Hindu Calendar 2026 (India / New Delhi Based)

The Hindu Calendar for 2026 (Vikram Samvat 2082–2083) follows the traditional lunar–solar Panchang system, where festivals are determined using the movement of both the Moon (tithis) and the Sun (transits/sankranti). Therefore, festivals such as Navratri, Diwali, Holi, Ekadashi, Purnima, Amavasya shift each year according to planetary motion.This comprehensive guide provides:* Month-wise Hindu festivals* Ekadashi, Purnima, Amavasya* Major pujas, jayantis, and spiritual observances* Sankranti (solar transits)* Significant regional celebrations* Auspicious days for spiritual practices and charityAll dates are based on India Standard Time (IST) and aligned with New Delhi Panchang.JANUARY 2026 – Pausha / MaghaJanuary begins with major spiritual days like Makar Sankranti, Pausha Purnima and Basant Panchami.* January 1, Thursday – Shukla PradoshAuspicious for Shiva puja during evening twilight.* January 3, Saturday – Pausha PurnimaSacred bathing day, charity, and Bhagavat Saptah reading.* January 6, Tuesday – Sankashti ChaturthiDedicated to Lord Ganesha. Fast is broken after moonrise.* January 14, Wednesday* Shattila Ekadashi* Pongal / Magh Bihu* Uttarayana Begins* Makar SankrantiSun enters Capricorn – very auspicious for giving sesame and jaggery.* January 16, Friday – Krishna PradoshEvening Shiva worship.* January 18, Sunday – Mauni AmavasyaHighly auspicious for silence (mauna), holy dips, and pitru tarpan.* January 23, Friday – Basant Panchami / Saraswati PujaExcellent for beginning new studies and creative arts.* January 25, Sunday – Ratha SaptamiA key Surya festival symbolizing the beginning of spring.* January 26, Monday – Bhishma Ashtami* January 29, Thursday – Jaya Ekadashi* January 30, Friday – Shukla PradoshFEBRUARY 2026 – Magha / PhalgunaFebruary is marked by the powerful Mahashivratri and Magha Purnima.* February 1, Sunday – Magha PurnimaImportant for Ganga Snan and charity.* February 5, Thursday – Sankashti Chaturthi* February 13, Friday – Vijaya Ekadashi & Kumbha SankrantiEkadashi for victory and removal of obstacles.* February 14, Saturday – Krishna Pradosh* February 15, Sunday – Mahashivratri / Monthly ShivratriOne of the holiest nights of Shiva worship; night vigil and four-prahar puja.* February 17, Tuesday – Phalguna AmavasyaOccurs near an Annular Solar Eclipse (timings per local Panchang).* February 27, Friday – Amalaki Ekadashi* February 28, Saturday – Shukla PradoshMARCH 2026 – Phalguna / ChaitraA vibrant month with Holi, Chaitra Navratri, and Hindu New Year.* March 3, Tuesday – Holika Dahan & Phalguna PurnimaAlso aligned with a Total Lunar Eclipse.* March 4, Wednesday – Holi (Rangwali Holi)* March 6, Friday – Sankashti Chaturthi* March 15, Sunday – Papmochani Ekadashi; Meena Sankranti* March 16, Monday – Krishna Pradosh* March 17, Tuesday – Monthly Shivratri* March 19, Thursday – Hindu New Year (Chaitra Shukla Pratipada)* Chaitra Navratri Begins* Gudi Padwa (Maharashtra)* Ugadi (South India)* Ghatasthapana* March 20, Friday – Cheti Chand (Jhulelal Jayanti)* March 24, Tuesday – Yamuna Chhath* March 26, Thursday – Rama Navami (Smarta)* March 27, Friday – Rama Navami (Vaishnav / ISKCON); Swaminarayan Jayanti* March 27 – Navratri Parana* March 29, Sunday – Kamada Ekadashi* March 30, Monday – Shukla PradoshAPRIL 2026 – Chaitra / VaishakhaApril brings Hanuman Jayanti, Akshaya Tritiya and Vishu/Mesha Sankranti.* April 2, Thursday – Hanuman Jayanti; Chaitra Purnima* April 5, Sunday – Sankashti Chaturthi* April 13, Monday – Varuthini Ekadashi* April 14, Tuesday – Mesha Sankranti (Solar New Year)Celebrated as Vishu, Puthandu, Baisakhi regionally.* April 15, Wednesday – Krishna Pradosh; Monthly Shivratri* April 17, Friday – Vaishakha Amavasya* April 19, Sunday – Akshaya TritiyaBest for auspicious beginnings, charity, and spiritual acts.* April 23 – Ganga Saptami* April 25 – Sita Navami* April 27, Monday – Mohini Ekadashi* April 28, Tuesday – Shukla Pradosh* April 30 – Narasimha JayantiMAY 2026 – Vaishakha / Jyeshtha (Adhik Maas)A spiritually rich month with Buddha Purnima and Ganga Dashami.* May 1, Friday – Vaishakha Purnima & Buddha Purnima* Early May – Narada Jayanti* May 5, Tuesday – Sankashti Chaturthi* May 13, Wednesday – Apara Ekadashi* May 14, Thursday – Krishna Pradosh* May 15, Friday – Monthly Shivratri; Vrishabha Sankranti* May 16, Saturday – Jyeshtha AmavasyaAlso:* Vat Savitri Vrat (in many regions)* Shani Jayanti* May 25 – Ganga Dashami* May 27, Wednesday – Padmini Ekadashi (Adhik Maas)* May 28, Thursday – Shukla Pradosh* May 31, Sunday – Adhik Jyeshtha PurnimaJUNE 2026 – Adhik Jyeshtha / Jyeshtha–Ashadha* June 3, Wednesday – Sankashti Chaturthi* June 11, Thursday – Parama Ekadashi* June 12, Friday – Krishna Pradosh* June 13, Saturday – Monthly Shivratri* June 15, Monday – Amavasya; Mithuna Sankranti* June 25, Thursday – Nirjala EkadashiMost powerful Ekadashi; fasting gives the merit of all Ekadashis.* June 27, Saturday – Shukla Pradosh* June 29, Monday – Jyeshtha Purnima; Vat Purnima (some regions)JULY 2026 – Ashadha / Shravan (Begins)Chaturmas begins this month.* July 3, Friday – Sankashti Chaturthi* July 10, Friday – Yogini Ekadashi* July 12, Sunday – Krishna Pradosh; Monthly Shivratri* July 14, Tuesday – Ashadha Amavasya* July 16, Thursday – Jagannath Rath Yatra; Karka Sankranti* July 25, Saturday – Devshayani EkadashiBeginning of Chaturmas — four sacred months of austerity and devotion.* July 26, Sunday – Shukla Pradosh* July 29, Wednesday – Guru Purnima; Ashadha PurnimaReverence to the Guru, extremely auspicious for initiation and spiritual learning.AUGUST 2026 – Shravan / BhadrapadaOne of the holiest months for Shiva devotees.* Shravan Somvar (Every Monday) – Shiva Abhishek* August 2, Sunday – Sankashti Chaturthi* August 9, Sunday – Kamika Ekadashi* August 10, Monday – Krishna Pradosh* August 11, Tuesday – Monthly Shivratri* August 12, Wednesday – Shravan AmavasyaAlso aligned with a Total Solar Eclipse (check local timings).* August 15, Saturday – Hariyali Teej* August 17, Monday – Nag Panchami; Simha Sankranti* August 23, Sunday – Shravan Putrada Ekadashi* August 25, Tuesday – Shukla Pradosh* August 26, Wednesday – Onam / Thiruvonam* August 28, Friday – Raksha Bandhan; Shravan PurnimaAlso Gayatri Jayanti; Partial Lunar Eclipse alignment.* August 31, Monday – Sankashti Chaturthi; Kajari TeejSEPTEMBER 2026 – Bhadrapada / AshwinMajor festivals include Janmashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi and start of Pitru Paksha.* September 4, Friday – Krishna JanmashtamiCelebrated with midnight worship of Lord Krishna.* September 7, Monday – Aja Ekadashi* September 8, Tuesday – Krishna Pradosh* September 9, Wednesday – Monthly Shivratri* September 11, Friday – Bhadrapada Amavasya* September 14, Monday – Ganesh Chaturthi; Hartalika Teej* September 15–16 – Balarama Jayanti; Rishi Panchami (regional)* September 17, Thursday – Kanya Sankranti; Vishwakarma Puja* September 19, Saturday – Radha Ashtami* September 22, Tuesday – Parsva (Parivartini) Ekadashi* September 24, Thursday – Shukla Pradosh* September 25, Friday – Anant Chaturdashi; Ganesh Visarjan* September 26, Saturday – Bhadrapada Purnima* September 27, Sunday – Pitru Paksha Begins* September 29, Tuesday – Sankashti ChaturthiOCTOBER 2026 – Ashwin / KartikaThe month of Shardiya Navratri and Dussehra.* October 6, Tuesday – Indira Ekadashi* October 8, Thursday – Krishna Pradosh; Monthly Shivratri* October 10, Saturday – Ashwin Amavasya (Sarva Pitru Amavasya)Culmination of Pitru Paksha.* October 11, Sunday – Sharad Navratri Begins; Ghatasthapana* October 16, Friday – Kalparambha (Durga Puja rituals begin)* October 17, Saturday – Navpatrika Puja; Tula Sankranti* October 19, Monday – Durga Maha Ashtami & Maha Navami* October 20, Tuesday – Vijayadashami (Dussehra); Navratri Parana* October 21, Wednesday – Durga Visarjan* October 22, Thursday – Papankusha Ekadashi* October 23, Friday – Shukla Pradosh* October 25/26 – Kojagari Puja; Sharad Purnima* October 29, Thursday – Sankashti Chaturthi; Karwa ChauthNOVEMBER 2026 – Kartika / MargashirshaThe month of Diwali and Dev Uthani Ekadashi.* November 5, Thursday – Rama Ekadashi* November 6, Friday – Dhanteras; Krishna PradoshCelebration of Dhanvantari and the beginning of Deepotsav.* November 7, Saturday – Monthly Shivratri* November 8, Sunday – Diwali; Narak Chaturdashi* November 9, Monday – Kartika Amavasya* November 10, Tuesday – Govardhan Puja / Annakoot* November 11, Wednesday – Bhai Dooj* November 15, Sunday – Chhath Puja (Surya Shashthi)* November 16, Monday – Vrischika Sankranti* November 20, Friday – Devutthana EkadashiEnd of Chaturmas; auspicious for weddings.* November 21 – Tulsi Vivah* November 22, Sunday – Shukla Pradosh* November 24, Tuesday – Kartika Purnima; Dev Deepawali* November 27, Friday – Sankashti ChaturthiDECEMBER 2026 – Margashirsha / PaushaA month filled with moksha-oriented days.* December 4, Friday – Utpanna Ekadashi* December 6, Sunday – Krishna Pradosh* December 7, Monday – Monthly Shivratri* December 8, Tuesday – Margashirsha Amavasya* December 14 – Vivah PanchamiCelebration of Sri Ram–Sita divine marriage.* December 16, Wednesday – Dhanu Sankranti* December 20, Sunday – Mokshada Ekadashi & Gita Jayanti* December 21, Monday – Shukla Pradosh* December 23, Wednesday – Margashirsha Purnima; Dattatreya Jayanti* December 26, Saturday – Sankashti ChaturthiThe Hindu Calendar 2026 is rich with sacred observances, fasts, festivals, and planetary alignments. From Mahashivratri to Navratri, from Chaturmas to Diwali, the year provides abundant opportunities for devotion, spiritual growth, auspicious beginnings, rituals, and charity. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit blog.dharmikvibes.com