✦ VEDIC CALENDAR · 2026 ✦
Hindu Festivals and Muhurta 2026
Festival dates, Ekadashi observances and general Muhurta guidance for Bengaluru (IST).
Vikrama Samvat 2082–2083
Festivals & Sacred Days — 2026
Dates are calculated for Bengaluru (IST) using the Tithi observed for each festival. When a Tithi spans two civil dates, local Panchangs and temples may observe the festival a day earlier or later.
Jan
Makar Sankranti
Sun's entry into Makara. Harvest festival, sesame sweets, kite flying and holy dips.
Vasant Panchami
Saraswati Puja: worship of knowledge, music and arts. Commonly chosen for starting education.
Feb
Maha Shivaratri
The great night of Shiva, observed with a night-long vigil, fasting, Puja and Abhisheka.
Mar
Holi
Festival of colours that marks the arrival of spring. Holika Dahan is lit the evening before.
Ugadi
(Telugu & Kannada New Year)Vedic New Year for Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka. New beginnings, neem-jaggery mix representing life's balance.
Rama Navami
Celebration of Lord Rama's birth. Fasting, recitation of Ramayana and temple processions.
Apr
Hanuman Jayanti
Lord Hanuman's birth anniversary. Hanuman Chalisa recitation, sindoor offering and community seva.
Akshaya Tritiya
Traditionally believed to give lasting results to what begins today. Commonly chosen for new ventures, gold purchase and marriages.
May
Buddha Purnima
Birth, enlightenment and parinirvana of Gautama Buddha. Observed with meditation, temple visits and charity.
Jul
Guru Purnima
Reverence to the Guru lineage and Sage Vyasa. Day of gratitude toward all teachers, spiritual and worldly.
Aug
Hariyali Teej
Green festival of Sawan. Women swing, wear green and fast for marital happiness.
Onam
Kerala's harvest festival celebrating King Mahabali's return. Flower rangoli (pookalam) and sadya feast.
Raksha Bandhan
Sacred thread of protection tied by sisters to brothers. Celebrated on Shravana Purnima.
Sep
Janmashtami
Krishna's birth at midnight. Dahi Handi, bhajans and fasting until the auspicious moment.
Ganesh Chaturthi
Ten-day celebration of Ganesha's birth. Murti installation, modak offerings and community pandals.
Oct
Sharad Navratri
(begins)Nine nights of Devi worship. Each day honours a different form of Shakti. Garba and Dandiya in Gujarat.
Dussehra
(Vijayadasami)Victory of Rama over Ravana, good over evil. Saraswati Puja in South India. Commonly chosen for starting new work.
Nov
Diwali
Festival of lights: Lakshmi Puja, lamps and the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya. Widely celebrated across India.
Govardhan Puja
Krishna lifts Govardhan hill. Annakut offering of many foods to the Lord.
Bhai Dooj
Sisters perform aarti for brothers' long life. Parallel to Yama Dwitiya: a protective bond of love.
Kartik Purnima
Dev Diwali: the gods' Diwali. Holy dips, lamp-lighting on riverbanks and Tulsi Vivah.
Dec
Gita Jayanti
(Mokshada & Vaikunta Ekadashi)Krishna delivered the Bhagavad Gita on this day. Recitation, discourse and fasting mark the occasion.
Ekadashi Calendar 2026
24 dates listedEkadashi (11th lunar day) falls twice a month, in the waxing (Shukla) and waning (Krishna) fortnights. Tradition holds that fasting on Ekadashi and worshipping Vishnu removes accumulated sins and leads toward liberation. In 2026, Mokshada Ekadashi on 20 December is also observed as Vaikunta Ekadashi in Vaishnava tradition and as Gita Jayanti. Dates follow the Ekadashi at sunrise (Bengaluru); Vaishnava temples sometimes observe the next day.
14 Jan
Shattila Ekadashi
Krishna Paksha
29 Jan
Jaya Ekadashi
Shukla Paksha
13 Feb
Vijaya Ekadashi
Krishna Paksha
27 Feb
Amalaki Ekadashi
Shukla Paksha
15 Mar
Papamochani
Krishna Paksha
29 Mar
Kamada Ekadashi
Shukla Paksha
13 Apr
Varuthini
Krishna Paksha
27 Apr
Mohini Ekadashi
Shukla Paksha
13 May
Apara Ekadashi
Krishna Paksha
27 May
Padmini Ekadashi
Shukla Paksha
11 Jun
Parama Ekadashi
Krishna Paksha
25 Jun
Nirjala Ekadashi
Shukla Paksha
10 Jul
Yogini Ekadashi
Krishna Paksha
25 Jul
Devshayani
Shukla Paksha
9 Aug
Kamika Ekadashi
Krishna Paksha
23 Aug
Putrada Shravana
Shukla Paksha
7 Sep
Aja Ekadashi
Krishna Paksha
22 Sep
Parsva Ekadashi
Shukla Paksha
6 Oct
Indira Ekadashi
Krishna Paksha
22 Oct
Pasankusa
Shukla Paksha
5 Nov
Rama Ekadashi
Krishna Paksha
21 Nov
Devutthana
Shukla Paksha
4 Dec
Utpanna Ekadashi
Krishna Paksha
20 Dec
Mokshada Ekadashi ✦
Shukla Paksha
Muhurta — Choosing Auspicious Moments
The periods below are broad traditional filters, not final event dates. A specific Muhurta also depends on the day's Tithi, Nakshatra, Yoga, Karana and Lagna, the event location and, where relevant, the people involved.
