2026 to 2029

Festivals and celebrations in Canberra

Next up: Karwa Chauth, Thursday 29 October 2026

Every festival on the Hindu and Indian calendar from 2026 to 2029, with the date each one is observed in Australia and what is on for it across Australian Capital Territory. Dates follow the Australian observance where it differs from India, and 2028 and 2029 are provisional until the panchang for those years settles.

Coming up in Canberra

FestivalOCT29
Karwa Chauth 2026
The moonrise fast, mehndi and sargi
Dates, events and what to expect
FestivalNOV8
Diwali 2026
The festival of lights
Dates, events and what to expect
FestivalNOV15
Chhath Puja 2026
Sunset and sunrise arghya at the water
Dates, events and what to expect
FestivalNOV24
Guru Nanak Jayanti 2026
Gurpurab: nagar kirtan, langar and akhand path
Dates, events and what to expect
FestivalJAN13
Lohri 2027
Punjabi harvest bonfire night
Dates, events and what to expect
FestivalJAN14
Makar Sankranti and Pongal 2027
Harvest, kites and the sun turning north
Dates, events and what to expect

Every event in Canberra

2026

January 2026

Tue, 13 JanLohriPunjabi harvest bonfire night
Wed, 14 JanMakar Sankranti and PongalHarvest, kites and the sun turning north
Thu, 15 JanMattu Pongal and Kaanum PongalThe second and third days of Pongal
Fri, 23 JanVasant Panchami and Saraswati PujaSpring, learning and the colour yellow
Mon, 26 JanIndia Republic DayFlag hoisting, parades and community lunches

February 2026

Sun, 15 FebMaha ShivaratriThe great night of Shiva: all-night abhishek and jagran

March 2026

Tue, 3 MarHolika DahanThe bonfire on the eve of Holi
Wed, 4 MarHoliThe festival of colours
Thu, 19 MarUgadi and Gudi PadwaHindu New Year for Telugu, Kannada and Marathi communities
Thu, 19 MarChaitra NavratriThe spring nine nights
Fri, 27 MarRam NavamiThe birth of Lord Rama

April 2026

Thu, 2 AprHanuman JayantiSundarkand, chalisa and Hanuman Janmotsav
Tue, 14 AprTamil New Year (Puthandu)Puthandu: the Tamil new year
Tue, 14 AprVaisakhiThe Punjabi harvest and the birth of the Khalsa
Tue, 14 AprVishuThe Malayali new year
Tue, 14 AprDr B. R. Ambedkar JayantiCommemorating Dr Ambedkar
Wed, 15 AprBengali New Year (Poila Boishakh)Poila Boishakh: the Bengali new year
Wed, 15 AprBohag Bihu (Rongali Bihu)The Assamese new year
Mon, 20 AprAkshaya TritiyaThe auspicious day for new beginnings and gold

May 2026

Fri, 1 MayParashuram JayantiThe birth of Parashurama
Fri, 1 MayNarasimha JayantiThe appearance of Narasimha
Fri, 8 MayBuddha Purnima (Vesak)The birth, enlightenment and passing of the Buddha

June 2026

Tue, 9 JuneGanga DussehraThe descent of the Ganga
Sat, 13 JuneNirjala EkadashiThe waterless fast
Sat, 20 JuneJagannath Rath YatraThe chariot festival of Lord Jagannath

July 2026

Wed, 29 JulyGuru PurnimaHonouring teachers and gurus

August 2026

Thu, 13 AugHariyali TeejMonsoon swings, mehndi and green
Sat, 15 AugIndia Independence DayFlag hoisting, cultural programmes and India Day fairs
Tue, 18 AugNag PanchamiWorship of the serpent deities
Fri, 21 AugVaralakshmi VratamSouth Indian puja to Lakshmi
Wed, 26 AugOnamThiruvonam: sadya, pookalam and the Malayali harvest
Fri, 28 AugRaksha BandhanRakhi: the bond between brothers and sisters

September 2026

Fri, 4 SeptKrishna JanmashtamiThe birth of Lord Krishna: midnight aarti and dahi handi
Sun, 6 SeptDahi HandiThe human pyramids the day after Janmashtami
Mon, 14 SeptHindi DiwasCelebrating the Hindi language
Mon, 14 SeptGanesh ChaturthiTen days of Ganpati, from sthapana to visarjan
Tue, 15 SeptHartalika TeejThe fasting Teej before Ganesh Chaturthi
Thu, 24 SeptAnant Chaturdashi (Ganesh Visarjan)The farewell to Ganpati

