October 2026 Festivals State-Wise in India: Dates, Traditions and Where Each Festival Is Biggest

Quick answer: This guide lists October 2026 festivals state-wise across India, from Navratri and Durga Puja to Kati Bihu and Karwa Chauth. The month's main anchors are Sharad Navratri from Sunday 11 to Monday 19 October 2026 and Dussehra / Vijayadashami on Tuesday 20 October 2026. Mahalaya falls on Saturday 10 October, Kaveri Sankramana on Saturday 17 October, Kati Bihu on Sunday 18 October, Sharad Purnima on Sunday 25 October, Valmiki Jayanti on Monday 26 October and Karwa Chauth on Thursday 29 October 2026 in India.

Every date below is an India date taken from Drik Panchang or from HinduTone's calculator, which has been checked against Drik. Where a state follows its own calendar, a regional panjika or the state government's holiday list, we say so. Each state has its own customs, so the same festival can look very different from Ahmedabad to Kolkata to Mysuru.

October 2026 festivals state-wise: summary table

For the full month in calendar order, see the October 2026 festival calendar. For the main festival, see our pillar guide to Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2026.

Gujarat: Navratri Garba and Lalita Panchami

In Gujarat, Navratri is the biggest festival of the year. From 11 to 19 October 2026, families and communities gather every night for Garba and Dandiya Raas around a lamp or an image of the Goddess Amba. The garbo, a clay pot with holes and a lamp inside, stands for the divine light within the body.

Lalita Panchami falls on Thursday 15 October 2026, the fifth day of Navratri. Sharad Purnima on Sunday 25 October is celebrated with moonlit Garba and milk sweets. Dussehra is marked with the famous fafda-jalebi breakfast. See Navratri 2026 Gujarat Garba guide and Dussehra 2026 in Gujarat.

Maharashtra: Ghatasthapana, Lalita Panchami and Seemollanghan

Maharashtra begins Navratri with Ghatasthapana on Sunday 11 October 2026. A kalash is set up with grains sown in soil, and the sprouts are watched over the nine days. Lalita Panchami on Thursday 15 October is especially important in Maharashtra, where devotees worship Goddess Lalita and some visit Devi temples.

On Dussehra, Tuesday 20 October 2026, people perform Seemollanghan (crossing the boundary) and exchange apta leaves as symbolic gold, wishing each other prosperity. Shakti Peetha temples such as Renuka Mata at Mahur draw large crowds during Navratri. See Dussehra 2026 in Maharashtra, Lalita Panchami 2026 and Renuka Mata Temple, Mahur.

West Bengal: Mahalaya, Durga Puja and Kojagari Lakshmi Puja

Bengal's festival season opens on Mahalaya, Saturday 10 October 2026, when people offer tarpan to their ancestors and listen to the dawn recitation of Mahishasuramardini. Durga Puja follows its own Kolkata calendar per Drik Panchang:

Note that in Bengal, Maha Navami is on Tuesday 20 October, while the all-India Durga Ashtami and Maha Navami are both on Monday 19 October. Kojagari Lakshmi Puja is on the night of Sunday 25 October 2026. See Durga Puja and Bijoya Dashami 2026 in West Bengal, Durga Puja 2026 dates in Kolkata and Kojagari Lakshmi Puja 2026.

Odisha: Durga Puja and Kumar Purnima

Odisha celebrates Durga Puja with great energy. Cuttack is famous for pandals decorated with fine silver filigree work. Dussehra on Tuesday 20 October 2026 is followed by immersion processions.

Kumar Purnima is observed on Ashwin Purnima, which is Sharad Purnima on Sunday 25 October 2026. Some Odia panjikas may list Monday 26 October, because the Purnima is present at sunrise that day. Follow the Odia panjika or the Odisha holiday list. Young unmarried women traditionally worship the moon and pray for a good life partner. See Dussehra and Durga Puja 2026 in Odisha and Kumar Purnima 2026.

Assam: Durga Puja, Kati Bihu and Kojagari

Assam celebrates Durga Puja widely, and Navratri is a major time at the Kamakhya temple in Guwahati. Kati Bihu, also called Kongali Bihu, falls on Sunday 18 October 2026, the first day of the Assamese month Kati and the day after the Tula Sankranti. This date is calculated by the solar-month rule, so follow the Assam government holiday list.

On Kati Bihu, families light earthen lamps (saki) near the tulsi plant, the granary and the paddy fields. Kojagari Lakshmi Puja is observed on Sunday 25 October 2026. See Kati Bihu 2026, Dussehra 2026 in Assam and Kamakhya Temple guide.

Telangana: Bathukamma and Dasara

Telangana's own festival of flowers, Bathukamma, runs for nine days. Engili Pula Bathukamma is on Saturday 10 October 2026, and Saddula Bathukamma, the grand final day, is on Monday 19 October 2026. Women stack seasonal flowers into a tall cone, sing Bathukamma songs in a circle and immerse the flowers in a lake or tank.

On Dasara, Tuesday 20 October 2026, families perform Shami puja and exchange jammi (shami) leaves as a sign of gold and good fortune. Many also go to see the Palapitta (Indian roller bird), which is considered auspicious on this day. See Bathukamma 2026 dates, Dussehra 2026 in Telangana and Jammi leaf exchange on Dussehra.

Andhra Pradesh: Kanaka Durga Dasara and Bommala Koluvu

In Andhra Pradesh, the focus of Dasara is the Kanaka Durga temple on Indrakeeladri hill in Vijayawada. During Navratri, the Goddess is decorated in a different alankaram (form) each day. The temple announces its daily alankaram schedule, so check the temple's official website for the current list.

