The Hindu Calendar for 2026 (Vikram Samvat 2082–2083) follows the traditional lunar–solar Panchang system, where festivals are determined using the movement of both the Moon (tithis) and the Sun (transits/sankranti). Therefore, festivals such as Navratri, Diwali, Holi, Ekadashi, Purnima, Amavasya shift each year according to planetary motion.
This comprehensive guide provides:
Month-wise Hindu festivals
Ekadashi, Purnima, Amavasya
Major pujas, jayantis, and spiritual observances
Sankranti (solar transits)
Significant regional celebrations
Auspicious days for spiritual practices and charity
All dates are based on India Standard Time (IST) and aligned with New Delhi Panchang.
JANUARY 2026 – Pausha / Magha
January begins with major spiritual days like Makar Sankranti, Pausha Purnima and Basant Panchami.
January 1, Thursday – Shukla Pradosh
Auspicious for Shiva puja during evening twilight.January 3, Saturday – Pausha Purnima
Sacred bathing day, charity, and Bhagavat Saptah reading.January 6, Tuesday – Sankashti Chaturthi
Dedicated to Lord Ganesha. Fast is broken after moonrise.January 14, Wednesday
Shattila Ekadashi
Pongal / Magh Bihu
Uttarayana Begins
Makar Sankranti
Sun enters Capricorn – very auspicious for giving sesame and jaggery.
January 16, Friday – Krishna Pradosh
Evening Shiva worship.January 18, Sunday – Mauni Amavasya
Highly auspicious for silence (mauna), holy dips, and pitru tarpan.January 23, Friday – Basant Panchami / Saraswati Puja
Excellent for beginning new studies and creative arts.January 25, Sunday – Ratha Saptami
A key Surya festival symbolizing the beginning of spring.January 26, Monday – Bhishma Ashtami
January 29, Thursday – Jaya Ekadashi
January 30, Friday – Shukla Pradosh
FEBRUARY 2026 – Magha / Phalguna
February is marked by the powerful Mahashivratri and Magha Purnima.
February 1, Sunday – Magha Purnima
Important for Ganga Snan and charity.February 5, Thursday – Sankashti Chaturthi
February 13, Friday – Vijaya Ekadashi & Kumbha Sankranti
Ekadashi for victory and removal of obstacles.February 14, Saturday – Krishna Pradosh
February 15, Sunday – Mahashivratri / Monthly Shivratri
One of the holiest nights of Shiva worship; night vigil and four-prahar puja.February 17, Tuesday – Phalguna Amavasya
Occurs near an Annular Solar Eclipse (timings per local Panchang).February 27, Friday – Amalaki Ekadashi
February 28, Saturday – Shukla Pradosh
MARCH 2026 – Phalguna / Chaitra
A vibrant month with Holi, Chaitra Navratri, and Hindu New Year.
March 3, Tuesday – Holika Dahan & Phalguna Purnima
Also aligned with a Total Lunar Eclipse.March 4, Wednesday – Holi (Rangwali Holi)
March 6, Friday – Sankashti Chaturthi
March 15, Sunday – Papmochani Ekadashi; Meena Sankranti
March 16, Monday – Krishna Pradosh
March 17, Tuesday – Monthly Shivratri
March 19, Thursday – Hindu New Year (Chaitra Shukla Pratipada)
Chaitra Navratri Begins
Gudi Padwa (Maharashtra)
Ugadi (South India)
Ghatasthapana
March 20, Friday – Cheti Chand (Jhulelal Jayanti)
March 24, Tuesday – Yamuna Chhath
March 26, Thursday – Rama Navami (Smarta)
March 27, Friday – Rama Navami (Vaishnav / ISKCON); Swaminarayan Jayanti
March 27 – Navratri Parana
March 29, Sunday – Kamada Ekadashi
March 30, Monday – Shukla Pradosh
APRIL 2026 – Chaitra / Vaishakha
April brings Hanuman Jayanti, Akshaya Tritiya and Vishu/Mesha Sankranti.
