Festival Calendar 2026
17 major Indian festivals — date-accurate, computed from sidereal panchang math
Every date below is computed deterministically from the same Lahiri-ayanamsa panchang we use for everything else — no per-year hard-coded tables. If a date doesn't match your tradition's panchang, it's likely the Drik vs Vakhya school difference (we use Drik) or a regional tithi-boundary call. See /methodology.
Coming up
Mon, Jun 29
Guru Purnima
also: Vyasa Purnima
Fri, Sep 4
Krishna Janmashtami
also: Gokulashtami
Fri, Sep 11
Mahalaya Amavasya
also: Sarvapitri Amavasya
Tue, Sep 15
Vinayaka Chaturthi
also: Ganesh Chaturthi
Mon, Sep 21
Vijayadashami (Dussehra)
Sun, Oct 11
Sharadiya Navratri (start)
January 2026
Maha Shivaratri
all-india
Sat, Jan 17
Magha Krishna Chaturdashi — the Great Night of Shiva. Observed with night-long vigil through the four jaama timings, with abhishekam and Rudram chanting.
Vasant Panchami/ Saraswati Puja
all-india
Fri, Jan 23
Magha Shukla Panchami — dedicated to Saraswati. Books, instruments, and tools blessed; first letters traced for children.
March 2026
Holika Dahan
north-india · all-india
Tue, Mar 3
Phalguna Purnima — the bonfire night before Holi. Commemorates the burning of Holika.
Holi
north-india · all-india
Wed, Mar 4
Phalguna Krishna Pratipada — the festival of colors. Day after Holika Dahan; spring's arrival.
Ram Navami
all-india
Fri, Mar 27
Chaitra Shukla Navami — birth of Sri Rama. Observed with fasting, Ramayana recitation, and afternoon arati.
April 2026
Hanuman Jayanti
all-india
Thu, Apr 2
Chaitra Purnima — birth of Hanuman. Hanuman Chalisa recitation, Sundara Kanda parayanam.
Akshaya Tritiya
all-india
Mon, Apr 20
Vaisakha Shukla Tritiya — 'undiminishing' tithi. Considered an auspicious day for new beginnings, gold purchases, and donations regardless of other panchang factors.
May 2026
Buddha Purnima (Vesak)
all-india · diaspora
Fri, May 1
Vaisakha Purnima — Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and parinirvana. Major observance for Buddhists; also auspicious in Hindu tradition.
June 2026
Guru Purnima/ Vyasa Purnima
all-india
Mon, Jun 29
Ashada Purnima — honor one's guru. Traditionally Vyasa's birthday; Buddhists mark Buddha's first sermon.
September 2026
Krishna Janmashtami/ Gokulashtami
all-india
Fri, Sep 4
Bhadrapada Krishna Ashtami — birth of Sri Krishna. Observed with overnight vigil, Bhagavata Purana recitation, midnight arati at the moment of birth.
Mahalaya Amavasya/ Sarvapitri Amavasya
all-india
Fri, Sep 11
Bhadrapada Amavasya — the new moon ending Mahalaya Paksha, the 16-day ancestor observance. Tarpanam offered for forgotten ancestors.
Vinayaka Chaturthi/ Ganesh Chaturthi
all-india
Tue, Sep 15
Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi — Ganesha's appearance. 10-day observance ending in visarjan (immersion). Especially major in Maharashtra.
Vijayadashami (Dussehra)
all-india
Mon, Sep 21
Ashwin Shukla Dashami — the 10th day after Navratri. Celebrates Durga's victory over Mahishasura (in eastern India) and Rama's victory over Ravana (in northern India).
October 2026
Sharadiya Navratri (start)
all-india
Sun, Oct 11
Ashwin Shukla 1 — start of the autumn 9-day Devi observance, the most widely-celebrated Navratri. Each day's color and devi form follows the standard sequence (Shailaputri → Brahmacharini → ...).
November 2026
Dhanteras
north-india · all-india
Sat, Nov 7
Karthika Krishna Trayodashi — the first day of the Diwali sequence. Dedicated to Dhanvantari (deva of medicine) and Kubera (lord of wealth). Traditional day to purchase metals.
Diwali (Lakshmi Puja)/ Deepavali
all-india
Mon, Nov 9
Karthika Amavasya — the festival of lights. Lakshmi Puja in homes; Kali Puja in Bengal. Diyas lit; firecrackers traditionally; sweets exchanged.
Bhai Dooj/ Bhau Beej
north-india · all-india
Wed, Nov 11
Karthika Shukla Dwitiya — sister-brother bond observance, sister applies tilak and brother offers gifts.
Notice a missing festival or a wrong date for your tradition? Open an issue at github.com/ranganc007/mayaastro — we add festivals by extending src/data/festivals.ts, no per-year work needed.