Hindu festivals in Varanasi

Each festival follows its own rule, so the date can change with your city. Diwali's Lakshmi Puja falls on the Amavasya (new-Moon lunar day) that runs through the evening, which is 8 November in 2026. Navaratri begins on the first lunar day of the bright fortnight of Ashvin. Pongal is solar: it follows the Sun entering sidereal Makara (Capricorn). The Festivals tool shows your city's dates.

Ekadashi is the 11th lunar day (tithi) of each fortnight, so it comes twice a month. It is usually kept on the day Ekadashi is running at your local sunrise, and the fast is broken the next morning after sunrise, within Dwadashi (the 12th tithi). The Festivals tool shows this month's Ekadashi days for your city; check the fast-breaking (Parana) window there or in the Panchangam.

Each follows a different lunar rule. Pradosham is the 13th lunar day (Trayodashi) in the evening twilight around sunset, and comes twice a month. Sankashti is the 4th lunar day of the waning fortnight, kept on the day it is running at moonrise. Amavasya is the new-Moon lunar day, once a month. The Festivals tool lists this month's days for your city.

Do Lakshmi Puja in the evening after your local sunset, while Amavasya (the new-Moon lunar day) is still running. In 2026 Diwali's Lakshmi Puja falls on 8 November. This evening window is called Pradosh Kaal, and many families aim for the part of it when a fixed sign, usually Vrishabha (Taurus), is rising. Use your own city's sunset, never an Indian clock time.