April 2, Thursday – Hanuman Jayanti; Chaitra Purnima
April 5, Sunday – Sankashti Chaturthi
April 13, Monday – Varuthini Ekadashi
April 14, Tuesday – Mesha Sankranti (Solar New Year)
Celebrated as Vishu, Puthandu, Baisakhi regionally.April 15, Wednesday – Krishna Pradosh; Monthly Shivratri
April 17, Friday – Vaishakha Amavasya
April 19, Sunday – Akshaya Tritiya
Best for auspicious beginnings, charity, and spiritual acts.April 23 – Ganga Saptami
April 25 – Sita Navami
April 27, Monday – Mohini Ekadashi
April 28, Tuesday – Shukla Pradosh
April 30 – Narasimha Jayanti
MAY 2026 – Vaishakha / Jyeshtha (Adhik Maas)
A spiritually rich month with Buddha Purnima and Ganga Dashami.
May 1, Friday – Vaishakha Purnima & Buddha Purnima
Early May – Narada Jayanti
May 5, Tuesday – Sankashti Chaturthi
May 13, Wednesday – Apara Ekadashi
May 14, Thursday – Krishna Pradosh
May 15, Friday – Monthly Shivratri; Vrishabha Sankranti
May 16, Saturday – Jyeshtha Amavasya
Also:Vat Savitri Vrat (in many regions)
Shani Jayanti
May 25 – Ganga Dashami
May 27, Wednesday – Padmini Ekadashi (Adhik Maas)
May 28, Thursday – Shukla Pradosh
May 31, Sunday – Adhik Jyeshtha Purnima
JUNE 2026 – Adhik Jyeshtha / Jyeshtha–Ashadha
June 3, Wednesday – Sankashti Chaturthi
June 11, Thursday – Parama Ekadashi
June 12, Friday – Krishna Pradosh
June 13, Saturday – Monthly Shivratri
June 15, Monday – Amavasya; Mithuna Sankranti
June 25, Thursday – Nirjala Ekadashi
Most powerful Ekadashi; fasting gives the merit of all Ekadashis.June 27, Saturday – Shukla Pradosh
June 29, Monday – Jyeshtha Purnima; Vat Purnima (some regions)
JULY 2026 – Ashadha / Shravan (Begins)
Chaturmas begins this month.
July 3, Friday – Sankashti Chaturthi
July 10, Friday – Yogini Ekadashi
July 12, Sunday – Krishna Pradosh; Monthly Shivratri
July 14, Tuesday – Ashadha Amavasya
July 16, Thursday – Jagannath Rath Yatra; Karka Sankranti
July 25, Saturday – Devshayani Ekadashi
Beginning of Chaturmas — four sacred months of austerity and devotion.July 26, Sunday – Shukla Pradosh
July 29, Wednesday – Guru Purnima; Ashadha Purnima
Reverence to the Guru, extremely auspicious for initiation and spiritual learning.
AUGUST 2026 – Shravan / Bhadrapada
One of the holiest months for Shiva devotees.
Shravan Somvar (Every Monday) – Shiva Abhishek
August 2, Sunday – Sankashti Chaturthi
August 9, Sunday – Kamika Ekadashi
August 10, Monday – Krishna Pradosh
August 11, Tuesday – Monthly Shivratri
August 12, Wednesday – Shravan Amavasya
Also aligned with a Total Solar Eclipse (check local timings).August 15, Saturday – Hariyali Teej
August 17, Monday – Nag Panchami; Simha Sankranti
August 23, Sunday – Shravan Putrada Ekadashi
August 25, Tuesday – Shukla Pradosh
August 26, Wednesday – Onam / Thiruvonam
August 28, Friday – Raksha Bandhan; Shravan Purnima
Also Gayatri Jayanti; Partial Lunar Eclipse alignment.August 31, Monday – Sankashti Chaturthi; Kajari Teej
SEPTEMBER 2026 – Bhadrapada / Ashwin
Major festivals include Janmashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi and start of Pitru Paksha.
