How to use this guide

This guide gives a short, plain explanation of the major festivals and the dates for the year ahead. Festival dates follow the lunar calendar, so some fall a day earlier or later by region. Always confirm the exact tithi and muhurat for your city in the daily Panchang.

Diwali

The festival of lights. Homes are cleaned and lit with diyas, Lakshmi Puja is performed in the evening, and families share sweets. The five days run from Dhanteras to Bhai Dooj.

Chhath Puja

A festival of devotion to Surya and Chhathi Maiya, observed especially in Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern Uttar Pradesh. Devotees offer arghya to the setting and rising sun, often standing in a river or pond.

Makar Sankranti

Marks the sun's entry into Makara (Capricorn) and the start of longer days. It is celebrated as Pongal, Lohri, Bihu and Uttarayan in different regions, with til-gud sweets, kites and harvest thanksgiving.

Maha Shivaratri

The great night of Shiva. Devotees keep a fast, offer bel leaves, water and milk to the Shivling, and many stay awake through the night in prayer.

Holi

The festival of colours, celebrating the arrival of spring and the victory of devotion over arrogance. Holika Dahan is lit the night before.

Navratri and Dussehra

Nine nights of worship of the Goddess in her many forms, followed by Vijayadashami (Dussehra), which celebrates the victory of good over evil. Chaitra Navratri falls in spring and Sharad Navratri in autumn.

Ram Navami, Hanuman Jayanti and Janmashtami

Ram Navami celebrates the birth of Bhagwan Ram, Hanuman Jayanti honours Hanuman ji, and Janmashtami celebrates the birth of Bhagwan Krishna at midnight with bhajans and fasting.

Ganesh Chaturthi and Raksha Bandhan

Ganesh Chaturthi welcomes Bhagwan Ganesh into homes and community pandals. Raksha Bandhan celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters with the tying of a rakhi.

Indian national holidays

India has three national holidays observed across the country: Republic Day (26 January), Independence Day (15 August) and Gandhi Jayanti (2 October).

Calendar 2026–27

Date	Festival or holiday
Sun, 18 Oct 2026	Durga Ashtami
Mon, 19 Oct 2026	Maha Navami
Tue, 20 Oct 2026	Vijayadashami (Dussehra)
Sun, 25 Oct 2026	Sharad Purnima
Wed, 28 Oct 2026	Karwa Chauth
Sun, 1 Nov 2026	Ahoi Ashtami
Fri, 6 Nov 2026	Dhanteras
Sun, 8 Nov 2026	Diwali — Lakshmi Puja
Tue, 10 Nov 2026	Govardhan Puja
Wed, 11 Nov 2026	Bhai Dooj
Sun, 15 Nov 2026	Chhath Puja
Fri, 20 Nov 2026	Dev Uthani Ekadashi
Tue, 24 Nov 2026	Kartik Purnima
Sun, 13 Dec 2026	Vivah Panchami
Sat, 19 Dec 2026	Gita Jayanti
Thu, 14 Jan 2027	Makar Sankranti / Pongal
Tue, 26 Jan 2027	Republic Day · National holiday
Thu, 11 Feb 2027	Vasant Panchami
Sat, 6 Mar 2027	Maha Shivaratri
Sun, 21 Mar 2027	Holika Dahan
Mon, 22 Mar 2027	Holi
Wed, 7 Apr 2027	Chaitra Navratri begins · Ugadi · Gudi Padwa
Thu, 15 Apr 2027	Ram Navami
Tue, 20 Apr 2027	Hanuman Jayanti
Sun, 9 May 2027	Akshaya Tritiya
Mon, 5 Jul 2027	Jagannath Rath Yatra
Sun, 18 Jul 2027	Guru Purnima
Fri, 6 Aug 2027	Nag Panchami
Sun, 15 Aug 2027	Independence Day · National holiday
Tue, 17 Aug 2027	Raksha Bandhan
Wed, 25 Aug 2027	Krishna Janmashtami
Sat, 4 Sep 2027	Ganesh Chaturthi
Wed, 29 Sep 2027	Mahalaya Amavasya
Thu, 30 Sep 2027	Sharad Navratri begins
Sat, 2 Oct 2027	Gandhi Jayanti · National holiday
Sat, 9 Oct 2027	Vijayadashami (Dussehra)
Mon, 18 Oct 2027	Karwa Chauth
Wed, 27 Oct 2027	Dhanteras
Fri, 29 Oct 2027	Diwali — Lakshmi Puja
Sun, 31 Oct 2027	Bhai Dooj
Thu, 4 Nov 2027	Chhath Puja
Sun, 14 Nov 2027	Kartik Purnima
Thu, 9 Dec 2027	Gita Jayanti

Dates follow the widely used North Indian calendar. Some festivals fall a day earlier or later by region and local sunrise, so please confirm the exact tithi and muhurat for your city in the daily Panchang.

Hindu Festivals 2026–27