A Guide on Major Indian Festivals in 2026

India is often called a land of festivals for good reason: Its calendar is brimming with reasons to celebrate all year long. Indian festivals like Diwali, Eid, and Holi gather people together in centuries-old traditions of prayer, feasting, dancing, and joy.

For Indian communities abroad, sending money to friends and family during festivals is a way to stay connected and help honor Indian traditions, even from a distance. Below are 10 major festivals in India in 2026 and ways to celebrate them.

Key Takeaways

• Indian festivals span the calendar and the country, offering ways to celebrate joy, devotion, and family, as well as honoring religious and cultural traditions that have lasted centuries.
• Major Indian celebrations include Diwali, Holi, and Eid al-Fitr, and often feature prayers, special foods, singing, and dancing.
• For many in the Indian Diaspora, an important way of participating in Indian festivals is to send money home to family and friends.

2026 Indian Festival Calendar

Whether it’s the bright colors of Holi, the joyous chants of Eid al-Fitr, or the twinkling lights of Diwali, India’s festivals spotlight a variety of regions, faiths, and rituals.

Plan ahead for 2026 with this festival list for India:

Festival name	2026 Dates
Lohri, Makar Sankranti & Pongal	January 13–14
Maha Shivratri	February 15
Holi	March 4
Spring Harvest Festivals (Baisakhi, Biju & more)	April 14
Eid al-Fitr
Onam	August 25
Navratri, Durga Puja & Dussehra	October 11–21
Diwali	November 8
Guru Nanak Jayanti
Christmas	December 25

 

Lohri, Makar Sankranti & Pongal – January

Lohri — January 13 Primarily celebrated in Punjab / North India.

Makar Sankranti — January 14 Celebrated across North and Central India.

Pongal — January 14 Primarily celebrated in Tamil Nadu.

Indian festivals in January celebrate the harvest and the end of winter with bonfires, singing, dancing, and prayers, as well as gifts to newlyweds and newborns. Popular foods of these harvest festivals include Khichdi in North India; Lassi, Pinni, Chikki, and Gajak in Punjab; and Pongal in South India.

Maha Shivratri – February

Maha Shivrati — February 15 Most intensely observed at major Shiva temples in Varanasi (North India) and Ujjain (Central India).

Maha Shivrati is a Hindu festival that celebrates Lord Shiva and the triumph of light over darkness, with fasting, garlands of marigolds, and sacred offerings. Temple donations (dakshina) and charitable giving are common during Shivratri, and are a meaningful reason diaspora members send money home to India.

Holi – March

Holi – March 4 Celebrated nationwide, but most vibrantly celebrated in North India — areas like Mathura, Vrindavan, and Jaipur.

Holi is an Indian festival of spring, of joy — and of glorious, riotous color. Brightly hued powders and streams of water cover friends and neighbors in pigment, while the sweet aroma of deep-fried dumplings called guijiya fills the air. Sending money home for Holi lets family stock up on gulal (colored powder), gujiya, and festive clothing to join the celebrations.

Spring Harvest Festivals – April

Baisakhi — April 14 Primarily celebrated in North India / Punjab.

Biju — April 14 Celebrated in Tripura, Northeast India.

The Indian festivals of April celebrate the harvest, setting the stage for renewal, good fortune, and prosperity in the months to come. Baisakhi is a Sikh festival that ushers in the solar New Year and seeks blessings for the harvest of winter wheat and other crops. In Tripura, Biju also serves to celebrate the culture of the Chakma community, with songs and dancing, feasts and flowers.

Eid al-Fitr – March/April

Eid al-Fitr — March

Eid al-Fitr is a Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan and a month of fasting. Because the Islamic calendar is lunar based, the date of Eid al-Fitr is determined by the sighting of the crescent moon and changes from year to year. After a communal prayer, greetings of “Eid Mubarak” are exchanged, and celebrations include shared feasts and charitable giving. A big part of Eid al-Fitr involves giving cash gifts to children as well, which is why many Indians overseas send money home for a joyous Eid.

Onam – August

Onam – August 25

This Hindu harvest holiday is a 10-day celebration filled with family, dancing, and the story of King Mahabali. Beautiful flower mats (rangoli) called pookalam decorate the floors as homes are cleaned and gifts are purchased. After boat races, tiger dances, and a competitive game of tug of war, the festival concludes with a feast of a dozen tasty dishes, served on banana leaves.

Navratri, Durga Puja & Dussehra – October

Navratri — October 11–19

Durga Puja — October 17–21

Dussehra — October 20

In October, celebrants across India commemorate the victory of good over evil during the auspicious nine days of Navratri and Durga Puja. This Indian festival is marked with pandals, dancing, prayers, fireworks, fasting, and cultural programs. In Kolkata, Delhi and elsewhere, the dayslong celebration concludes with Dussehra, a day of vivid storytelling and unity.

Diwali – November

Diwali is a major Hindu festival celebrated with splendor all over India to mark the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after an exile of 14 years. The day is considered very auspicious for new beginnings, and is the biggest Indian festival

The warm glow of oil lamps shine on worshippers, who honor Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha across the country. In places like West Bengal, Kali Puja coincides with Diwali and honors the Hindu goddess Kali. In northern India, Sikhs celebrate the holiday as Bandi Chor Diwas, and illuminate the Golden Temple of Amritsar in Punjab using decorative lights and fireworks.

Diwali is a popular occasion for sending money home to India, where it’s used to purchase supplies for diyas (oil lamps) and candles, rangoli (floor decorations), mithaai (sweets) like Gulab Jamun, and gifts for family. Listen to the heartwarming Diwali story of Rajit, who sent money home to Mom with the help of Western Union. Find out how to convert USD to INR for your own Diwali remittances.

Guru Nanak Jayanti – November

Guru Nanak Jayanti — November 24

Guru Nanak Jayanti is the most revered day for Sikhs all over the world. Also called Gurupurab, it marks the birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Ji with devotion, processionals, prayers, and feasts including Kali Dal, Kada Prashad, Langar, Chana Dal Khichdi, Meethe Chawal, and Rajma Chawal. The main rituals of this Indian festival are a procession led by Panj Pyare (the five Beloveds) and prayer sessions in Gurudwaras (Sikh sacred spaces) in the morning and night.

Christmas – December

Christmas — December 25

Christmas is a big day — Bada Din — for Christians in India, and celebrated with much fanfare in many Indian states with a large population of Christians. You can enjoy a traditional Christmas at places like Goa, Kolkata, Mumbai, Kerala, and Pondicherry. Most Indian Christians are Catholics, so the Midnight Mass is an important service. They also follow other popular Christmas traditions of baking goodies, decorating Christmas trees, and singing carols, too.

Many Indians living abroad send money for Christmas gifts, charitable donations, food, and the little oil lamps called diyas, which symbolize the light of Jesus.

Sending Money Home for Indian Festivals

For many in the Indian diaspora, part of celebrating Indian festivals means sending money home so family can celebrate, too. Whether its for new clothes for Diwali or a pile of sweets for Holi, using the Western Union app to send money means everyone can be part of the traditions, no matter when — or where — they are.

Send money now with Western Union and ensure your festival contributions are sent safely and reliably.