December 2026 Hindu Festivals in UK: Local Dates for London, Leicester, Birmingham and Manchester

Quick answer: the December 2026 Hindu festivals in UK cities follow one shared calendar: Utpanna Ekadashi on Friday 4 December, Masik Shivaratri on Sunday 6 December, Vivah Panchami on Monday 14 December, Champa Shashti on Tuesday 15 December, Gita Jayanti and Vaikuntha Ekadashi on Sunday 20 December and Datta Jayanti on Wednesday 23 December. Kalabhairav Jayanti comes first, on Monday 30 November, and Saphala Ekadashi follows on Sunday 3 January 2027.

Good news for British families: the UK is close enough to India's time that only two festivals shift, Kalabhairav Jayanti and Masik Shivaratri, each one day earlier. Dhanu Sankranti, which opens Dhanurmasam and Tamil Margazhi, arrives at 4:41 AM on Wednesday 16 December, UK time.

About these dates: the UK dates are calculated by the Drik method (HinduTone's calculator, checked against Drik Panchang to within a minute or two) — confirm on Drik Panchang for your city. Drik Panchang's UK calendar gives the same dates for Kalabhairav Jayanti, Utpanna Ekadashi and Masik Shivaratri.

December 2026 Hindu festivals in UK: dates for four cities

The tithi at local sunrise decides Ekadashi, Shashti and Panchami; the evening decides Purnima; local midnight decides Kalabhairav Jayanti and Masik Shivaratri. All four cities share the same result this month.

Families in Ireland can use our Vaikuntha Ekadashi 2026 guide for the UK and Ireland, and should confirm the other dates for Dublin on Drik Panchang.

UK vs India: only two shifts this month

This is different from the USA and Canada, where Vivah Panchami and Saphala Ekadashi also move a day earlier. In Britain, if a relative in India tells you the date of Vivah Panchami, Gita Jayanti or Datta Jayanti, you can use it as it is. For the two midnight festivals, use the UK date.

Both shifts touch the end of Karthika Masam. Kalabhairav Jayanti on Monday 30 November falls on a Karthika Somavaram, and Masik Shivaratri on Sunday 6 December comes the day before the last Somavaram (Mon 7 Dec). See Karthika Masam 2026 in the UK, city by city.

Dhanu Sankranti 2026 in the UK: Dhanurmasam starts before dawn

The Sun enters Dhanu (Sagittarius) in the dark early hours of Wednesday 16 December. So the very same morning is the first Dhanurmasam dawn after the Sankranti, the same calendar day as in India. Regional calendars count the first day in their own ways, so follow your temple.

British winter dawns are late, which actually helps: the traditional pre-dawn hour for Tiruppavai and Vishnu puja comes before most people leave for work or school. See Dhanurmasam daily rituals for families and Tiruppavai 30 pasurams.

What each festival is, and how UK families observe it

Kalabhairav Jayanti (Mon 30 Nov)

The appearance day of Kala Bhairava, Shiva's fierce form and, as commonly told, the guardian of Kashi. On a Monday evening after work, light a sesame-oil lamp, chant the Kalabhairava Ashtakam or "Om Kalabhairavaya Namah", and feed a dog if you can. See Kalabhairava Jayanti 2026.

Utpanna Ekadashi (Fri 4 Dec)

As commonly told, the goddess Ekadashi was born from Vishnu to destroy the demon Mura. It is the customary day to start an Ekadashi vow. See Utpanna Ekadashi 2026.

Masik Shivaratri (Sun 6 Dec)

The Karthika Masa Shivaratri, on a Sunday in Britain, so it suits a temple visit or a home abhishekam with the whole family. Our Karthika Masa Shivaratri 2026 guide is written for India's date, Monday 7 December.

Vivah Panchami (Mon 14 Dec)

The wedding of Rama and Sita, as commonly told. Many Hindi-speaking families read the Sita-Rama vivah from the Ramcharitmanas in the evening. See Vivah Panchami 2026.

Champa Shashti and Subrahmanya Shashti (Tue 15 Dec)

For Maharashtrian families, Khandoba's victory over the demons Mani and Malla, as commonly told; for Kannada and Tamil families, a Shashti for Lord Subrahmanya (Murugan). See Subrahmanya Shashti 2026.

Gita Jayanti and Vaikuntha Ekadashi (Sun 20 Dec)

The day Krishna taught the Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna, as commonly told, and this year also Vaikuntha (Mukkoti) Ekadashi because it falls in Dhanurmasam. Families read a chapter of the Gita and visit a Vishnu, Venkateswara or Krishna temple. See Gita Jayanti 2026.

