December 2026 Hindu Festivals in USA: Local Dates by City, Vaikuntha Ekadashi, Gita Jayanti and Dhanurmasam

Quick answer: the main December 2026 Hindu festivals in USA cities are Utpanna Ekadashi on Friday 4 December, Masik Shivaratri on Sunday 6 December, Vivah Panchami on Sunday 13 December, Vaikuntha Ekadashi and Gita Jayanti on Sunday 20 December and Datta Jayanti on Wednesday 23 December. Kalabhairav Jayanti opens the season on Monday 30 November, and Saphala Ekadashi closes it on Saturday 2 January 2027.

Four of these days fall one day earlier in the USA than in India: Kalabhairav Jayanti, Masik Shivaratri, Vivah Panchami and Saphala Ekadashi. On the West Coast, Champa Shashti also moves one day earlier. Vaikuntha Ekadashi is Sunday 20 December, as in India, except on the West Coast, where Smarta households fast on Saturday 19 December and Vaishnava traditions on Sunday 20 December. Dhanu Sankranti, which begins Dhanurmasam (Tamil Margazhi), arrives on the evening of Tuesday 15 December in every US time zone.

How these dates were made: all US dates below, including the Smarta and Vaishnava Vaikuntha Ekadashi dates, are computed with HinduTone's sunrise-tithi calculator (Drik method, validated against Drik Panchang, typically within 1–2 minutes) — confirm on Drik Panchang for your own city and follow your temple's calendar. For Kalabhairav Jayanti, Utpanna Ekadashi and Masik Shivaratri, Drik Panchang's own US calendar gives the same dates. All times are local.

December 2026 Hindu festivals in USA: city-by-city dates

Each date is decided by the tithi at a local moment: sunrise for Ekadashi, Shashti and Panchami, evening for Purnima, midnight for Kalabhairav Jayanti and Masik Shivaratri.

If your city is not listed, check Drik Panchang for it. As the Champa Shashti column shows, the Pacific zone can differ from the East Coast, so do not simply copy the New York dates.

Where US dates differ from India

One practical result: in the USA, Kalabhairav Jayanti on Monday 30 November falls on a Karthika Somavaram, so Shiva and Bhairava worship meet on the same evening. Masik Shivaratri on Sunday 6 December comes the day before the last Karthika Somavaram on Monday 7 December, whereas in India the two fall together. See our Karthika Masam 2026 USA guide for the full month.

Dhanu Sankranti 2026: when Dhanurmasam and Margazhi begin in the USA

Dhanu Sankranti is the moment the Sun enters Dhanu rashi (Sagittarius). It opens Dhanurmasam, the month of dawn worship of Vishnu, and the Tamil month of Margazhi. In the USA it falls late on Tuesday 15 December 2026, local time:

Because the Sankranti comes after dark everywhere in the USA, the first Dhanurmasam dawn after it is Wednesday 16 December. Different regional calendars count the first day of the month in different ways, so follow your temple. In India the month also begins on Wednesday 16 December. For the dawn routine of Tiruppavai, kolam and Vishnu puja, see Dhanurmasam daily rituals for families and Tiruppavai 30 pasurams.

Each festival, and how US families keep it

Kalabhairav Jayanti (Mon 30 Nov)

The appearance day of Kala Bhairava, the fierce form of Shiva and guardian of Kashi. As commonly told, Bhairava humbled Brahma's pride. Coming straight after the Thanksgiving weekend, it is usually kept with a simple evening lamp, a Bhairava or Shiva stotra and an offering to a dog, Bhairava's vehicle. More in our Kalabhairava Jayanti 2026 guide.

Utpanna Ekadashi (Fri 4 Dec)

As commonly told, the goddess Ekadashi arose from Vishnu to defeat the demon Mura, so this is the traditional day to begin a year of Ekadashi fasts. On a working Friday, many people keep a fruit-and-milk fast and break it on Saturday morning. See Utpanna Ekadashi 2026.

Masik Shivaratri (Sun 6 Dec)

The monthly night of Shiva, here the Karthika Masa Shivaratri. Because it is a Sunday, families can do a home abhishekam with water and milk, chant "Om Namah Shivaya" and visit a Shiva shrine. Read Karthika Masa Shivaratri 2026 (written for India's date, Monday 7 December).

Vivah Panchami (Sun 13 Dec)

The wedding anniversary of Rama and Sita, as commonly told, celebrated most in Janakpur and Ayodhya. US families read the Sita-Rama wedding from the Ramayana or Ramcharitmanas and offer sweets. See Vivah Panchami 2026.

Champa Shashti and Subrahmanya Shashti (Tue 15 Dec; Mon 14 Dec on the West Coast)

For Maharashtrian families this is Champa Shashti of Khandoba, who as commonly told defeated the demons Mani and Malla; in Karnataka and South India the same Shashti honours Lord Subrahmanya. Home puja with turmeric (bhandara) for Khandoba, or milk and fruit for Murugan, is typical. See Subrahmanya Shashti 2026.

Vaikuntha Ekadashi and Gita Jayanti (Sun 20 Dec; West Coast Smarta Sat 19 Dec)

Mokshada Ekadashi falls inside Dhanurmasam this year, so it is Vaikuntha (Mukkoti) Ekadashi, when Vishnu temples open a symbolic "Vaikuntha dwaram". It is also Gita Jayanti, the day Krishna taught the Gita to Arjuna, as commonly told; many families mark it on the Ekadashi they observe, reading a Gita chapter at home.

