Festivals
Hindu festivals and puja muhurats
Dates and puja timings calculated for your city, with what to avoid, a step-by-step puja vidhi, and how each festival is celebrated from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.
Verified byPandit Laljee PandeyVedic Astrologer & Vastu Expert · 20+ years of experience
Major festivals, in date order
Dates for New Delhi; each guide recalculates for your city.
All festivals and vrats for your city
Ekadashi, Pradosh, Purnima, Amavasya, Sankashti Chaturthi and Sankrantis as well as the major festivals, for the next three months and beyond.
Dates are computed from the Tithi (and for Sankrantis, the Sun's sign change) at sunrise in New Delhi, Delhi. Regional traditions sometimes observe a festival on a different day; check with your family priest for rituals.
Understanding muhurat terms
Pradosh Kaal
The first fifth of the night after sunset. Lakshmi Puja, Dhanteras, Holika Dahan and evening vrats are done in it.
Nishita Kaal
The eighth muhurta of the night, around local midnight. Janmashtami and Maha Shivaratri pujas centre on it.
Madhyahna and Aparahna
The day is split into five parts. Madhyahna (the third) is for Ganesh Chaturthi and Ram Navami; Aparahna (the fourth) for Bhai Dooj, Rakhi and Dussehra puja.
Abhijit and Vijay Muhurat
Abhijit is the eighth muhurta of the day, around noon; Vijay is the eleventh, the traditional time of victory on Dussehra.
Sthir and dual lagna
The rising sign at the moment of puja. Fixed (sthir) signs such as Vrishabha are chosen for Lakshmi Puja so prosperity stays; dual signs for Navratri Ghatasthapana.
Bhadra
The Vishti karana, half of certain tithis. Rakhi, Holika Dahan and other auspicious beginnings avoid it, especially when Bhadra is said to be on earth.
Rahu Kaal, Yamaganda, Gulika
Daily periods of about 90 minutes each, set by the weekday. Traditionally you avoid starting a puja or new work in them.
Choghadiya
Eight day and eight night slots, each Amrit, Shubh, Labh, Char (good) or Rog, Kaal, Udveg (avoid). Used when no specific muhurat is given.
Festival FAQs
Why does a festival's date change every year?
Hindu festivals follow the lunar calendar: each is tied to a tithi (lunar day) in a lunar month, or for Sankrantis to the Sun entering a sign. Lunar months drift against the solar calendar by about 11 days a year, with an extra month added every few years, so the Gregorian date moves.
Why can the date differ between cities?
Most festivals depend on which tithi prevails at sunrise, midday, sunset or midnight. Those moments come at different clock times in different cities, so a tithi that starts just before sunrise in one city may start just after it in another.
How are the puja muhurats calculated?
We calculate the tithi, karana, lagna and the day's divisions for your city from the positions of the Sun and Moon (sidereal, Lahiri), then apply each festival's classical rule, such as Pradosh with Vrishabha lagna for Lakshmi Puja or a Bhadra-free window for Rakhi.
What if my family priest gives a different time?
Regional and family traditions differ, for example Smarta and Vaishnava dates for Janmashtami, or Purnimanta and Amanta month names. Where your priest or community calendar differs, follow it; our times show the general rule for your city.
Need a muhurat for your own event?
Weddings, griha pravesh, vehicle purchase and more, or today's Panchang for your city.