Hindu Festivals & Vrat Dates 2026
त्योहार · व्रत
What each festival means, how to do the puja at home, and what to prepare.
November 2026
- 6 November 2026धनतेरस DhanterasThe first day of Diwali, on Kartik Krishna Trayodashi: the worship of Dhanvantari, Kuber and Lakshmi, buying gold, silver or a new vessel, and the Yama deepam at the door.
- 8 November 2026दीपावली DiwaliThe festival of lights: Lakshmi Puja on the Amavasya of Kartik, celebrating Lord Rama's return to Ayodhya and welcoming Goddess Lakshmi into every home.
- 10 November 2026गोवर्धन पूजा · अन्नकूट Govardhan Puja & AnnakutThe day after Diwali, when families shape the Govardhan hill in cow dung, offer Krishna a mountain of dishes (Annakut) and remember how he lifted the hill to shelter Braj from Indra's storm.
- 11 November 2026भाई दूज · यम द्वितीया Bhai DoojThe last day of Diwali, when sisters apply tilak to their brothers and pray for their long life, remembering Yamuna feeding her brother Yama; in 2026 it falls on Wednesday 11 November.
- 15 November 2026छठ पूजा Chhath PujaThe four-day festival of the Sun and Chhathi Maiya from Bihar and eastern UP: Nahay Khay on 13 November 2026, Kharna on 14 November, the evening arghya on 15 November and the dawn arghya on 16 November.
- 20 November 2026देवउठनी एकादशी · तुलसी विवाह Dev Uthani Ekadashi & Tulsi VivahThe day Lord Vishnu wakes from his four-month sleep and the wedding season begins again; families fast, light lamps and celebrate Tulsi ji's marriage to Shaligram. In 2026 it falls on Friday, 20 November.
- 24 November 2026कार्तिक पूर्णिमा · देव दीपावली Kartik Purnima & Dev DeepawaliThe full moon of Kartik, holiest of the year for a river bath and lamp offerings; in Varanasi the gods' own Diwali, Dev Deepawali, lights every ghat. In 2026 it falls on Tuesday, 24 November.
March 2027
Ekadashi, Purnima and Amavasya dates for the whole year are on our panchang page.
Why do festival dates change every year?
Hindu festivals follow the Moon, not the English calendar. Diwali always falls on the Amavasya (new moon) of Kartik, and Janmashtami on the Ashtami of Krishna Paksha in Bhadrapada. Twelve lunar months come to about 354 days, eleven short of a solar year, so the English dates slide a little earlier each year until an extra month (Adhik Maas) is added every two or three years to bring things back in line.
That's also why you'll sometimes see a festival listed on two different days. A tithi can start at any time of day, and different traditions follow slightly different rules about which day to observe. When in doubt, go by your family pandit or a local panchang. Our daily panchang shows today's tithi for your city.