Hindu Festivals in January 2026

Tuesday · Agni / Surya

Punjabi winter-solstice harvest festival on the eve of Makar Sankranti. Families and neighbourhoods gather around a bonfire at dusk, circumambulating it while tossing sesame seeds, jaggery, rewari, popcorn, and peanuts into the flames as offerings to Agni. The ballad of Dulla Bhatti — the 16th-century Punjabi Robin Hood who rescued Hindu girls from slave traders — is sung in chorus.

Wednesday · Surya

Sun's transition into Capricorn (Makar Rashi) — first solar festival of the year. Marks end of inauspicious Dakshinayana, beginning of Uttarayana. Kite-flying, sesame sweets (til-gur), Ganga snan.

Wednesday · Surya

Four-day Tamil harvest festival on Thai month sankranti, dedicated to the Sun. Day 1 Bhogi Pongal (burning old belongings), Day 2 Thai Pongal (boiling fresh rice with jaggery and milk in a new clay pot until it overflows — the auspicious "Pongalo Pongal" cry), Day 3 Mattu Pongal (worship of cattle), Day 4 Kaanum Pongal (family visits and outings).

Friday · Saraswati

Arrival of spring and birthday of Goddess Saraswati. Students place books at her feet for blessings. Wear yellow. Auspicious for vidyarambham (starting child's first lessons).

Saturday · Surya (Sun)

The seventh day of the bright fortnight of Magha — marking the Sun god turning his celestial chariot (drawn by seven horses) towards the northern hemisphere (uttarayana). Considered Surya Jayanti — the symbolic birthday of the Sun. Devotees bathe at sunrise placing seven arka (calotropis) leaves on the head — one on each shoulder, both knees, both feet, and the crown — representing the sapta-ashva of the Sun’s ratha.

Thursday · Vishnu

Jaya Ekadashi falls on the eleventh day of the bright fortnight of Magha and is celebrated as one of the most powerful Ekadashis dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The Padma Purana narrates that this vrata was once observed by a celestial gandharva named Pushpadanta and an apsara called Pushpavati who had been cursed by Indra to take birth as pisachas in the Himalayas. Through the unintended observance of Jaya Ekadashi, fasting and remaining awake the entire night while remembering Vishnu, they were liberated from their pisacha forms and restored to their celestial bodies. The festival therefore holds a special place in the Vaishnava calendar as the Ekadashi that grants liberation from the lower births and curses that bind the soul. Devotees observe a strict nirjala or phalahar fast, recite the Vishnu Sahasranama and the Jaya Ekadashi Vrata Katha, and engage in night long bhajan and kirtan. The day before, Dashami, is observed with one satvic meal, and the parana on Dwadashi morning is performed after the prescribed window. Temples of Vishnu, especially in north India and the Ganga basin, conduct special abhishekas, alankaras, and tulsi archana through the day.