September 4, Friday – Krishna Janmashtami
Celebrated with midnight worship of Lord Krishna.September 7, Monday – Aja Ekadashi
September 8, Tuesday – Krishna Pradosh
September 9, Wednesday – Monthly Shivratri
September 11, Friday – Bhadrapada Amavasya
September 14, Monday – Ganesh Chaturthi; Hartalika Teej
September 15–16 – Balarama Jayanti; Rishi Panchami (regional)
September 17, Thursday – Kanya Sankranti; Vishwakarma Puja
September 19, Saturday – Radha Ashtami
September 22, Tuesday – Parsva (Parivartini) Ekadashi
September 24, Thursday – Shukla Pradosh
September 25, Friday – Anant Chaturdashi; Ganesh Visarjan
September 26, Saturday – Bhadrapada Purnima
September 27, Sunday – Pitru Paksha Begins
September 29, Tuesday – Sankashti Chaturthi
OCTOBER 2026 – Ashwin / Kartika
The month of Shardiya Navratri and Dussehra.
October 6, Tuesday – Indira Ekadashi
October 8, Thursday – Krishna Pradosh; Monthly Shivratri
October 10, Saturday – Ashwin Amavasya (Sarva Pitru Amavasya)
Culmination of Pitru Paksha.October 11, Sunday – Sharad Navratri Begins; Ghatasthapana
October 16, Friday – Kalparambha (Durga Puja rituals begin)
October 17, Saturday – Navpatrika Puja; Tula Sankranti
October 19, Monday – Durga Maha Ashtami & Maha Navami
October 20, Tuesday – Vijayadashami (Dussehra); Navratri Parana
October 21, Wednesday – Durga Visarjan
October 22, Thursday – Papankusha Ekadashi
October 23, Friday – Shukla Pradosh
October 25/26 – Kojagari Puja; Sharad Purnima
October 29, Thursday – Sankashti Chaturthi; Karwa Chauth
NOVEMBER 2026 – Kartika / Margashirsha
The month of Diwali and Dev Uthani Ekadashi.
November 5, Thursday – Rama Ekadashi
November 6, Friday – Dhanteras; Krishna Pradosh
Celebration of Dhanvantari and the beginning of Deepotsav.November 7, Saturday – Monthly Shivratri
November 8, Sunday – Diwali; Narak Chaturdashi
November 9, Monday – Kartika Amavasya
November 10, Tuesday – Govardhan Puja / Annakoot
November 11, Wednesday – Bhai Dooj
November 15, Sunday – Chhath Puja (Surya Shashthi)
November 16, Monday – Vrischika Sankranti
November 20, Friday – Devutthana Ekadashi
End of Chaturmas; auspicious for weddings.November 21 – Tulsi Vivah
November 22, Sunday – Shukla Pradosh
November 24, Tuesday – Kartika Purnima; Dev Deepawali
November 27, Friday – Sankashti Chaturthi
DECEMBER 2026 – Margashirsha / Pausha
A month filled with moksha-oriented days.
December 4, Friday – Utpanna Ekadashi
December 6, Sunday – Krishna Pradosh
December 7, Monday – Monthly Shivratri
December 8, Tuesday – Margashirsha Amavasya
December 14 – Vivah Panchami
Celebration of Sri Ram–Sita divine marriage.December 16, Wednesday – Dhanu Sankranti
December 20, Sunday – Mokshada Ekadashi & Gita Jayanti
December 21, Monday – Shukla Pradosh
December 23, Wednesday – Margashirsha Purnima; Dattatreya Jayanti
December 26, Saturday – Sankashti Chaturthi
The Hindu Calendar 2026 is rich with sacred observances, fasts, festivals, and planetary alignments. From Mahashivratri to Navratri, from Chaturmas to Diwali, the year provides abundant opportunities for devotion, spiritual growth, auspicious beginnings, rituals, and charity.
