December 2026 Festivals State-Wise in India: Champa Shashti, Vaikuntha Ekadashi, Gita Jayanti, Datta Jayanti and More

Quick answer: This guide lists December 2026 festivals state-wise across India, from Champa Shashti in Maharashtra to Margazhi in Tamil Nadu. The biggest shared day is Sunday 20 December 2026, which is Vaikuntha Ekadashi in the South and Gita Jayanti everywhere. Other key days are Vivah Panchami (14 December), Champa and Subrahmanya Shashti (15 December), Dhanurmasam and Margazhi (from 16 December), Hanuman Jayanti in Karnataka (22 December) and Datta Jayanti (23 December).

All dates are India dates. Dates marked Drik come from Drik Panchang (New Delhi). Dates marked calculated come from HinduTone's ephemeris calculator, which we checked against Drik Panchang to within one or two minutes. Regional calendars can move a festival by a day, so follow your state's panchang and holiday list.

December 2026 festivals state-wise: summary table

For the month in date order, see December 2026 Hindu festivals. For fasting days, see the December 2026 vrat calendar.

Maharashtra: Champa Shashti, Margashirsha Guruvar and Datta Jayanti

Margashirsha is a month of many observances in Maharashtra. Khandoba, the warrior form of Shiva worshipped at Jejuri and many other temples, has a six-day festival that begins on Margashirsha Shukla Pratipada, around 9 to 10 December 2026 (follow your local temple). It ends on Champa Shashti, Tuesday 15 December 2026 (calculated). As commonly told, this is the day Khandoba defeated the demons Mani and Malla. Devotees offer turmeric (bhandara) and a simple meal of bharit and rodga or bhakri, according to family custom.

Every Thursday of Margashirsha, many Marathi women keep the Mahalakshmi Guruvar vrat: 10, 17, 24 and 31 December 2026 and 7 January 2027 (calculated). Datta Jayanti on Wednesday 23 December 2026 (calculated) is celebrated at Datta temples across the state, including Narsobawadi. See Champa Shashti 2026, Margashirsha Guruvar Vrat 2026 and Datta Jayanti 2026.

Karnataka: Subrahmanya Shashti and Hanumad Vratha

In Karnataka, Margashirsha Shukla Shashti, Tuesday 15 December 2026 (calculated), is Subrahmanya Shashti, also called Champa Shashti. It is the major annual festival of Kukke Subramanya in Dakshina Kannada, and Subrahmanya temples across the state hold special worship. The temple announces its own festival arrangements.

A week later, Karnataka celebrates Hanuman Jayanti, known as Hanumad Vratha, on Margashirsha Shukla Trayodashi, Tuesday 22 December 2026 (calculated). Hanuman temples hold special puja and many families keep a vrat. Datta Jayanti on 23 December is also important in north Karnataka, home to the Datta kshetra of Ganagapur. See Subrahmanya Shashti 2026 and Hanuman Jayanti Karnataka 2026.

Andhra Pradesh and Telangana: Margasira, Dhanurmasam and Mukkoti Ekadashi

Telugu families begin December in Karthika Masam. The Karthika Masa Shivaratri falls on Monday 7 December 2026 (Drik), the last Karthika Somavaram, and Karthika ends with the Amavasya on 8 December. Margasira Masam begins on Wednesday 9 December (calculated).

• Margasira Lakshmivara vratam: Lakshmi puja on the Thursdays 10, 17, 24 and 31 December 2026 and 7 January 2027 (calculated).
• Dhanurmasam: from Wednesday 16 December 2026 (calculated), with early-morning worship and the Tiruppavai at Vishnu temples and in homes.
• Mukkoti (Vaikuntha) Ekadashi: Sunday 20 December 2026 (calculated), with Uttara Dwara darshan at Tirumala, Bhadrachalam and other Vishnu temples. Each temple announces its own darshan arrangements.
• Datta Jayanti: Wednesday 23 December 2026 (calculated), with special worship at Pithapuram, linked with Sripada Srivallabha.

See Margasira Masam 2026, Dhanurmasam 2026, Karthika Masa Shivaratri 2026 and Bhadrachalam temple guide.

Tamil Nadu: Margazhi, Tiruppavai and Vaikunta Ekadasi

The Tamil month of Margazhi begins on Wednesday 16 December 2026 (calculated). It is a month of dawn devotion. Women draw kolams in front of their homes before sunrise, and devotees sing Andal's Tiruppavai at Vishnu temples and Manikkavasagar's Tiruvempavai at Shiva temples.

Vaikunta Ekadasi, Sunday 20 December 2026 (calculated), is the great day of Srirangam. It comes in the middle of the temple's long Adhyayana Utsavam, and on this morning the Paramapada Vasal (the gate of heaven) is opened for the procession of the deity. Lakhs of devotees usually gather, and the temple announces its own schedule. See Margazhi 2026 and Tiruppavai 30 pasurams.

