Hindu Festival Calendar 2026 + Puja Samagri Checklist for Every Festival

Master Hindu Festival Calendar 2026 — Dates, Samagri & Shopping Links

All dates based on Vedic lunar calendar calculations for 2026. Confirm with Drik Panchang or your local pandit. Some regional dates may vary by one day.

1. Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 — September 14

Ganesh Chaturthi — Vinayaka Chavithi in South India — is the 10-day festival celebrating the birth of Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles. In 2026 it falls on Sunday, September 14, making it a full weekend celebration for Bengaluru families. The festival begins on Chaturthi tithi (4th day of the waxing moon in Bhadra month) and concludes with Anant Chaturdashi, when idols are traditionally immersed.

Ganesh Chaturthi puja requires careful preparation across multiple categories: the idol itself, the puja setup, the offerings (naivedyam), and the daily rituals over 1.5, 5, 7, or 10 days depending on your tradition. All items below are available as Govt. Certified, authentic-quality puja samagri at Divine Hindu Store.

Planning ahead is key. At Divine Hindu Store in Jayanagar, Bengaluru, you can find Govt. Certified clay Ganesha idols, natural agarbatti, brass kalash sets, and all panchamrit ingredients as part of a ready-to-buy combo. For gifting a Ganesh Chaturthi kit to family, see our Gifting collection. Also read our Rudraksha gifting guide for unique festival gifting ideas beyond sweets and clothes.

2. Varalakshmi Vratham 2026 — August 28 (Friday)

Varalakshmi Vratham is observed predominantly in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu on the Friday immediately before Shravana Purnima (the full moon of the Shravana month). In 2026, this auspicious day falls on Friday, August 28 — a date widely expected by Karnataka panchangams and confirmed by the Shravana-month calculation. The word Vara means boon, and Lakshmi Devi is worshipped to bestow prosperity, good health, and fulfilment of wishes.

This is one of the most cherished women's vrat festivals in Karnataka, and Bengaluru homes take special pride in setting up an elaborate Varalakshmi puja with a decorated kalasha representing Goddess Lakshmi herself.

Varalakshmi Vratham samagri is available at Divine Hindu Store throughout August. Our brass kalash sets (with Govt. Certification) and authentic Lakshmi idols are among our most popular items during this season. For idol selection guidance, see our blog on brass vs panchaloha idols for home worship.

3. Diwali / Lakshmi Puja 2026 — November 8 (Sunday)

Diwali is the most celebrated festival in India, and its centrepiece is Lakshmi Puja — the worship of Goddess Lakshmi for prosperity, wealth, and new beginnings. It falls on Amavasya (new moon night) of the Kartik month. In 2026, due to the Adhik Maas shift, this Amavasya aligns with Sunday, November 8.

Preparation should begin at least two weeks in advance. Divine Hindu Store starts stocking Diwali samagri from early October — our brass diyas, Lakshmi-Ganesh combo idols, and marigold garland arrangements are among the most sought-after items. Trusted by 10 Lakh+ devotees, we source all items with full Govt. Certification traceability.

4. Navratri 2026 — October 11–19

Sharada Navratri is nine nights of worship dedicated to the nine forms of Devi — Shailputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri, and Siddhidatri. In Bengaluru, Navratri is celebrated with great fervour: Mysore Dasara energy spills into neighbourhood pandals, and home pujas run all 9 days with a fresh flower and colour theme for each deity.

In 2026, Navratri runs from October 11 (Pratipada) through October 19 (Navami / Ram Navami), with Vijayadashami / Dussehra on October 20. Each of the nine days calls for a different colour saree, flower, and naivedyam — making early preparation essential.

Our Durga and Lakshmi idol collection at Divine Hindu Store is refreshed every August–September. Lab-tested, authentically sourced brass and panchaloha Devi idols start from approximately ₹1,000–₹2,700 after discounts — Govt. Certified with full traceability.

5. Makar Sankranti / Pongal 2026 — January 14–15

Makar Sankranti marks the sun's transition (Sankranti) into Capricorn (Makara), ending the inauspicious period of Dakshinayana and beginning Uttarayana — the sun's northward journey. In Karnataka it is celebrated as Sankranti or Ellu Birodella; in Tamil Nadu as Pongal; in Gujarat as Uttarayan (kite day). In 2026, Makar Sankranti falls on Wednesday, January 14, with the main Pongal celebration on January 15.

This is one of the few Hindu festivals fixed to the solar calendar (not lunar), so its date rarely varies. It is the first major puja of the new year — a beautiful way to begin your festival calendar. For Karnataka, the puja involves the exchange of Ellu-Bella (sesame and jaggery mix) symbolising the sweetness of life.

Sankranti is also a time for new beginnings and home puja room refreshes. If you are setting up or re-energising your home mandir in January 2026, read our complete guide on setting up a home mandir in a Bengaluru apartment.

Why Is Everything 20 Days Later in 2026? — The Adhik Maas Explained

If you have searched "when is Diwali 2026" and found different answers online — many sites are still showing the un-shifted date. Here is the definitive explanation.

The Hindu lunar calendar runs approximately 11 days shorter than the solar (Gregorian) calendar each year. To keep lunar months aligned with seasons, Hindu reckoning inserts an extra lunar month (Adhik Maas, also called Purushottam Maas or Mal Maas) roughly every 2.5–3 years. In 2026, this extra month falls between May 17 and June 15.

Because an entire month is inserted in the middle of the year, every subsequent lunar festival shifts approximately 20–29 days later than the previous year's dates. This is why:

• Raksha Bandhan, typically in early August, is pushed to late August / early September 2026 (exact date expected around Aug 28–Sep 4; verify on Drik Panchang).
• Navratri, typically early October, begins October 11 in 2026.
• Diwali, typically mid-to-late October, falls on Sunday, November 8, 2026.

For gift shopping, bulk samagri orders, and festival catering, plan your preparation 3–4 weeks earlier than the festival date — Bengaluru's demand for authentic puja items peaks sharply in the last week before any major festival. At Divine Hindu Store in Jayanagar, Bengaluru, our festival collection goes live 6–8 weeks before each major date. Sign up for our reminder service above to get a 7-day alert.

For more on gifting around festival occasions (especially Raksha Bandhan and Diwali), read our guide to Rudraksha gifting for festivals — a Govt. Certified Rudraksha bracelet is one of the most meaningful gifts you can give a sibling, parent, or spouse on a sacred day.