Why the West Coast has two dates: in New York, Chicago and Houston, Ekadashi is the tithi at sunrise on Sunday 20 December, so Smarta and Vaishnava families fast together, as in India. In Los Angeles and the Bay Area, Ekadashi begins after Saturday's sunrise and ends before Sunday's, so no local sunrise falls inside it. In that case the traditions part: Smarta households fast on Saturday 19 December, while Vaishnava traditions (ISKCON, Sri Vaishnava and Venkateswara temples) fast on Sunday 20 December. Follow your temple's calendar; see our full Vaikuntha Ekadashi guide. See also Gita Jayanti 2026.

Datta Jayanti and Margashirsha Purnima (Wed 23 Dec)

The birth of Lord Dattatreya, son of sage Atri and Anasuya as commonly told, and also Annapurna Jayanti. It falls on a weekday two days before Christmas; many families read from the Guru Charitra in the evening. See Datta Jayanti 2026 and Margasira Pournami 2026.

Saphala Ekadashi (Sat 2 Jan 2027)

The Ekadashi of the waning moon in Pausha, whose name means "fruitful". Falling on the Saturday after New Year's Day, it is an easy day to begin 2027 with a fast and a visit to a Vishnu temple.

Fasting and health: children, pregnant women, older people and anyone with diabetes, heart conditions or on regular medication should choose a light fast or ask a doctor first.

Winter break, Christmas travel and temple crowds

• Weekend festivals: Vivah Panchami, Vaikuntha Ekadashi and Saphala Ekadashi fall on weekends. Vishnu and Venkateswara temples will be busiest on Sunday 20 December; go early and car-pool.
• Vaikuntha Ekadashi crowds: many Venkateswara and Vishnu temples hold special darshan; check your temple's website, as we do not list timings.
• Winter break: school winter break usually begins around the third week of December in many districts. That makes Datta Jayanti (Wed 23 Dec) and Saphala Ekadashi (Sat 2 Jan) easy days for children to join a puja.
• Travel to India: if you fly to India over Christmas, switch to India's dates once you land. Datta Jayanti is the same day in both countries and India keeps Vaikuntha Ekadashi on Sunday 20 December, but Saphala Ekadashi is Sunday 3 January in India.
• Weather: Dhanurmasam dawns in New York and Chicago are dark and freezing, so draw the kolam indoors on a board; Houston and Southern California are mild enough for a small outdoor rangoli.
• Lamps indoors: keep diyas on a metal plate, away from Christmas trees, curtains and smoke alarms, and never leave a flame alone.

December 2026 festival guides for Hindus in the USA

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

Frequently asked questions

When is Vaikuntha Ekadashi 2026 in the USA?

In New York, Chicago, Houston and most of the country it is Sunday 20 December 2026 for both Smarta and Vaishnava families, the same day as India. In Los Angeles and the Bay Area, Ekadashi does not touch any local sunrise, so Smarta households fast on Saturday 19 December and Vaishnava traditions (ISKCON, Sri Vaishnava and Venkateswara temples) on Sunday 20 December. Gita Jayanti is the same Mokshada Ekadashi, and many families mark it on the Ekadashi they observe. Follow your temple's calendar.

Why is Kalabhairav Jayanti on 30 November in the USA but 1 December in India?

Kalabhairav Jayanti is fixed by the Ashtami tithi that covers local midnight. Because US clocks are many hours behind India, that midnight falls on Monday 30 November in every US city in our table, while in India it is Tuesday 1 December. Drik Panchang's US calendar also gives 30 November.

When does Dhanurmasam (Margazhi) start in the USA in 2026?

Dhanu Sankranti, the Sun's entry into Sagittarius, falls on Tuesday 15 December 2026 at 11:41 PM in New York, 10:41 PM in Chicago and Houston, and 8:41 PM in Los Angeles and the Bay Area (local time). The first dawn after it is Wednesday 16 December. Regional calendars have their own rules for counting day one, so follow your temple's calendar.

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

In all five US cities in our table it is Saturday 2 January 2027. In India it is Sunday 3 January 2027. Use the US date for your fast and the parana (breaking of the fast) the next morning.

Which December 2026 festivals fall on a weekend in the USA?

Masik Shivaratri (Sun 6 Dec), Vivah Panchami (Sun 13 Dec), Vaikuntha Ekadashi and Gita Jayanti (Sun 20 Dec; West Coast Smarta families Sat 19 Dec) and Saphala Ekadashi (Sat 2 Jan 2027) all fall on weekends. Expect bigger temple crowds on those days, especially at Vishnu and Venkateswara temples on Sunday 20 December.

Is it safe to fast on Ekadashi during the holiday season?

Many people keep a full fast, but a partial fast with fruit, milk and water is a traditional option. If you are pregnant, elderly, diabetic, on medication or travelling, speak to your doctor first. Long flights and winter colds are good reasons to choose a lighter fast.

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 US dates, including Vaikuntha Ekadashi, and the Dhanu Sankranti times are computed with our sunrise-tithi calculator (validated against Drik Panchang, typically within 1–2 minutes) — confirm on Drik Panchang for your city and follow your temple's calendar. Drik Panchang's US calendar agrees with our dates for Kalabhairav Jayanti, Utpanna Ekadashi and Masik Shivaratri. We do not list temple events or darshan timings; please check your temple directly.

Related guides

• December 2026 Hindu festivals: dates, rituals and significance
• Vaikuntha Ekadashi 2026 guide for Hindus in USA
• Karthika Masam 2026 in the USA, city by city
• Gita Jayanti 2026
• Datta Jayanti 2026
• Dhanurmasam daily rituals
• December 2026 Hindu festivals in Canada