October 2026 Hindu Festivals and Puja Dates
Pranaams, friends of DIPIKA.
DIPIKA has been revamped following the unfortunate hacking incident a few months ago. The website now offers several new features designed to make your visit as convenient and comfortable as possible, including:
- Our new Step-by-Step Guides and improved search facility.
- A downloadable one-page landscape calendar of October’s festivals and vrats.
- Easier access to important prayer dates, articles and practical guides.
This page provides a convenient reference to the important Hindu festivals, fasting days, puja dates and sacred observances for October 2026.
We recommend printing the accompanying calendar and keeping it on your refrigerator door or in another convenient, frequently visited location at home or work.
The 30 related articles are listed below. Titles highlighted in orange are linked to the respective detailed article. Please click the link to read.
Ashwina Hindu Month
27 September to 26 October 2026
| No. | Festival or observance | Date |
| 1 | Kaal Bhairava Prayers — helps one overcome diseases, adversaries, enemies and poverty | 3 October 2026 |
| 2 | Fasting for Indira Ekadashi | 6 October 2026 |
| 3 | Ashwina Amavasya — New Moon | 10 October 2026 |
Maha Navaratri
11 to 19 October 2026
Remaining October Festivals and Observances
| No. | Festival, article or observance | Date |
| 21 | Vijay Dashami | 20 October 2026 |
| 22 | Durga Visarjan — immersion of Devi | 21 October 2026 |
| 23 | Fasting for Papankusha Ekadashi | 22 October 2026 |
| 24 | Sharad Purnima — Kojagara Puja | 25 October 2026 |
| 25 | Ashwina Purnima — Full Moon | 26 October 2026 |
| 26 | Purnima — Full Moon Monday | 26 October 2026 |
| 27 | Kartika—Damodara Hindu Month | 27 October to 24 November 2026 |
| 28 | Kartik DIY Puja and Havan 2026 | Refer to article |
| 29 | Kartika Devi — Srimati Radharani, the Presiding Deity of the Holiest Month of Kartik | Refer to article |
| 30 | Karwa Chauth — a vrat observed by a wife for her husband’s long life | 29 October 2026 |
Kartika—Damodara Hindu Month
27 October to 24 November 2026
Auspicious and Inauspicious Dates
| Category | October 2026 dates |
| Auspicious wedding dates | No auspicious wedding Muhurtha dates |
| Fridays to commence a Lakshmi Vrat | 16 and 23 October |
| Auspicious conception period | 11 to 26 October |
| Griha Pravesha | 11 to 26 October |
| Panchak commences | 21 October at 03h30 |
| Panchak ends | 25 October at 15h52 |
Mool and New Moon Periods
The following are traditionally regarded as inauspicious periods for the birth of a baby.
| Nakshatra period | Commences | Ends |
| Ashlesha/Magha | 5 October at 22h37 | 7 October at 19h45 |
| Jyeshtha/Mool | 15 October at 10h46 | 17 October at 15h40 |
| Revati/Ashwini | 24 October at 21h21 | 26 October at 16h52 |
| New Moon — Amavasya | 9 October at 18h05 | 10 October at 17h49 |
Durga Paath Puja Dates
The auspicious dates to perform a Durga Paath, Saptashati or Chandi Homa are:
| Month | Auspicious dates |
| October 2026 | 3, 4, 9, 18, 19 and 25 October |
Chaturthi
Lord Ganesha’s devotees observe Chaturthi and invoke his blessings for the removal of problems and impediments and for prosperity, happiness and the fulfilment of their desires.
| Detail | Date or time |
| Chaturthi | Thursday, 29 October 2026 |
| Moonrise in Durban | 22h18 |
Trayodashi and Pradosha Puja Times
| Date | Pradosha Puja time |
| Thursday, 8 October 2026 | 18h01 to 18h45 |
| Friday, 23 October 2026 | 18h11 to 20h23 |