October 2026

Fri, 2 OctGandhi JayantiThe birth of Mahatma Gandhi
Sun, 11 OctNavratriNine nights of garba, dandiya and devotion
Sun, 18 OctDurga PujaPandals, dhak and the five days of Pujo
Wed, 21 OctDussehraVijayadashami: Ravan Dahan and the victory of good
Thu, 29 OctKarwa ChauthNext upThe moonrise fast, mehndi and sargi

November 2026

Fri, 6 NovDhanterasThe first day of the Diwali run
Sat, 7 NovNaraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali)The eve of Diwali
Sun, 8 NovDiwaliThe festival of lights
Tue, 10 NovGovardhan Puja and Gujarati New YearAnnakut and the Gujarati new year, the day after Diwali
Wed, 11 NovBhai DoojBrothers and sisters, two days after Diwali
Sun, 15 NovChhath PujaSunset and sunrise arghya at the water
Tue, 24 NovGuru Nanak JayantiGurpurab: nagar kirtan, langar and akhand path

December 2026

Tue, 8 DecGita Jayanti (Mokshada Ekadashi)The day the Bhagavad Gita was spoken
Wed, 23 DecDattatreya JayantiThe birth of Dattatreya

2027

January 2027

Wed, 13 JanLohriPunjabi harvest bonfire night
Thu, 14 JanMakar Sankranti and PongalHarvest, kites and the sun turning north
Fri, 15 JanMattu Pongal and Kaanum PongalThe second and third days of Pongal
Tue, 26 JanIndia Republic DayFlag hoisting, parades and community lunches

February 2027

Thu, 11 FebVasant Panchami and Saraswati PujaSpring, learning and the colour yellow
Fri, 19 FebChhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj JayantiMaharashtrian community commemoration

March 2027

Sat, 6 MarMaha ShivaratriThe great night of Shiva: all-night abhishek and jagran
Sun, 21 MarHolika DahanThe bonfire on the eve of Holi
Mon, 22 MarHoliThe festival of colours

April 2027

Wed, 7 AprUgadi and Gudi PadwaHindu New Year for Telugu, Kannada and Marathi communities
Wed, 7 AprChaitra NavratriThe spring nine nights
Wed, 14 AprTamil New Year (Puthandu)Puthandu: the Tamil new year
Wed, 14 AprVaisakhiThe Punjabi harvest and the birth of the Khalsa
Wed, 14 AprVishuThe Malayali new year
Wed, 14 AprDr B. R. Ambedkar JayantiCommemorating Dr Ambedkar
Thu, 15 AprRam NavamiThe birth of Lord Rama
Thu, 15 AprBengali New Year (Poila Boishakh)Poila Boishakh: the Bengali new year
Thu, 15 AprBohag Bihu (Rongali Bihu)The Assamese new year
Tue, 20 AprHanuman JayantiSundarkand, chalisa and Hanuman Janmotsav

May 2027

Sun, 9 MayAkshaya TritiyaThe auspicious day for new beginnings and gold
Sun, 16 MayNarasimha JayantiThe appearance of Narasimha
Thu, 20 MayBuddha Purnima (Vesak)The birth, enlightenment and passing of the Buddha

June 2027

Sat, 19 JuneGanga DussehraThe descent of the Ganga
Wed, 23 JuneNirjala EkadashiThe waterless fast

July 2027

Mon, 12 JulyJagannath Rath YatraThe chariot festival of Lord Jagannath
Sat, 24 JulyGuru PurnimaHonouring teachers and gurus

August 2027

Wed, 4 AugHariyali TeejMonsoon swings, mehndi and green
Sun, 15 AugIndia Independence DayFlag hoisting, cultural programmes and India Day fairs
Tue, 17 AugRaksha BandhanRakhi: the bond between brothers and sisters
Thu, 19 AugKrishna JanmashtamiThe birth of Lord Krishna: midnight aarti and dahi handi
Thu, 26 AugOnamThiruvonam: sadya, pookalam and the Malayali harvest

September 2027

Sat, 4 SeptGanesh ChaturthiTen days of Ganpati, from sthapana to visarjan
Tue, 14 SeptHindi DiwasCelebrating the Hindi language
Tue, 14 SeptAnant Chaturdashi (Ganesh Visarjan)The farewell to Ganpati
Thu, 30 SeptNavratriNine nights of garba, dandiya and devotion

