- 2ThuHartalika Teej / Gowri Habba
Goddess Parvati is worshipped on the eve of Ganesh Chaturthi.
- 3FriGanesh Chaturthi
Birth of Lord Ganesha, remover of obstacles.
- 12SunOnam (Thiruvonam)
Kerala’s harvest festival, welcoming King Mahabali.
- 14TueAnant Chaturdashi (Ganesh Visarjan)
The last day of the Ganesh festival, with the immersion of Ganesha.
- 16ThuPitru Paksha begins
Fortnight of remembering and honouring the ancestors.
- 29WedMahalaya Amavasya
The last day of Pitru Paksha, for ancestor offerings; in Bengal, the Goddess is invoked at dawn.
- 30ThuSharad Navratri begins
Nine nights honouring Goddess Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati.
October 2027
- 7ThuDurga Ashtami
The eighth day of Navratri, honouring Goddess Durga.
- 8FriMaha Navami / Ayudha Puja
The ninth day of Navratri; Saraswati and Ayudha Puja in the South.
- 9SatDussehra / Vijayadashami
Victory of good over evil, an auspicious day to begin learning.
- 14ThuSharad Purnima / Kojagari Lakshmi Puja
The bright autumn full moon, a night of Lakshmi worship.
- 26TueDhanteras
The first day of Diwali, for health and prosperity.
- 28ThuNaraka Chaturdashi
Deepavali in South India, with an early oil bath; Choti Diwali in the North.
- 28ThuDiwali (Lakshmi Puja)
The festival of lights and Lakshmi Puja; Kali Puja in Bengal.
- 29FriGovardhan Puja
Lord Krishna lifting Govardhan hill; New Year in Gujarat and Bali Padyami in Karnataka.
- 30SatBhai Dooj
A day celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters.