Indian Festival Calendar 2026
Verified dates for every major celebration — and a ready-to-send personalized card for each. 2026 carries an Adhik Maas (17 May – 15 June), so post-monsoon festivals fall later than usual: Diwali lands on 8 November.
Lunar dates can vary by a day across regions and moon sightings — confirm locally for observances.
Pongal
Wednesday, 14 January – Saturday, 17 JanuaryTamil harvest festival — Bhogi, Thai Pongal, Mattu Pongal, and Kaanum Pongal across four days.
Makar Sankranti
Wednesday, 14 JanuaryThe sun enters Makara — kites, til-gud, and harvest gratitude across India.
Republic Day
Monday, 26 JanuaryIndia adopted its Constitution in 1950 — parades, the tricolour, and national pride.
Holika Dahan
Tuesday, 3 MarchThe bonfire night before Holi — good over evil, Prahlad over Holika.
Holi
Wednesday, 4 MarchThe festival of colours — gulal, pichkaris, and gujiya.
Chaitra Navratri
Thursday, 19 March – Friday, 27 MarchNine spring nights of the Devi, ending with Ram Navami.
Ugadi / Gudi Padwa
Thursday, 19 MarchTelugu-Kannada and Marathi new year — neem-jaggery pachadi and the gudi flag.
Eid ul-Fitr
Friday, 20 MarchThe festival ending Ramadan — sheer khurma, new clothes, and Eidi. Subject to moon sighting.
Ram Navami
Thursday, 26 MarchThe birth of Shri Ram, closing Chaitra Navratri.
Good Friday
Friday, 3 AprilThe crucifixion remembered — a day of fasting and the Three Hours service.
Easter Sunday
Sunday, 5 AprilThe Resurrection — sunrise services, church, and the family lunch after Lent.
Baisakhi
Tuesday, 14 AprilHarvest festival of Punjab and the founding of the Khalsa (1699).
Puthandu (Tamil New Year)
Tuesday, 14 AprilTamil new year — mango pachadi and fresh beginnings.
Eid al-Adha (Bakrid)
Wednesday, 27 MayThe festival of sacrifice concluding Hajj. Subject to moon sighting.
Islamic New Year (Muharram)
Tuesday, 16 JuneHijri year 1448 begins; Ashura follows on June 25.
Muslimwording ideas
Jagannath Rath Yatra
Thursday, 16 JulyThe grand chariot festival of Puri — Nandighosha rolls to Gundicha temple.
Devshayani / Ashadhi Ekadashi
Saturday, 25 JulyVishnu begins his cosmic rest; the Pandharpur Wari culminates. Chaturmas begins.
HinduSend a Devshayani / Ashadhi Ekadashi card →wording ideas
Guru Purnima
Wednesday, 29 JulyHonouring gurus and teachers on Vyasa Purnima’s full moon.
Independence Day
Saturday, 15 August1947 — the tricolour over Red Fort, kites in the sky.
Onam (Thiruvonam)
Wednesday, 26 AugustKerala’s harvest festival — pookalam, sadya, and King Mahabali’s visit. Celebrations span Atham (Aug 17) to Thiruvonam.
Milad un-Nabi
Wednesday, 26 AugustThe Prophet’s birthday (12 Rabi al-Awwal). Subject to moon sighting.
Raksha Bandhan
Friday, 28 AugustThe rakhi thread between sisters and brothers — Shravan Purnima.
Krishna Janmashtami
Friday, 4 SeptemberKrishna’s midnight birth — dahi handi and jhulan.
Ganesh Chaturthi
Monday, 14 SeptemberGanpati arrives — ten days of modak and aarti to visarjan.
Sharad Navratri
Saturday, 10 October – Sunday, 18 OctoberNine autumn nights — garba, golu, and Durga Puja’s pandals.
Durga Puja
Wednesday, 14 October – Monday, 19 OctoberBengal’s grandest days — Shashthi to Vijaya Dashami.
Dussehra (Vijayadashami)
Tuesday, 20 OctoberRavana falls; good prevails. Ramlila effigies burn at dusk.
Karva Chauth
Thursday, 29 OctoberA day’s fast broken by moonlight through a sieve.
Dhanteras
Friday, 6 NovemberDiwali begins — gold, new utensils, and Dhanvantari’s blessings.
Diwali (Lakshmi Puja)
Sunday, 8 NovemberThe festival of lights — diyas, rangoli, and Lakshmi’s welcome. (2026’s Adhik Maas shifts Diwali to November.)
Govardhan Puja
Monday, 9 NovemberAnnakut — the mountain of food for Krishna’s Govardhan.
Bhai Dooj
Tuesday, 10 NovemberSisters mark brothers’ foreheads — Diwali’s sibling finale.
Guru Nanak Jayanti
Tuesday, 24 NovemberGurpurab — Kartik Purnima’s prabhat pheris and langar.
Christmas
Friday, 25 DecemberThe Nativity — carols, stars, and midnight mass.
ChristianSend a Christmas card →wording ideas