October 2027

Sat, 2 OctGandhi JayantiThe birth of Mahatma Gandhi
Fri, 8 OctDurga PujaPandals, dhak and the five days of Pujo
Sat, 9 OctDussehraVijayadashami: Ravan Dahan and the victory of good
Tue, 19 OctKarwa ChauthThe moonrise fast, mehndi and sargi
Wed, 27 OctDhanterasThe first day of the Diwali run
Thu, 28 OctNaraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali)The eve of Diwali
Fri, 29 OctDiwaliThe festival of lights
Sat, 30 OctGovardhan Puja and Gujarati New YearAnnakut and the Gujarati new year, the day after Diwali
Sun, 31 OctBhai DoojBrothers and sisters, two days after Diwali

November 2027

Thu, 4 NovChhath PujaSunset and sunrise arghya at the water
Sat, 13 NovGuru Nanak JayantiGurpurab: nagar kirtan, langar and akhand path

December 2027

Thu, 9 DecGita Jayanti (Mokshada Ekadashi)The day the Bhagavad Gita was spoken
Mon, 13 DecDattatreya JayantiThe birth of Dattatreya

2028(provisional)

January 2028

Fri, 14 JanLohriPunjabi harvest bonfire night
Sat, 15 JanMakar Sankranti and PongalHarvest, kites and the sun turning north
Sun, 16 JanMattu Pongal and Kaanum PongalThe second and third days of Pongal
Wed, 26 JanIndia Republic DayFlag hoisting, parades and community lunches

February 2028

Tue, 1 FebVasant Panchami and Saraswati PujaSpring, learning and the colour yellow
Wed, 23 FebMaha ShivaratriThe great night of Shiva: all-night abhishek and jagran

March 2028

Wed, 8 MarHolika DahanThe bonfire on the eve of Holi
Thu, 9 MarHoliThe festival of colours
Sat, 25 MarUgadi and Gudi PadwaHindu New Year for Telugu, Kannada and Marathi communities
Sat, 25 MarChaitra NavratriThe spring nine nights

April 2028

Mon, 3 AprRam NavamiThe birth of Lord Rama
Sun, 9 AprHanuman JayantiSundarkand, chalisa and Hanuman Janmotsav
Thu, 13 AprTamil New Year (Puthandu)Puthandu: the Tamil new year
Thu, 13 AprVaisakhiThe Punjabi harvest and the birth of the Khalsa
Thu, 13 AprVishuThe Malayali new year
Fri, 14 AprDr B. R. Ambedkar JayantiCommemorating Dr Ambedkar
Fri, 14 AprBengali New Year (Poila Boishakh)Poila Boishakh: the Bengali new year
Fri, 14 AprBohag Bihu (Rongali Bihu)The Assamese new year
Sat, 22 AprAkshaya TritiyaThe auspicious day for new beginnings and gold

May 2028

Thu, 4 MayNarasimha JayantiThe appearance of Narasimha
Fri, 5 MayBuddha Purnima (Vesak)The birth, enlightenment and passing of the Buddha

June 2028

Wed, 7 JuneGanga DussehraThe descent of the Ganga
Sun, 11 JuneNirjala EkadashiThe waterless fast
Fri, 30 JuneJagannath Rath YatraThe chariot festival of Lord Jagannath

July 2028

Tue, 25 JulyGuru PurnimaHonouring teachers and gurus

August 2028

Tue, 1 AugHariyali TeejMonsoon swings, mehndi and green
Fri, 4 AugVaralakshmi VratamSouth Indian puja to Lakshmi
Sat, 5 AugRaksha BandhanRakhi: the bond between brothers and sisters
Tue, 8 AugKajari TeejThe second Teej of the monsoon
Sun, 13 AugKrishna JanmashtamiThe birth of Lord Krishna: midnight aarti and dahi handi
Tue, 15 AugIndia Independence DayFlag hoisting, cultural programmes and India Day fairs
Fri, 25 AugGanesh ChaturthiTen days of Ganpati, from sthapana to visarjan

September 2028

Tue, 5 SeptOnamThiruvonam: sadya, pookalam and the Malayali harvest
Mon, 11 SeptAnant Chaturdashi (Ganesh Visarjan)The farewell to Ganpati
Thu, 14 SeptHindi DiwasCelebrating the Hindi language
Tue, 19 SeptNavratriNine nights of garba, dandiya and devotion
Sat, 23 SeptDurga PujaPandals, dhak and the five days of Pujo
Mon, 25 SeptDussehraVijayadashami: Ravan Dahan and the victory of good

October 2028

Mon, 2 OctGandhi JayantiThe birth of Mahatma Gandhi
Sat, 7 OctKarwa ChauthThe moonrise fast, mehndi and sargi
Sun, 15 OctDhanterasThe first day of the Diwali run
Tue, 17 OctDiwaliThe festival of lights
Wed, 18 OctGovardhan Puja and Gujarati New YearAnnakut and the Gujarati new year, the day after Diwali
Thu, 19 OctBhai DoojBrothers and sisters, two days after Diwali
Mon, 23 OctChhath PujaSunset and sunrise arghya at the water

