🎊 Hindu Festival Calendar 2026

हनुमान जयंती · Hanuman

Hanuman Jayanti celebrates the birth of Lord Hanuman, the supreme devotee of Lord Rama and the embodiment of strength, courage, and selfless service. Born to Anjana and Kesari by the grace of Vayu (the wind god), Hanuman is worshipped as the Sankat Mochan — the remover of all troubles. He played a pivotal role in the Ramayana, leaping across the ocean to Lanka and carrying the Sanjeevani mountain to save Lakshmana. Devotees believe that worshipping Hanuman grants protection from evil and the courage to overcome any obstacle.

अक्षय तृतीया · Vishnu

Akshaya Tritiya is one of the most auspicious days in the Hindu calendar, where "Akshaya" means "imperishable" or "never diminishing." It is believed that any good deed, charity, or investment made on this day yields imperishable results. According to legend, this is the day Lord Parashurama was born, the Ganges descended to earth, and Kubera received his wealth from Shiva. It falls on the third tithi of the Shukla Paksha of Vaishakha month, and no muhurta calculation is needed as the entire day is considered supremely auspicious.

गुरु पूर्णिमा · Universal

Guru Purnima, celebrated on the full moon day of the Ashadha month, is dedicated to all spiritual and academic gurus. It honors Maharishi Vyasa, who compiled the Vedas, authored the Mahabharata, and composed the Puranas, earning the day its alternate name Vyasa Purnima. In yogic tradition, this day marks when Lord Shiva became the Adi Guru (first teacher) and transmitted the science of yoga to the Saptarishis. The festival emphasizes the sacred guru-shishya (teacher-disciple) relationship that forms the cornerstone of Hindu spiritual tradition.

नाग पंचमी · Shiva

Nag Panchami is a day of worship dedicated to the Nag Devtas (serpent deities), observed on the fifth day of the Shravana Shukla Paksha. Snakes hold a sacred position in Hindu mythology — Lord Vishnu rests on Shesha Nag, Lord Shiva wears Vasuki around his neck, and Lord Ganesha uses a serpent as his sacred thread. The festival honors the role of serpents in maintaining ecological balance and commemorates the legend of Lord Krishna subduing the serpent Kaliya in the Yamuna river. It is believed that worshipping the Nagas on this day protects the family from snake bites and brings prosperity.

रक्षा बंधन · Universal

Raksha Bandhan, meaning "the bond of protection," celebrates the sacred bond between brothers and sisters. On this day, sisters tie a rakhi (protective thread) on their brothers' wrists, praying for their well-being, while brothers vow to protect their sisters. The tradition has roots in numerous legends, including Draupadi tying a piece of her sari on Lord Krishna's wrist. The festival falls on the full moon day of the Shravana month and is also observed as Shravani or Kajari Purnima in some regions.

कृष्ण जन्माष्टमी · Vishnu

Krishna Janmashtami celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu, who appeared at midnight in the prison of Mathura to Devaki and Vasudeva. Lord Krishna's life and teachings, especially the Bhagavad Gita, form the philosophical foundation of Hindu dharma. He is revered as the ultimate embodiment of divine love, wisdom, and playful grace (Leela). The festival is observed on the Ashtami (eighth day) of Krishna Paksha in the month of Bhadrapada.

गणेश चतुर्थी · Ganesh

Ganesh Chaturthi celebrates the birth of Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed god of wisdom, prosperity, and new beginnings. He is the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati and is worshipped first before any auspicious occasion or new venture. The ten-day festival begins on the fourth day of Bhadrapada Shukla Paksha and culminates with the grand immersion (Visarjan) of Ganesh idols in water bodies. This immersion symbolizes the cycle of creation and dissolution, reminding devotees of the impermanent nature of material existence.

ओणम · Vishnu

Onam is the grand harvest festival of Kerala, celebrated to welcome the mythical King Mahabali, whose virtuous rule brought a golden age of equality and prosperity. According to legend, Lord Vishnu in his Vamana avatar sent Mahabali to the netherworld but granted him permission to visit his people once a year. The ten-day festival, falling in the Malayalam month of Chingam, is marked by floral decorations, boat races, and the grand Onam Sadya feast. It transcends religious boundaries and is celebrated by all Keralites as a cultural harvest festival.

नवरात्रि · Devi

Navratri, meaning "nine nights," is a festival dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga and her nine divine forms (Navadurga). The festival commemorates the victory of Goddess Durga over the buffalo demon Mahishasura after nine nights of fierce battle. Each of the nine nights is devoted to a specific form of the Goddess, representing the progression from fierce warrior to benevolent mother. Sharad Navratri, occurring in the month of Ashwin, is the most widely celebrated and is particularly significant in Gujarat, West Bengal, and across North India.

दशहरा (विजयादशमी) · Vishnu

Dussehra, also known as Vijayadashami, marks the triumph of Lord Rama over the ten-headed demon king Ravana. It falls on the tenth day after Navratri and symbolizes the ultimate victory of good over evil, truth over falsehood, and dharma over adharma. In eastern India, this day celebrates the immersion of Durga idols (Durga Visarjan) after the grand Durga Puja celebrations. The festival also marks the day when Arjuna retrieved his weapons from the Shami tree, making it an auspicious day to begin new ventures.

दीवाली (दीपावली) · Devi

Diwali, the festival of lights, is the most widely celebrated Hindu festival, marking the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile and his victory over Ravana. The five-day festival includes Dhanteras, Naraka Chaturdashi, Lakshmi Puja (main Diwali), Govardhan Puja, and Bhai Dooj. On the main night, Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped for wealth and prosperity, and homes are illuminated with diyas and candles to welcome her blessings. Diwali symbolizes the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair.

छठ पूजा · Surya

Chhath Puja is an ancient Vedic festival dedicated to Surya (the Sun god) and Chhathi Maiya (the sixth form of Devi Prakriti), observed mainly in Bihar, Jharkhand, and eastern Uttar Pradesh. The rigorous four-day festival involves holy bathing, fasting without water (nirjala vrat), standing in water, and offering prasad (thekua and fruits) to the setting and rising sun. It is unique among Hindu festivals because it involves worshipping the setting sun, symbolizing gratitude for sustaining life on earth. Chhath Puja is renowned for its strict discipline and is performed to seek blessings for the well-being, prosperity, and longevity of family members.

कार्तिक पूर्णिमा · Shiva

Kartik Purnima, the full moon day of the Kartik month, is one of the holiest days in the Hindu calendar. It is also known as Dev Diwali — the Diwali of the gods — as it is believed that the gods descend to earth to bathe in the Ganges on this day. According to legend, Lord Shiva destroyed the demon Tripurasura on this day, earning him the name Tripurari. The day is also significant as the birthday of Matsya (fish) avatar of Lord Vishnu and Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism.

कार्तिगई दीपम · Shiva

Karthigai Deepam is a Tamil festival of lights celebrated on the full moon day of the Tamil month of Karthigai. It commemorates the legend of Lord Shiva manifesting as an infinite column of fire (Jyotirlinga) to settle a dispute between Brahma and Vishnu about who was supreme. The Mahadeepam (great lamp) lit atop the hill at the Tiruvannamalai Arunachaleswarar temple is the most iconic event, visible for miles and representing the light of Shiva. Homes across Tamil Nadu and Kerala are adorned with rows of oil lamps, making it a precursor to the tradition of lighting lamps.