Hindu Calendar 2026: Complete Festival & Holiday Guide
All Hindu festivals, vrat dates, government holidays, and eclipses for Vikram Samvat 2082-2083. Month-wise panchang with accurate timings.
Major Hindu Festivals 2026
Month-Wise Hindu Festivals 2026
January 2026 (Paush-Magh)
February 2026 (Magh-Phalguna)
March 2026 (Phalguna-Chaitra) - Holi Month!
April-May 2026 (Chaitra-Vaishakh)
August-September 2026 (Shravan-Bhadrapada)
October-November 2026 - Diwali Season!
Solar & Lunar Eclipses 2026
Solar Eclipses
- • Feb 17: Partial (Antarctica) - Not visible in India
- • Aug 12: Total (Russia, Greenland) - Not visible in India
Lunar Eclipses
- • Mar 3: Total - Visible in India (Holi night!)
- • Aug 28: Partial - Visible in India
Get Daily Panchang & Personalized Muhurat
Get accurate daily panchang, tithi, nakshatra, and personalized muhurat based on your location.
Get Daily Panchang →Understanding the Hindu Calendar System (हिन्दू पंचांग प्रणाली)
The Hindu calendar (पंचांग - Panchang) is a lunisolar calendar that has been used in India for millennia. Unlike the Gregorian calendar which is purely solar, the Hindu calendar tracks both the Sun and the Moon's movements to determine auspicious dates and timings.
Key Components of Panchang
1. Tithi (तिथि) - Lunar Day
Based on Moon's position relative to Sun. 30 tithis in a lunar month (15 Shukla Paksha, 15 Krishna Paksha).
2. Nakshatra (नक्षत्र) - Constellation
27 nakshatras representing Moon's daily position. Critical for muhurat selection.
3. Yoga (योग) - Auspicious Period
27 yogas formed by Sun-Moon angular relationship. Affects daily activities.
4. Karana (करण) - Half Tithi
11 karanas, half of a tithi period. Important for specific rituals.
5. Var (वार) - Weekday
Seven days ruled by planets: Ravi (Sun), Som (Moon), Mangal (Mars), Budh (Mercury), Guru (Jupiter), Shukra (Venus), Shani (Saturn).
Vikram Samvat 2082-2083: What You Need to Know
About Vikram Samvat (विक्रम संवत्)
Vikram Samvat is the ancient Hindu calendar named after King Vikramaditya. It is 56.7 years ahead of the Gregorian calendar. The year 2026 CE corresponds to Vikram Samvat 2082-2083.
- • Start Date: Chaitra Shukla Pratipada (Hindu New Year)
- • VS 2082: March 30, 2025 - March 18, 2026
- • VS 2083: March 19, 2026 onwards
- • Used In: North India, Nepal, Gujarat
Other Hindu Calendars
- • Shaka Samvat: Used in South India, 78 years behind Gregorian (1948 Shaka in 2026)
- • Bengali Calendar: Starts on Pohela Boishakh (April 14-15)
- • Tamil Calendar: Follows solar months, starts with Chithirai
- • Malayalam Calendar: Kollavarsham, starts on Chingam 1
Government Holidays 2026 (भारत सरकार की छुट्टियां)
Central Government gazetted holidays for 2026 under Negotiable Instruments Act:
| Date | Day | Holiday | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 14 | Wednesday | Makar Sankranti / Pongal | Optional |
| Jan 26 | Monday | Republic Day | Gazetted |
| Feb 15 | Sunday | Maha Shivaratri | Gazetted |
| Mar 4 | Wednesday | Holi | Gazetted |
| Mar 26 | Thursday | Ram Navami | Optional |
| Apr 10 | Friday | Good Friday | Gazetted |
| Apr 28 | Tuesday | Akshaya Tritiya | Optional |
| May 12 | Tuesday | Buddha Purnima | Gazetted |
| Aug 15 | Saturday | Independence Day | Gazetted |
| Aug 15 | Saturday | Janmashtami | Gazetted |
| Sep 7 | Monday | Ganesh Chaturthi | Optional |
| Oct 2 | Friday | Gandhi Jayanti | Gazetted |
| Oct 19 | Monday | Dussehra | Gazetted |
| Nov 8 | Sunday | Diwali / Deepavali | Gazetted |
| Nov 26 | Thursday | Guru Nanak Jayanti | Gazetted |
| Dec 25 | Friday | Christmas | Gazetted |
*State governments may have additional regional holidays. Optional holidays require prior approval.
Important Vrat & Ekadashi Dates 2026 (व्रत व एकादशी)
Ekadashi Vrat 2026
Ekadashi fasting is observed twice a month (Shukla & Krishna Paksha) for Lord Vishnu.
Other Important Vrats
People Also Ask (लोग यह भी पूछते हैं)
How to download Hindu Calendar 2026 PDF?
You can download the official Kalnirnay 2026 or Panchang Dainik from their websites. Many regional panchang publishers like Lala Ramswaroop Calendar, Hindi Panchang, and Mahalaxmi Calendar also offer free PDF downloads with detailed tithi, nakshatra, and muhurat information.
What is Adhik Maas (Extra Month) and when does it occur?
Adhik Maas (अधिक मास), also called Purushottam Maas or Malmaas, is an extra month added every 2.5-3 years to align the lunar and solar calendars. The next Adhik Maas will be in 2026. During this month, no auspicious ceremonies like marriages are performed, but spiritual practices are highly encouraged.
