Vrat Festival 2026: In Sanatan Dharma, every date and festival has its own special significance, which brings new energy and happiness in the lives of people. If you also want to know the exact dates of the big festivals of the coming year, then this news is for you. Here we have brought for you the complete list of major fasts and festivals of the year 2026, in which information about their dates, days and religious significance is given.
Major fasts and festivals of the year 2026 and their importance
Makar Sankranti – 14 January 2026, Wednesday:
This festival is celebrated when the Sun becomes Uttarayan, which means the Sun starts moving towards the north.
Basant Panchami – 23 January 2026, Friday:
This festival is dedicated to Mother Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, music and art, who is specially worshiped on this day.
Mahashivratri – 15 February 2026, Sunday:
This festival is celebrated to commemorate the marriage of Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati, and devotees keep vigil throughout the night and worship.
Holi – 4 March 2026, Wednesday:
This festival of colors symbolizes the victory of good over evil, a day before which Holika Dahan is performed.
Chaitra Navratri starts – 19 March 2026, Thursday:
During this, nine forms of Goddess Durga are worshiped for nine days and it starts with the installation of the Kalash.
Ram Navami – 26 March 2026, Thursday:
This festival is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Lord Shri Ram, which falls on the ninth day of Chaitra Navratri.
Hanuman Jayanti: 2 April 2026 Thursday:
This festival is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Hanuman.
Akshay Tatiya 19th April 2026:
This day is considered extremely fruitful for auspicious works like marriage, housewarming and shopping without any auspicious time.
Mohini Ekadashi 27th April 2026:
Monday, this Ekadashi is associated with the Mohini form of Lord Vishnu, fasting on which destroys a person’s sins and frees him from the bondage of illusion.
Vat Savitri Vrat 16 May 2026:
Married women observe this fast on Saturday for the long life and happiness and prosperity of their husbands.
Nirjala Ekadashi 25 June 2026 Thursday:
This is considered to be the most difficult and important among all Ekadashis.
Thursday: It is a famous religious festival in Puri, Odisha where the idols of Lord Jagannath (Krishna), Balarama and Subhadra are taken out in grand chariots.
Devshayani Ekadashi / Chaturmas starts on 25th July 2026:
Saturday, from this day Lord Vishnu sleeps in Ksheer Sagar for four months (Chaturmas), due to which auspicious activities like marriage and tonsure are prohibited during this period.
Guru Purnima 29 July 2026:
Wednesday, this festival is celebrated as the birthday of Maharishi Ved Vyas and on this day gratitude is expressed towards the gurus and teachers.
Nag Panchami 17 August 2026:
On Monday, snake gods are worshiped, which removes the fear of snake bite and maintains happiness and peace in the family.
Raksha Bandhan 28 August 2026:
Friday is the festival of unbreakable love between brothers and sisters, in which sisters tie Rakhi on their brother’s wrist and pray for his long life and brothers promise to protect him.
Janmashtami 4th September 2026:
Friday: It is the celebration of the birth of Lord Krishna, the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, which is celebrated with great pomp and show by fasting throughout the night and worshiping at midnight.
Hartalika Teej 14 September 2026:
This fast is mainly observed by married women on Monday for unbroken good fortune and unmarried girls to get the desired groom. Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati are worshiped in this.
Ganesh Chaturthi 14 September 2026:
Monday: This festival is celebrated for 10 days as the birth anniversary of Lord Ganesha, the god of knowledge and prosperity, in which his idol is installed and worshiped.
Anant Chaturdashi 25 September 2026:
Friday: This is the concluding day of Ganesh Utsav, when the idols of Lord Ganesha are immersed. The eternal form of Lord Vishnu is also worshiped on this day.
Shardiya Navratri starts on 11 October 2026:
Sunday: This is a nine-day festival, in which nine forms of Goddess Durga are worshipped, which is a symbol of power and devotion.
Dussehra/Vijayadashami 20 October 2026:
Tuesday symbolizes the victory of good over evil, because on this day Lord Rama killed Ravana and Mother Durga killed Mahishasura.
Karva Chauth 29 October 2026 Thursday:
Married women keep Nirjala fast for the whole day for the long life, health and prosperity of their husbands and break the fast at night by offering Arghya to the moon.
Dhanteras 6th November 2026 Friday:
This is the first day of the five-day Deepotsav, on which Kubera, the god of wealth, and Dhanvantari, the god of health, are worshiped and buying new items is considered auspicious.
Diwali 8th November 2026:
Sunday is the biggest festival of lights, which is celebrated to mark the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya and the worship of Goddess Lakshmi.
Govardhan Puja 10th November 2026:
Tuesday, the next day of Diwali, this festival is celebrated in the memory of Lord Krishna lifting Govardhan Mountain to protect the people of Gokul from the wrath of Indra.
Bhai Dooj 11 November 2026:
Wednesday: This festival is dedicated to the love between brother and sister, in which sisters apply tilak to their brother for his long life and success.
Chhath Puja 15 November 2026: Sunday: This festival is mainly celebrated in Bihar, Jharkhand and Eastern Uttar Pradesh.
Disclaimer: The information given in this news is based on religious beliefs and general information. TV9 Bharatvarsha does not confirm this.