Hindu Panchang Calendar
Hindu Calendar & Festivals 2026
All major Hindu festivals, vrats, jayantis, Ekadashi, Purnima and Amavasya dates for 2026. Hindu months, paksha, tithi, auspicious muhurat and complete ritual guidance — all in one place.
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The 12 Hindu Lunar Months & Their Festivals
The Hindu lunisolar calendar has 12 months, each split into two pakshas — Shukla (waxing moon) and Krishna (waning moon). Each month carries its own signature festivals rooted in the movements of the Sun and Moon.
Hindu New Year, Ram Navami, Chaitra Navratri
Akshaya Tritiya, Buddha Purnima, Narasimha Jayanti
Ganga Dussehra, Nirjala Ekadashi, Vat Savitri
Jagannath Rath Yatra, Guru Purnima, Devshayani Ekadashi
Raksha Bandhan, Nag Panchami, Shravan Somvar, Hariyali Teej
Krishna Janmashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi, Hartalika Teej
Sharad Navratri, Dussehra, Durga Puja
Karva Chauth, Dhanteras, Diwali, Govardhan Puja, Bhai Dooj, Chhath
Vivah Panchami, Gita Jayanti, Dattatreya Jayanti
Lohri, Makar Sankranti, Paush Putrada Ekadashi
Basant Panchami, Mauni Amavasya, Magh Purnima
Maha Shivaratri, Holika Dahan, Holi
Tithi Reference — Padwa to Amavas
Each lunar month has 30 tithis. Below is the colloquial / spoken name (Gyaras, Baras, Teras, Choth, Chaudas, Punam, Amavas) of each tithi along with its associated vrat and deity.
First lunar day. Shukla Pratipada of Chaitra is Hindu New Year (Gudi Padwa). Kartik Shukla Pratipada is Govardhan Puja.
Second tithi. Kartik Shukla Dwitiya is Bhai Dooj — sister-brother festival.
Third tithi — Hartalika Teej, Hariyali Teej and Akshaya Tritiya all fall on Tritiya.
Sankashti Chaturthi (Krishna paksha) — Ganesh fast for removal of obstacles. Vinayak Chaturthi (Shukla paksha) — auspicious worship of Ganesha.
Magh Shukla Panchami is Vasant Panchami (Saraswati Puja). Shravan Shukla Panchami is Nag Panchami.
Skanda Shashthi (Shukla) for Lord Kartikeya. Kartik Shukla Shashthi is the famous Chhath Puja for the Sun God.
Magh Shukla Saptami is Ratha Saptami — Surya's birthday and start of Sun's northward journey.
Masik Durga Ashtami (Shukla) and Kalashtami (Krishna). Bhadra Krishna Ashtami is Krishna Janmashtami.
Chaitra Shukla Navami is Ram Navami. Sharad Navratri ends on Mahanavami in Ashvin month.
Ashvin Shukla Dashami is Vijayadashami / Dussehra. Jyeshtha Shukla Dashami is Ganga Dussehra.
Ekadashi (Gyaras) — fast for Lord Vishnu, observed twice every month. No grains or rice. 24 named Ekadashis in a year.
Dwadashi (Baras) — Parana day to break Ekadashi fast within the prescribed time after sunrise.
Pradosh Vrat (Teras) — fast for Lord Shiva, observed twice monthly. Worship in the Pradosh Kaal around sunset. Kartik Krishna Trayodashi is Dhanteras.
Krishna Chaturdashi is Masik Shivratri. Kartik Krishna Chaturdashi is Narak Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali). Phalguna Krishna Chaturdashi is Maha Shivratri.
Purnima (Punam) — full moon day. Satyanarayan Vrat, holy bath in sacred rivers, most Jayantis (Buddha, Hanuman, Guru, Kabir) and major festivals (Holi, Sharad Purnima, Dev Diwali) fall on Purnima.
Amavasya (Amavas) — new moon day. Pitru Tarpan and donations for ancestors. Somvati Amavasya (Mon) and Shani Amavasya (Sat) are highly auspicious. Kartik Amavasya is Diwali.
🌓2026 Ekadashi Dates
Two Ekadashis each month — a fasting day dedicated to Vishnu.