Vivah Muhurta
Marriage
Marriage Muhurta is chosen from the event Lagna, the Moon's Nakshatra and other Panchang factors. Family tradition and both birth charts may also be considered. Marriages are traditionally avoided in Kharmas, an adhika month, Chaturmas, and while Jupiter or Venus is combust. The periods below narrow the search; they are not final wedding dates.
✦ GENERAL PERIODS TO CONSIDER
- ✓Feb 17 – Mar 14
Venus is out of combustion; Meena Kharmas starts on 15 Mar
- ✓Apr 15 – May 16
After Meena Kharmas, before the adhika month (from 17 May)
- ✓Jun 15 – Jul 14
After the adhika month, before Jupiter's combustion (from 15 Jul)
- ✓Nov 22 – Dec 15
After Prabodhini Ekadashi ends Chaturmas, before Dhanur Kharmas (from 16 Dec)
✕ TRADITIONAL EXCLUSIONS
- — Jan 1 – Feb 16 (Venus combust; Dhanur Kharmas to Jan 14)
- — Mar 15 – Apr 14 (Meena Kharmas)
- — May 17 – Jun 14 (adhika Jyeshtha, the extra month)
- — Jul 15 – Nov 21 (Jupiter combust to Aug 12, then Chaturmas; Pitru Paksha Sep 26 – Oct 10)
- — From Dec 16 (Dhanur Kharmas)
Griha Pravesh
Housewarming
A housewarming (Griha Pravesh) Muhurta looks at a favourable Lagna, a waxing Moon and the home's Vastu. Uttarayana, the Sun's northern course, is traditionally preferred, and the owner's birth-star day is usually avoided.
✦ GENERAL PERIODS TO CONSIDER
- ✓Feb 17 – Mar 14
Uttarayana, no Kharmas or combustion
- ✓Apr 15 – May 16
Uttarayana, after Meena Kharmas
- ✓Jun 15 – Jul 14
Uttarayana, before Jupiter's combustion
- ✓Nov 22 – Dec 15
After Chaturmas, before Dhanur Kharmas
✕ TRADITIONAL EXCLUSIONS
- — Kharmas (Jan 1 – 14, Mar 15 – Apr 14, from Dec 16)
- — Adhika Jyeshtha (May 17 – Jun 14)
- — Chaturmas (Jul 25 – Nov 21)
- — Amavasya & Ashtami tithis
Vyapar Aarambh
Business / Venture
Business Muhurta considers the event chart, especially Mercury, Jupiter, the Lagna and the houses connected with work and gains. Akshaya Tritiya and Vijayadashami are commonly chosen by tradition, but the local Panchang still matters.
✦ GENERAL PERIODS TO CONSIDER
- ✓Apr 19
Akshaya Tritiya, a traditional day for new ventures
- ✓Oct 20
Dussehra / Vijayadasami, a traditional day to start something new
- ✓Nov 24
Kartik Purnima, associated with Lakshmi
✕ TRADITIONAL EXCLUSIONS
- — Mercury retrograde periods
- — Solar/Lunar eclipse fortnights
- — Owner's personal inauspicious periods (personal chart required)
Vidyarambham
Start of Education
Vidyarambham marks a child's formal beginning of learning. Families commonly choose Vasant Panchami or Vijayadashami and also follow their regional custom and Panchang.
✦ GENERAL PERIODS TO CONSIDER
- ✓Jan 23
Vasant Panchami, commonly chosen for this
- ✓Apr 14
Vishu and Tamil New Year (Puthandu)
- ✓Oct 20
Vijayadasami, a traditional day to begin studies
✕ TRADITIONAL EXCLUSIONS
- — Rahu and Ketu transit periods over natal Mercury
- — Ashtami, Navami tithis (generally avoided for auspicious beginnings)
Naamkaran
Naming Ceremony
Naming is traditionally done on the 11th or 12th day after birth. The Moon's Nakshatra and the Lagna are considered, and the first syllable of the name usually follows the child's birth Nakshatra pada.
✦ GENERAL PERIODS TO CONSIDER
- ✓Any Shukla Paksha (waxing Moon)
11th or 12th day after birth preferred
- ✓Sunday, Monday, Thursday, Friday
Auspicious weekdays
✕ TRADITIONAL EXCLUSIONS
- — Krishna Paksha Ashtami, Navami, Chaturdashi
- — Rahu Kalam and Gulika Kalam periods
Yatra Muhurta
Auspicious Travel
Traditional travel Muhurta considers the direction, weekday and the Moon's Nakshatra. Tradition favours east on Sunday and Monday and avoids south on Tuesday, and departure during Rahu Kalam is usually avoided.
✦ GENERAL PERIODS TO CONSIDER
- ✓Sunday / Monday / Thursday
Most favourable weekdays for travel
- ✓Pushya, Rohini, Revati, Ashwini nakshatras
Highly auspicious for journeys
✕ TRADITIONAL EXCLUSIONS
- — Rahu Kalam
- — Tuesdays for southward travel
- — Bhadra Kaal (Vishti Karana)
✦ PERSONAL MUHURTA SELECTION
Planning an important event?
General periods are a starting point. A personal Muhurta also considers the chart of the person or family involved, the running Dasha and the day's transits. The free Muhurat finder is a good place to start.