November 2028

Sun, 26 NovGuru Nanak JayantiGurpurab: nagar kirtan, langar and akhand path

December 2028

Fri, 8 DecGita Jayanti (Mokshada Ekadashi)The day the Bhagavad Gita was spoken
Tue, 12 DecDattatreya JayantiThe birth of Dattatreya

2029(provisional)

January 2029

Sat, 13 JanLohriPunjabi harvest bonfire night
Sun, 14 JanMakar Sankranti and PongalHarvest, kites and the sun turning north
Mon, 15 JanMattu Pongal and Kaanum PongalThe second and third days of Pongal
Fri, 19 JanVasant Panchami and Saraswati PujaSpring, learning and the colour yellow
Fri, 26 JanIndia Republic DayFlag hoisting, parades and community lunches

February 2029

Sun, 11 FebMaha ShivaratriThe great night of Shiva: all-night abhishek and jagran
Wed, 28 FebHolika DahanThe bonfire on the eve of Holi

March 2029

Thu, 1 MarHoliThe festival of colours
Sat, 17 MarUgadi and Gudi PadwaHindu New Year for Telugu, Kannada and Marathi communities
Sat, 17 MarChaitra NavratriThe spring nine nights
Fri, 23 MarRam NavamiThe birth of Lord Rama

April 2029

Sat, 14 AprTamil New Year (Puthandu)Puthandu: the Tamil new year
Sat, 14 AprVaisakhiThe Punjabi harvest and the birth of the Khalsa
Sat, 14 AprVishuThe Malayali new year
Sat, 28 AprHanuman JayantiSundarkand, chalisa and Hanuman Janmotsav

May 2029

Wed, 16 MayAkshaya TritiyaThe auspicious day for new beginnings and gold
Wed, 23 MayNarasimha JayantiThe appearance of Narasimha
Fri, 25 MayBuddha Purnima (Vesak)The birth, enlightenment and passing of the Buddha

June 2029

Mon, 18 JuneGanga DussehraThe descent of the Ganga
Fri, 22 JuneNirjala EkadashiThe waterless fast

July 2029

Fri, 13 JulyJagannath Rath YatraThe chariot festival of Lord Jagannath
Sat, 21 JulyDevshayani Ekadashi (Ashadhi Ekadashi)The start of Chaturmas
Mon, 23 JulyGuru PurnimaHonouring teachers and gurus

August 2029

Wed, 15 AugIndia Independence DayFlag hoisting, cultural programmes and India Day fairs
Sun, 19 AugHariyali TeejMonsoon swings, mehndi and green
Wed, 22 AugOnamThiruvonam: sadya, pookalam and the Malayali harvest
Thu, 23 AugRaksha BandhanRakhi: the bond between brothers and sisters

September 2029

Sat, 1 SeptKrishna JanmashtamiThe birth of Lord Krishna: midnight aarti and dahi handi
Tue, 11 SeptGanesh ChaturthiTen days of Ganpati, from sthapana to visarjan
Fri, 14 SeptHindi DiwasCelebrating the Hindi language
Thu, 20 SeptAnant Chaturdashi (Ganesh Visarjan)The farewell to Ganpati

October 2029

Tue, 2 OctGandhi JayantiThe birth of Mahatma Gandhi
Mon, 8 OctNavratriNine nights of garba, dandiya and devotion
Mon, 15 OctDurga PujaPandals, dhak and the five days of Pujo
Tue, 16 OctDussehraVijayadashami: Ravan Dahan and the victory of good
Tue, 23 OctKarwa ChauthThe moonrise fast, mehndi and sargi

November 2029

Sat, 3 NovDhanterasThe first day of the Diwali run
Sun, 4 NovNaraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali)The eve of Diwali
Mon, 5 NovDiwaliThe festival of lights
Tue, 6 NovGovardhan Puja and Gujarati New YearAnnakut and the Gujarati new year, the day after Diwali
Wed, 7 NovBhai DoojBrothers and sisters, two days after Diwali
Sun, 11 NovChhath PujaSunset and sunrise arghya at the water
Fri, 23 NovGuru Nanak JayantiGurpurab: nagar kirtan, langar and akhand path

December 2029

Thu, 6 DecGita Jayanti (Mokshada Ekadashi)The day the Bhagavad Gita was spoken
Fri, 14 DecDattatreya JayantiThe birth of Dattatreya

Not a festival, but a night out in Canberra

Indian Comedy Bollywood Garba Classical Music