- Details coming soon.
🌕2026 Purnima Dates
Full moon day — auspicious for holy bath, charity, and Satyanarayan katha.
- Details coming soon.
🌑2026 Amavasya Dates
New moon day — important for ancestor offerings (Pitru Tarpan) and shraddha rituals.
- Details coming soon.
How the Hindu Calendar Works
The Hindu calendar is lunisolar — meaning it tracks both lunar months and the solar year. A full lunar cycle (~29.5 days) forms one month, and twelve such months complete a year. Festival dates are usually fixed by tithi (lunar day), paksha (the waxing or waning half), and nakshatra (lunar mansion).
Two major samvats (eras) are in use: Vikram Samvat (57 years ahead of CE) and Shaka Samvat (78 years behind CE). Most of North India uses the Purnimanta system (month ends at full moon), while South India follows the Amanta system (month ends at new moon). Both systems give the same festival dates — they simply label the month differently.
Types of Observances
- Festivals (Tyohar) — community celebrations like Diwali, Holi, Navratri, Dussehra.
- Vrats — fasts and spiritual vows — Ekadashi, Pradosh, Karva Chauth.
- Jayanti — birth anniversaries of deities or saints — Ram Navami, Janmashtami, Hanuman Jayanti.
- Parva — sacred astronomical moments — Sankranti, eclipses, Ardh-Kumbh.
All dates are based on traditional Vedic astronomical calculations. Regional traditions may observe some festivals a day earlier or later.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Gyaras (Ekadashi)?▾
Gyaras is the colloquial/spoken name for Ekadashi — the 11th tithi of every lunar fortnight. It occurs twice every month (Shukla and Krishna paksha). It is a fast for Lord Vishnu — grains, rice and lentils are avoided. Only fruits, milk and vrat-friendly foods are eaten. The fast is broken next morning on Dwadashi (Baras) within the prescribed Parana time.
What do Baras, Teras, Chaudas, Choth, Punam and Amavas mean?▾
These are colloquial names for tithis: Baras = Dwadashi (12th, Parana day after Gyaras), Teras = Trayodashi (13th — Pradosh Vrat), Chaudas = Chaturdashi (14th — Masik Shivratri in Krishna paksha), Choth = Chaturthi (4th — Ganesha's day, Sankashti Chaturthi in Krishna paksha), Punam = Purnima (15th — full moon), Amavas = Amavasya (new moon).
When and how is Pradosh Vrat observed?▾
Pradosh Vrat falls on Trayodashi (Teras) of every month — both Shukla and Krishna paksha (twice monthly). It is a fast for Lord Shiva. Worship is performed in the Pradosh Kaal — 1.5 hours before to 1.5 hours after sunset. Som Pradosh (Mon), Bhaum Pradosh (Tue) and Shani Pradosh (Sat) are considered especially auspicious.
What is Sankashti Chaturthi?▾
Sankashti Chaturthi falls on Krishna paksha Chaturthi (Choth) of every month — the 4th tithi of the waning moon fortnight. It is a fast dedicated to Lord Ganesha for removal of obstacles and difficulties. Devotees fast all day and break the fast after moonrise (Chandra Darshan).
When is Hindu New Year celebrated?▾
Hindu New Year falls on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada (Padwa) — known as Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra, Ugadi in South India, and Nava Samvatsara in North India. It usually falls in March or April.
What is Vikram Samvat?▾
Vikram Samvat is a Hindu era started by King Vikramaditya in 57 BCE. It runs 57 years ahead of the Gregorian calendar and forms the basis of most North Indian panchangs.
What's the difference between Purnima (Punam) and Amavasya (Amavas)?▾
Punam is the full-moon night — auspicious for charity, holy bath, Satyanarayan katha and most Jayantis. Amavas is the new-moon night — powerful for Pitru Tarpan, shraddha rituals, and meditation. Somvati Amavas (Mon) and Shani Amavas (Sat) are considered especially auspicious.
What does 'paksha' mean?▾
Each lunar month has two pakshas — Shukla Paksha (waxing moon, from Amavas to Punam) and Krishna Paksha (waning moon, from Punam to Amavas). Each paksha contains 15 tithis.