Hindu Festivals 2026

Makar Sankranti / Pongal / Sankranti / Uttarayan / Pous Sankranti / Thai PongalHoliday

Sun enters Capricorn. In Tamil Nadu this is the most important festival — Thai Pongal: 4-day harvest festival (Bhogi, Thai Pongal, Maattu Pongal, Kaanum Pongal). Pongal sweet rice is cooked outdoors in clay pots; the boiling-over (pongi) is the auspicious moment. In Gujarat: Uttarayan kite festival. In Maharashtra: tilgul. In Bengal: Pithe-puli and Ganga Sagar Mela.

Basant Panchami / Saraswati Puja

Celebrates the arrival of spring and worships Saraswati, goddess of knowledge, arts, and wisdom. In Bengal this is the major Saraswati Puja — students place their books at the feet of the Devi, schools and homes set up pandals, and yellow flowers fill every household.

Maha ShivaratriHoliday

The great night of Shiva. Devotees fast, stay awake all night, and offer bilva leaves to Shivalinga. The most important festival for Shaivites across India.

Holi / Dol Jatra / RangapanchamiHoliday

Festival of colours. In Maharashtra: Holika Dahan / Holi Pournima on this day, Rangapanchami (the colour-throwing) 5 days later. In Bengal: Dol Jatra (Dol Purnima) with Radha-Krishna processions.

Ugadi / Yugadi / Gudi PadwaHoliday

Saka New Year — first day of Chaitra Shukla Pratipada. Telugus call it Ugadi, Kannadigas call it Yugadi, Marathis call it Gudhi Padwa — they raise a Gudhi (decorated bamboo with a pot, neem leaves, and silk cloth) at the doorway to ward off evil and welcome prosperity. Bevu-Bella, Ugadi Pachadi, or Puran Poli mark the bittersweet first meal of the year.

Sri Rama NavamiHoliday

Birthday of Lord Rama. In AP/Telangana: Sita Rama Kalyanam at Bhadrachalam. In Kerala: Triprayar Sri Rama Temple. In Maharashtra: observed at Nashik (where Rama lived during exile) and Trimbakeshwar.

Baisakhi / Vishu / Tamil New YearHoliday

Sun enters Aries. Baisakhi (Sikh New Year) in Punjab. Vishu (Kerala New Year). Tamil New Year in Tamil Nadu. Celebrated across India as the solar new year.

Akshaya Tritiya

The inexhaustible (akshaya) third day. Any good deed — charity, prayer, new beginnings — done on this day yields eternal merit. Considered most auspicious for gold purchase and weddings, especially in Kerala's gold-loving culture.

Buddha PurnimaHoliday

Birthday, enlightenment, and death of Gautama Buddha all occurred on Vaishakha Purnima. Sacred to Buddhists worldwide (Vesak). Hindus consider it the birthday of Vishnu's 9th avatar.

Rath YatraHoliday

Lord Jagannath's chariot procession from the 12th-century Puri Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple. Three massive wooden chariots — Nandighosa (Jagannath), Taladhwaja (Balabhadra), and Darpadalan (Subhadra) — pulled by lakhs of devotees on the 3km journey. Odisha's most sacred day.

Guru Purnima

Day to honour the spiritual Guru. Traditionally Vyasa Purnima — birthday of sage Vyasa who compiled the Vedas. Disciples express gratitude to their teachers.

Nag Panchami

Worship of the Naga (serpent) deities. Milk is offered to snake idols. Protects the family from snake bites and brings prosperity. Celebrated especially in Karnataka and Maharashtra.

Raksha BandhanHoliday

Sisters tie a protective thread (rakhi) on their brothers' wrists, and brothers vow to protect them. One of the most emotionally significant festivals in North India.

Krishna JanmashtamiHoliday

Birthday of Lord Krishna at midnight. In Kerala called Sri Krishna Jayanthi — observed at Guruvayur Temple with grand processions and Ashtami Rohini ritual when both Ashtami tithi and Rohini nakshatra coincide.

Naga Chauti / Naga Panchami

Sravana Shukla Panchami — worship of the Naga (serpent) deities. Especially prominent in Karnataka where it is called Naga Chauti, with milk and turmeric offered to anthills (snake abodes). Sisters tie protective threads on brothers wishing protection from snake bites.

Ganesh Chaturthi / Vinayaka ChathurthiHoliday

Birthday of Lord Ganesha (Bhadrapada Shukla 4). The biggest festival of Maharashtra — 10-11 day Ganeshotsav with massive sarvajanik (community) pandals founded by Lokmanya Tilak in 1893. Lalbaugcha Raja in Mumbai is the most-visited. Modaks (steamed sweet dumplings) are the favoured offering. Idols are immersed (Visarjan) on Anant Chaturdashi.