Which months are considered auspicious for weddings in 2026?
The most auspicious months for Hindu weddings in 2026 are: April-May (Vaishakh-Jyeshtha), October-November (Kartik), and November-December (Margashirsha). Avoid months like Bhadrapada (Aug-Sep), Paush (Dec-Jan), and Adhik Maas. Always consult a pandit for specific muhurat matching your birth charts.
How is Amavasya (New Moon) different from Purnima (Full Moon)?
Amavasya (अमावस्या) is the new moon day when the moon is not visible, occurring on the 15th tithi of Krishna Paksha. It's considered inauspicious for new beginnings but powerful for Pitru Tarpan (ancestor worship). Purnima (पूर्णिमा) is the full moon day, 15th tithi of Shukla Paksha, considered highly auspicious for Satyanarayan Puja, meditation, and spiritual practices.
Frequently Asked Questions (अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले प्रश्न)
When is Diwali in 2026?
Diwali 2026 falls on Sunday, November 8, 2026. Dhanteras is on November 6 (Friday), Choti Diwali/Naraka Chaturdashi on November 7 (Saturday), Lakshmi Puja on November 8 (Sunday), Govardhan Puja on November 9 (Monday), and Bhai Dooj on November 10 (Tuesday). Read our complete Diwali 2026 guide for detailed muhurat timings.
When is Holi in 2026?
Holi 2026 falls on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. Holika Dahan will be on March 3, 2026 (Tuesday) evening. The Purnima tithi for Holi begins on March 3 at 8:15 PM and ends on March 4 at 10:15 PM. Note: A total lunar eclipse occurs on Holika Dahan night. Check our Holi 2026 complete guide.
What is Vikram Samvat 2082-2083?
Vikram Samvat 2082 runs from March 30, 2025 to March 18, 2026 (Chaitra Shukla Pratipada to Phalguna Amavasya). Vikram Samvat 2083 begins on March 19, 2026 with Hindu New Year (Gudi Padwa, Ugadi). The Vikram calendar is 56-57 years ahead of the Gregorian calendar and is widely used in North India and Nepal for religious observances.
When are the solar and lunar eclipses in 2026?
In 2026, there will be: Solar Eclipse on February 17 (partial, visible in Antarctica - not visible in India), Lunar Eclipse on March 3 (total, visible in India during Holi/Holika Dahan), Solar Eclipse on August 12 (total, visible in parts of Russia/Greenland - not visible in India), Lunar Eclipse on August 28 (partial, visible in India). Sutak rules apply for visible eclipses - no religious ceremonies 9 hours before lunar eclipse and 4 hours before solar eclipse.
When does Navratri fall in 2026?
There are two main Navratri celebrations in 2026: Chaitra Navratri 2026 (Spring) from March 19-27, 2026, ending with Ram Navami on March 26. Sharad Navratri 2026 (Autumn) from October 10-18, 2026, ending with Dussehra on October 19. Each Navratri is celebrated for 9 nights worshipping different forms of Goddess Durga. See our detailed Navratri guide for colors and puja vidhi.
How to find shubh muhurat for 2026?
Shubh muhurat depends on tithi, nakshatra, yoga, karana, and planetary positions. For important events: 1) Consult a qualified astrologer with your birth details, 2) Use GrahaGuru's AI-powered panchang tool for instant muhurat calculations, 3) Check Kalnirnay or traditional panchang for general auspicious dates. Avoid inauspicious periods like Rahu Kaal, Yamaganda Kaal, and Gulika Kaal for important activities.
What are Kharmas (inauspicious period) dates in 2026?
Kharmas (खरमास), also called Dhanurmas, is the inauspicious month when Sun transits through Sagittarius (Dhanu rashi). In 2026, Kharmas will be from approximately December 16, 2026 to January 14, 2027. During this period, auspicious activities like marriages, housewarming (griha pravesh), and new business ventures are generally avoided in many Hindu communities.
When is Guru Purnima 2026?
Guru Purnima 2026 falls on Wednesday, July 8, 2026 (Ashadha Purnima). This is the sacred day dedicated to honoring spiritual and academic teachers. It's celebrated by offering prayers to Guru, reading scriptures, and seeking blessings. Students of Ved Vyasa traditionally recite the Guru Gita and perform puja to their teachers.
How many Purnima (full moon days) are there in 2026?
There are 12 Purnimas in 2026: Paush Purnima (Jan 13), Magh Purnima (Feb 12), Holi Purnima/Phalguna Purnima (Mar 4), Chaitra Purnima (Apr 2), Vaishakh Purnima/Buddha Purnima (May 12), Jyeshtha Purnima (Jun 10), Guru Purnima/Ashadha Purnima (Jul 8), Shravan Purnima/Raksha Bandhan (Aug 11), Bhadrapada Purnima (Sep 9), Ashwin Purnima/Sharad Purnima (Oct 8), Kartik Purnima (Nov 6), and Margashirsha Purnima (Dec 6). Each Purnima has its own spiritual significance.
Can I start a new business during Sade Sati in 2026?
Yes, you can start a new business during Sade Sati if you choose an auspicious muhurat and perform proper remedies. Sade Sati affects Capricorn (ending phase), Aquarius (peak phase), and Pisces (starting phase in March 2026). While Saturn's transit can bring challenges, selecting the right muhurat, worshipping Lord Hanuman, donating on Saturdays, and consulting an astrologer for personalized remedies can mitigate negative effects. Read our Sade Sati guide for detailed remedies.