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Hindu Panchang

The Hindu calendar — Panchang & festivals 2026.

The Hindu calendar (or Panchang) is a family of lunisolar calendars used across India, Nepal, and Hindu diaspora communities. The most common variants are Vikram Samvat (year 2082–2083) and Saka Samvat (year 1947–1948). Each day is described by five elements: tithi, vara, nakshatra, yoga, and karana.

At a glance

Key facts about hindu calendar

Vikram Samvat
2082-2083
North India + Nepal
Saka Samvat
1947-1948
Indian national
Type
Lunisolar
Months from moon, year from sun
Months/year
12 or 13
Adhik Maas every 32-33 mo
Days/month
29-30
Synodic month
New Year (Chaitra)
20 Mar 2026
Spring equinox start
Holi 2026
4 Mar
Festival of colors
Diwali 2026
8 Nov
Festival of lights
The 12 lunar months

Names of Hindu calendar months

The 12 months are: Chaitra (March-April), Vaisakha (April-May), Jyaistha (May-June), Asadha (June-July), Sravana (July-August), Bhadra (August-September), Asvina (September-October), Karttika (October-November), Margasirsa (November-December), Pausa (December-January), Magha (January-February), and Phalguna (February-March).

Each month is divided into two halves: Shukla Paksha (waxing moon, days 1-15) and Krishna Paksha (waning moon, days 1-15). The 15th of Shukla Paksha is Purnima (full moon); the 15th of Krishna Paksha is Amavasya (new moon).

An extra month (Adhik Maas) is added every 32-33 months to keep the calendar synced with the solar year.

Major festivals 2026

Hindu festival dates for 2026

Makar Sankranti — 14 January 2026 (Sun enters Capricorn).

Maha Shivaratri — 15 February 2026.

Holi (Dhulandi) — 4 March 2026.

Ram Navami — 26 March 2026.

Hanuman Jayanti — 31 March 2026.

Raksha Bandhan — 28 August 2026.

Krishna Janmashtami — 4 September 2026.

Ganesh Chaturthi — 14 September 2026.

Navratri begins — 12 October 2026.

Dussehra (Vijayadashami) — 20 October 2026.

Diwali (Deepavali) — 8 November 2026.

Govardhan Puja — 10 November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What is Panchang?
Panchang (पञ्चाङ्ग) is the Hindu astronomical almanac with 5 elements per day: tithi (lunar day), vara (weekday), nakshatra (lunar mansion), yoga, and karana.
When is Hindu New Year 2026?
Chaitra Shukla Pratipada falls on 20 March 2026 — this is the start of Vikram Samvat 2083 (often celebrated as Gudi Padwa, Ugadi, or Cheti Chand).
What is Adhik Maas?
An intercalary month added every 32-33 months to align the lunar calendar with the solar year. The next Adhik Maas is in 2026, around Sravana.
How do I find today's tithi?
Visit our /panchang page for today's tithi, nakshatra, yoga, and karana.
Are Hindu calendar dates the same in all regions?
No — variants like Tamil, Bengali, Malayalam, and Telugu calendars all use lunisolar principles but differ in start dates and naming.

Explore more

Hindu calendar
Diwali 2026: 8 November