Hindu Festivals 2026

Married women fast for the long life of their husbands and tie sacred threads around the banyan (vat) tree, retelling the legend of Savitri who reclaimed her husband Satyavan from Yama. Especially observed in North India and Maharashtra.

Annual chariot procession of Lord Jagannath, brother Balabhadra, and sister Subhadra at Puri, Odisha. Three colossal wooden chariots are pulled by thousands of devotees from the main temple to Gundicha temple, where the deities reside for nine days.

Day to honour one's teachers and gurus — spiritual, academic, and life-mentors. Also known as Vyasa Purnima, the birthday of sage Veda Vyasa who composed the Mahabharata and codified the Vedas. Observed across Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain traditions.

Celebrates the reunion of Shiva and Parvati after centuries of penance. Married women dress in green and red bangles, swing on flower-decorated jhoolas, and fast for marital bliss. Particularly vibrant in Rajasthan, Punjab, and UP.

The festival of brother-sister bond. Sisters tie a sacred thread (rakhi) on brothers' wrists, symbolising her love and his pledge of lifelong protection. Brothers gift sisters in return. Also marked as Narali Purnima in coastal Maharashtra (offerings to the sea).

Birth anniversary of Lord Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu. Devotees fast until midnight (Krishna's exact birth time), recite the Bhagavad Gita and Bhagavata Purana, and join in dahi-handi (curd-pot) breaking processions. Mathura and Vrindavan host massive celebrations.

Birth anniversary of Lord Ganesha, remover of obstacles and lord of new beginnings. Clay idols are installed at home and in pandals for 1, 3, 5, 7, or 10 days, then immersed in water (visarjan). Especially grand in Maharashtra. Modaks are the prasad of choice.

Sixteen-day period of remembering and offering to ancestors. Tarpan (water + sesame) is offered daily; on the tithi the ancestor passed away, a special pinda-daan and brahmin-feeding shraadh is performed. No new ventures are begun during this period.

Nine nights of Goddess Durga in her nine forms — Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayini, Kaalratri, Mahagauri, Siddhidatri. Devotees fast, perform Durga Saptashati path, and observe garba-dandiya nights (Gujarat) or Durga Puja (Bengal).

Tenth day after Navratri marks Lord Rama's victory over Ravana and Goddess Durga's slaying of demon Mahishasura. Effigies of Ravana, Meghnada, and Kumbhakarna are burnt; Shastra Puja (worship of weapons) and Apta-leaves exchange are performed. Auspicious for new ventures.

Married women observe a strict nirjala (waterless) fast from sunrise until moonrise for the long life of their husbands. The fast is broken after sighting the moon through a sieve and seeing the husband's face. North Indian tradition.

First day of the Diwali five-day festival. Worship of Goddess Lakshmi (wealth) and Lord Dhanvantari (Ayurveda). Highly auspicious for buying gold, silver, utensils, and electronics. Lamps are lit at the entrance to welcome Lakshmi.

The festival of lights — central night of Diwali. Marks Lord Rama's return to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile and Goddess Lakshmi's emergence from the cosmic ocean. Homes are lit with oil lamps and rangoli; Lakshmi-Ganesha puja is performed at sunset; sweets and fireworks fill the night.

Commemorates Lord Krishna lifting Mount Govardhan on his finger to shelter Vrindavan from Indra's wrath. A small mound of cow-dung is shaped, decorated, and worshipped; mountains of food (annakut) are offered to Krishna.

Sisters apply tilak on brothers' foreheads, pray for their long life, and feed them sweets. Brothers gift sisters in return. Believed to commemorate Yamaraj visiting his sister Yamuna; whoever observes this day with a sister will not face untimely death.

Ceremonial marriage of the holy basil plant (Tulsi) with Lord Vishnu (Shaligram). Marks the start of the Hindu wedding season after the four-month Chaturmas pause. Tulsi pots are decorated as brides, and a full wedding ritual is performed.

Anniversary of the divine marriage of Lord Rama and Sita. Celebrated with great pomp at Ayodhya and Janakpur (Nepal — Sita's birthplace). Devotees recite the Ramcharitmanas Bal-Vivah-kand.

Anniversary of the day Lord Krishna delivered the Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. The complete 700-verse text is read on this day; spiritual seekers re-affirm their commitment to the path of dharma.