Kerala: the Sabarimala Mandala season

In Kerala, December belongs to the Sabarimala pilgrimage. Drik Panchang lists the start of the Mandala Pooja season on Tuesday 17 November 2026, and through December, devotees who wear the Ayyappa mala keep their 41-day vratham of simple food, celibacy and daily prayer. The Malayalam month of Dhanu begins with Dhanu Sankranti on 16 December 2026 (calculated). The Travancore Devaswom Board announces the Mandala Pooja day, temple openings and pilgrim arrangements. See Sabarimala Mandalam-Makaravilakku 2026-27.

Haryana: Gita Jayanti at Kurukshetra

As commonly told, Krishna spoke the Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna at Kurukshetra, so Gita Jayanti, Sunday 20 December 2026 (calculated), has a special place in Haryana. Kurukshetra hosts the International Gita Mahotsav around Gita Jayanti each year, with Gita recitation, aarti at Brahma Sarovar and cultural events. The Haryana government announces the festival's dates and programme, so check official sources before you travel. See Gita Jayanti 2026.

Uttar Pradesh: Kalabhairav, Vivah Panchami and Annapurna Jayanti

Varanasi opens December with Kalabhairav Jayanti on Tuesday 1 December 2026 (Drik), at the temple of Kala Bhairava, the guardian of Kashi. In Ayodhya, Vivah Panchami on Monday 14 December 2026 (calculated) is celebrated as the wedding of Rama and Sita, with temple processions and wedding songs.

On Margashirsha Purnima, Wednesday 23 December 2026 (calculated), Varanasi celebrates Annapurna Jayanti, honouring the goddess who feeds the world. See Kalabhairava Jayanti 2026, Annapurna Jayanti 2026 and Kashi Vishwanath Temple.

Bihar and Nepal: Vivah Panchami in Mithila

Mithila is the land of Sita, so Vivah Panchami on Monday 14 December 2026 (calculated) is a joyful festival in north Bihar and in Janakpur in Nepal. As commonly told, Janakpur was the capital of King Janaka, Sita's father. The wedding is re-enacted with songs and rituals, and many families consider it an auspicious time to remember Sita and Rama's marriage. See Vivah Panchami 2026.

Gujarat: Datta Jayanti and Girnar

In Gujarat, Datta Jayanti, Wednesday 23 December 2026 (calculated), is honoured at Datta shrines, and the Dattatreya peak on Mount Girnar near Junagadh is closely linked with Lord Dattatreya. Devotees read the Datta Bavani and offer prayers. Gujarat and Maharashtra share many Datta traditions, so check with your local temple for its programme.

Tips for planning your December 2026

• Use your state's official holiday list for school and office closures. These can differ from festival dates.
• Dates marked "calculated" come from HinduTone's calculator. Confirm them on Drik Panchang or your local panchang.
• For Vaikuntha Ekadashi at Tirumala, Srirangam or Bhadrachalam, check the temple's official website for current timings and darshan arrangements.
• Fair and festival dates at Kurukshetra, Kukke Subramanya and Jejuri are announced by the organisers each year. Do not book travel on a guessed date.
• Families abroad should check Drik Panchang for their own city, because dates outside India can differ by a day.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the biggest festival day in December 2026?

Sunday 20 December 2026 (calculated) is the biggest day for most of India. It is Vaikuntha Ekadashi in the South, Gita Jayanti in Haryana and across India, and Mokshada Ekadashi in North India.

When is Champa Shashti 2026?

Champa Shashti falls on Tuesday 15 December 2026 (calculated). Khandoba's six-day festival in Maharashtra begins on Margashirsha Shukla Pratipada, around 9 to 10 December 2026, so follow your local temple for the start day.

When is Hanuman Jayanti in Karnataka in 2026?

Karnataka observes Hanuman Jayanti, or Hanumad Vratha, on Margashirsha Shukla Trayodashi, which falls on Tuesday 22 December 2026 (calculated). This is different from the Chaitra Hanuman Jayanti celebrated in North India.

When does Margazhi 2026 begin in Tamil Nadu?

The Tamil month of Margazhi begins on Wednesday 16 December 2026 (calculated), the day of Dhanu Sankranti. Dhanurmasam begins the same day in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka.

When is Vivah Panchami 2026?

Vivah Panchami is on Monday 14 December 2026 (calculated). It is celebrated as the wedding day of Rama and Sita, especially in Ayodhya and in Janakpur in Nepal.

Why does Margasira start on different dates in different states?

South and West India follow the amanta calendar, where Margasira runs from 9 December 2026 to 7 January 2027 (calculated). North India follows the purnimanta calendar, where Margashirsha ends at the full moon on 23 December and Paush begins on 24 December. Festival dates are the same; only the month names differ.

Editor's note

Editor's note (6 October 2026): This guide has been restored at its original hindutone.com address after the earlier version was lost. Dates up to 10 December are from Drik Panchang (New Delhi); later dates are calculated by HinduTone's ephemeris calculator, checked against Drik Panchang, and labelled "calculated". We describe temple festivals only in general terms and do not list darshan timings, schedules or prices; please check official temple and government sources.

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