How to use this festival calendar
This page lists Hindu and national observances relevant to Marathi households for 2026, using the Amanta (चांद्रमान) system commonly followed in Maharashtra. Dates are given for Mumbai / IST. A festival “day” in the panchanga follows the ruling tithi (lunar day), which may not match midnight-to-midnight English calendar thinking — that is why some families observe a festival on a neighbouring civil date depending on local sunrise and tithi-end time.
Use the searchable table above to find a date quickly. For deeper context, read our guides on what Marathi Panchanga is, Gudi Padwa 2026, and Ekadashi 2026.
Understanding the type labels
- प्रमुख (major) — Widely observed festivals (Gudi Padwa, Ganesh Chaturthi, Diwali, etc.).
- राष्ट्रीय (national) — Civic holidays such as Republic Day or Independence Day.
- एकादशी / व्रत — Fasting and vrat days, especially Ekadashi twice a lunar month.
- अमावस्या / पौर्णिमा — New-moon and full-moon days used for pitru rites, satyanarayan, or regional customs.
A day marked Holiday is commonly treated as a public holiday in Maharashtra/India lists, but always confirm the latest official gazette for your district or employer.
Why your family date might differ by one day
If a tithi begins after sunrise or spans two civil dates, some traditions begin the festival on the previous or next English date. Temple trusts and printed panchangas may also prefer a specific rule (udaya tithi vs. pratah-kal). This site’s list is a Mumbai-oriented consensus for planning — for ceremony-critical days, confirm with your local pandit. Read Amanta vs Purnimanta if you are comparing North Indian calendars.
Plan around Rahu Kaal and muhurat
Festival days still contain daytime Rahu Kaal windows. For weddings and griha pravesh, use the Marriage Muhurat 2026 list and our muhurat selection guide — then verify lagna personally.
Season-by-season rhythm for Maharashtra families
Winter into Sankranti (Jan): Makara Sankranti anchors the solar side of the year. Til-gul exchanges, kite flying in open grounds, and school holidays make mid-January busy for travel within the state.
Shivaratri to Holi (Feb–early Mar): Night vigils at Shiva temples, then colour play around Phalguna Purnima. Keep spare clothes and eye care ready; apartment societies often set time windows for colour.
Chaitra new year (mid–late Mar): Gudi Padwa and Rama Navami define the Marathi festive new-year block. Read the dedicated Gudi Padwa 2026 guide before shopping for gudi materials.
Akshaya Tritiya & summer (Apr–May): Gold purchases and some weddings cluster around 20 April; Maharashtra Day (1 May) is a fixed state holiday. Nirjala Ekadashi (27 May) is the year’s strictest common fast for many Vaishnava homes — see the Ekadashi guide.
Chaturmas & monsoon (Jun–Aug): Devshayani Ekadashi (25 Jun) begins the traditional four-month period when many avoid major house starts; Guru Purnima, Rakhi, and Independence Day fill the calendar while wedding lists stay closed in August.
Ganesh to Diwali (Sep–Nov): The densest stretch — Janmashtami, Ganesh through Anant Chaturdashi, Navratri–Dasara, then Diwali week. Book leave early; use month pages for logistics.
Year end (Dec): Vaikunta/Putrada Ekadashi and Christmas sit beside reopened wedding dates — useful for families who postponed ceremonies past monsoon and Navratri.
How to add festivals to your phone calendar
In the interactive table above, each row can open Google Calendar or Outlook with the festival name pre-filled. Add only the days your household actually observes so notifications stay useful. For recurring Ekadashi practice, prefer following your temple’s paran time rather than a fixed 6 AM alarm.
Festival planning FAQ
Does “holiday = true” mean my office is closed?
It means the day is commonly treated as a public holiday in Maharashtra/India lists. Private employers and banks may differ — confirm with HR and the official gazette.
Why is Ekadashi listed so often?
Ekadashi occurs twice each lunar month. We list named Ekadashis so vrat observers can plan. Not every Ekadashi is a government holiday.
Can I rely on this list for shraddha or wedding muhurat?
Use it for planning and awareness. For shraddha tithi and wedding lagna, confirm with a qualified pandit. See our Disclaimer.
Where are month-by-month details?
Open the month pages from the main menu (e.g. September for Ganesh, November for Diwali) or start at the home calendar.
Amanta or Purnimanta?
This site uses Amanta (month ends on Amavasya), standard for Maharashtra. Comparison: Amanta vs Purnimanta.