Datta Jayanti and Margashirsha Purnima (Wed 23 Dec)

The birth of Lord Dattatreya, son of Atri and Anasuya as commonly told, and Annapurna Jayanti. Two days before Christmas, many families keep it simply with a Guru Charitra reading at home. See Datta Jayanti 2026 and Margasira Pournami 2026.

Saphala Ekadashi (Sun 3 Jan 2027)

The "fruitful" Ekadashi of Pausha, on the first Sunday of 2027, a natural way to begin the new year.

Fasting and health: keep any fast within your limits. A light fast is as valid as a strict one, and anyone with a medical condition should ask a doctor first.

Christmas season practicalities in Britain

• Vaikuntha Ekadashi crowds: Sunday 20 December is the busiest temple day of the month. UK temples that hold Vaikuntha dwaram darshan can draw long queues outside in the cold; wear a warm coat, bring elders a folding stool, and check the temple's website for its arrangements. We do not list timings.
• Short, dark days: it is dark by mid-afternoon in December. Plan Kalabhairav and Datta Jayanti pujas for after work at home rather than a weekday temple trip.
• Holidays: Christmas Day is Friday 25 December and Boxing Day is Saturday 26 December. School Christmas holidays begin in the second half of December, so children can join the Datta Jayanti puja and the first Saphala Ekadashi of 2027.
• Christmas travel: trains and roads are busy in the week before Christmas. If you plan to visit a large temple in London, Leicester or Birmingham from another city, travel early in the day.
• Visiting India: most dates match India this month, so little changes if you fly out. Just remember Kalabhairav Jayanti and Masik Shivaratri differ.
• Lamps and kolam: keep diyas on a metal plate away from curtains and smoke alarms. Margazhi kolams can be drawn on a mat inside the front door when the doorstep is wet or icy.

December 2026 festival guides for Hindus in the UK

• Gita Jayanti 2026 UK: date city by city
• Dhanurmasam / Margazhi 2026 UK: start and end city by city
• Datta Jayanti 2026 UK: date city by city
• Margashirsha Masam 2026 UK: month dates and Thursdays

Frequently asked questions

When is Vaikuntha Ekadashi 2026 in the UK?

Sunday 20 December 2026 in London, Leicester, Birmingham and Manchester, calculated by the Drik method. It is the same day as in India, and it is also Gita Jayanti (Mokshada Ekadashi). Please confirm on Drik Panchang for your city.

Which December festivals fall on a different day in the UK than in India?

Only two. Kalabhairav Jayanti is Monday 30 November in the UK (Tuesday 1 December in India), and Masik Shivaratri is Sunday 6 December in the UK (Monday 7 December in India). Both are decided by the tithi at local midnight, which comes several hours later in Britain than in India. All other dates in this guide match India.

What time is Dhanu Sankranti 2026 in the UK?

Wednesday 16 December 2026 at 4:41 AM UK time, in all four cities in our table. It falls before dawn, so the first Dhanurmasam (Margazhi) dawn is the same morning, Wednesday 16 December. Follow your temple for how it counts the first day.

Is Saphala Ekadashi on 2 or 3 January 2027 in the UK?

Sunday 3 January 2027, the same as India. This differs from North America, where it is Saturday 2 January.

Do Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have the same dates?

Our table covers London, Leicester, Birmingham and Manchester, which all share the same dates. Glasgow, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast are on the same UK time and usually match, but sunrise differs a little from city to city, so please confirm on Drik Panchang.

Is it safe to fast on Ekadashi in a British winter?

Many people keep a partial fast with fruit, milk, nuts and warm drinks, which is fully traditional. If you are pregnant, elderly, diabetic, on medication or unwell, talk to your GP before fasting.

Editor's note

Editor's note (6 October 2026): This guide has been restored at its original address after the earlier version was lost. The UK dates and the Dhanu Sankranti time are calculated by the Drik method — confirm on Drik Panchang for your city. Drik Panchang's UK calendar agrees with our dates for Kalabhairav Jayanti, Utpanna Ekadashi and Masik Shivaratri. We do not list temple events or darshan timings; please check with your temple.

Related guides

• December 2026 Hindu festivals: dates, rituals and significance
• Vaikuntha Ekadashi 2026 in UK and Ireland
• Karthika Masam 2026 in the UK, city by city
• Kartika Masam 2026 Monday rituals in the UK
• Gita Jayanti 2026
• Dhanurmasam daily rituals