Festivals and vrats in Thiruvananthapuram

November 2026

1. 24Tue
   Guru Nanak Jayanti / Kartik Purnima

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

2. 24Tue
   Thrikarthika

   The festival of lamps, on the Krittika star in Karthigai month.

December 2026

1. 20Sun
   Gita Jayanti

   The day the Bhagavad Gita was spoken.

2. 20Sun
   Swargavathil Ekadashi

   The gates of Vaikuntha open; the holiest Ekadashi of the year in the South.

3. 24Thu
   Arudra Darshan (Thiruvathirai)

   Lord Nataraja’s cosmic dance, celebrated on the Ardra star in Margazhi.

January 2027

1. 7Thu
   Hanumath Jayanthi

   Birth of Lord Hanuman, observed in Margazhi in Tamil Nadu.

2. 15Fri
   Makara Sankranti (Makaravilakku)

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

3. 23Sat
   Thaipusam

   Lord Murugan receives the Vel; devotees carry kavadi.

February 2027

1. 11Thu
   Vasant Panchami

   Worship of Goddess Saraswati and the coming of spring.

2. 22Mon
   Attukal Pongala

   Women gather in their lakhs to offer pongala to the Goddess.

March 2027

1. 6Sat
   Maha Shivaratri

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

2. 22Mon
   Panguni Uthiram

   The day of divine weddings, sacred to Lord Murugan and Ayyappa.

April 2027

1. 14Wed
   Vishu

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

2. 15Thu
   Ram Navami

   Birth of Lord Rama, celebrated at midday.

3. 18Sun
   Mahavir Jayanti

   Birth of Bhagavan Mahavira, the 24th Jain Tirthankara.

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. 18Sun
   Guru Purnima

   A day to honour teachers and the Guru.

August 2027

1. 2Mon
   Karkidaka Vavu

   The most important day of the year for offerings to the ancestors.

2. 17Tue
   Avani Avittam (Upakarma)

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

3. 17Tue
   Malayalam New Year (Chingam 1)

   The first day of the Malayalam month Chingam.

4. 24Tue
   Sri Krishna Jayanti

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

September 2027

1. 4Sat
   Vinayaka Chaturthi

   Birth of Lord Ganesha, remover of obstacles.

2. 12Sun
   Onam (Thiruvonam)

   Kerala’s harvest festival, welcoming King Mahabali.

3. 16Thu
   Pitru Paksha begins

   Fortnight of remembering and honouring the ancestors.

4. 29Wed
   Mahalaya Amavasya

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

5. 30Thu
   Sharad Navratri begins

   Nine nights honouring Goddess Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati.

October 2027

1. 6Wed
   Saraswati Avahan

   Books and instruments are placed before Goddess Saraswati.

2. 7Thu
   Durgashtami (Pooja Veppu)

   The eighth day of Navratri, honouring Goddess Durga.

3. 9Sat
   Mahanavami

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

4. 9Sat
   Vijayadashami (Vidyarambham)

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

5. 28Thu
   Deepavali

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

6. 29Fri
   Diwali (Lakshmi Puja)

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

November 2027

1. 14Sun
   Guru Nanak Jayanti / Kartik Purnima

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