Many Telugu homes also set up Bommala Koluvu, a display of dolls arranged on steps, during Navratri. Ayudha Puja on Monday 19 October and Vijayadashami on Tuesday 20 October complete the festival. See Kanaka Durga Temple, Vijayawada, Bommala Koluvu / Golu 2026 and Dussehra 2026 in Andhra Pradesh.

Karnataka: Mysuru Dasara and Kaveri Sankramana

Mysuru Dasara is Karnataka's state festival. The palace is lit up through Navratri, and the festival ends with the Jamboo Savari procession on Wednesday 21 October 2026, when the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari is carried on a decorated elephant.

In Kodagu (Coorg), Kaveri Sankramana falls on Saturday 17 October 2026. Devotees gather at Talakaveri, the source of the Kaveri river, for the Theerthodbhava, when holy water rises in the sacred tank. The temple announces the time of this moment, so follow the temple's announcement. See Mysore Dasara 2026, Mysore Dasara 2026 day by day, Dasara 2026 Karnataka district wise and Kaveri Sankramana 2026.

Tamil Nadu: Golu, Saraswati Puja and Ayudha Puja

Tamil homes set up Golu, steps of dolls showing gods, saints and scenes of daily life. Women visit each other's homes in the evenings, sing songs and exchange gifts. Saraswati Puja and Ayudha Puja fall on Monday 19 October 2026, when books, musical instruments, tools and vehicles are worshipped. Vijayadashami on Tuesday 20 October is a favoured day to begin learning.

The Tamil month of Aippasi begins after the Tula Sankranti, which is on the evening of Saturday 17 October 2026 (about 7:30 PM IST, calculated). Check a Tamil panchangam for the exact first day of Aippasi. See Navarathri 2026 Tamil Nadu, Ayudha Puja 2026 and Tula Sankranti 2026.

Kerala: Pooja Veppu and Vidyarambham

In Kerala, Navaratri centres on Goddess Saraswati. Books and instruments are placed before the Goddess for worship (Pooja Veppu) and are not used until they are taken back on Vijayadashami. On Vijayadashami, Tuesday 20 October 2026, young children are initiated into learning in the Vidyarambham ceremony, writing their first letters in rice or sand. Temples announce their own Vidyarambham arrangements. See Navaratri and Vijayadashami 2026 in Kerala and Saraswati Puja and Vidyarambham.

Himachal Pradesh: Kullu Dussehra

Kullu Dussehra is unlike Dussehra elsewhere. It begins on Vijayadashami itself, Tuesday 20 October 2026, when the chariot of Lord Raghunath is drawn in the Dhalpur ground and village deities are brought in from across the valley. The festival then continues for several days. See Kullu Dussehra 2026.

Chhattisgarh: Bastar Dussehra

Bastar Dussehra in Chhattisgarh is one of the longest festivals in India and is known for its many weeks of rituals. It is devoted to Goddess Danteshwari, the presiding deity of Bastar, rather than to the story of Rama and Ravana. Tribal communities play a central role, and a huge wooden chariot is pulled through Jagdalpur. See Bastar Dussehra 2026 and Dussehra 2026 in Chhattisgarh.

Rajasthan: Kota Dussehra

Rajasthan celebrates Dussehra with Ravan Dahan in its cities. Kota is well known for its long-running Dussehra mela, a large fair with cultural programmes and a towering Ravana effigy. Local authorities announce the fair's programme each year.

Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh: Ramlila, Ravan Dahan and Karwa Chauth

In North India, Ramlila performances retell the Ramayana through the Navratri nights. On Dussehra, Tuesday 20 October 2026, giant effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghanada are burned after sunset to mark the victory of good over evil.

• Valmiki Jayanti: Monday 26 October 2026, honouring the author of the Ramayana, observed with special devotion in Punjab and Haryana.
• Karwa Chauth: Thursday 29 October 2026, when married women fast from sunrise until they see the moon.

See Ravan Dahan 2026 city-wise, Ramlila guide, Valmiki Jayanti 2026 and Karwa Chauth 2026.

Bihar and Jharkhand: Durga Puja

Bihar and Jharkhand celebrate Durga Puja with large community pandals, especially in Patna, Ranchi and Jamshedpur. Many families fast through Navratri, and the immersion of the idols follows Vijayadashami. See Dussehra 2026 in Bihar.

Nepal note: Dashain

Across the border, Nepal celebrates the same season as Dashain, its biggest festival. Drik Panchang's Nepal list gives Navratri beginning on October 11 and Vijayadashami on October 20. On Vijayadashami, elders give tika and jamara (barley sprouts) to younger family members. Follow the Government of Nepal's announcement for the auspicious tika time.

Tips for planning your October 2026

• Use your state's official holiday list for school and office closures. Holiday dates can differ from the festival dates in this guide.
• Regional calendars (Bengali, Odia, Assamese, Tamil and Malayalam) follow their own rules, so a festival can move by a day from state to state.
• For temple visits, check the temple's official website for current timings and festival arrangements.
• Families living abroad should check Drik Panchang for their own city, because dates outside India can differ by a day.

Frequently asked questions

When is Dussehra in October 2026?

Dussehra / Vijayadashami is on Tuesday 20 October 2026 in India. Per Drik Panchang, Dashami tithi runs from 12:50 PM IST on 20 October to 2:11 PM IST on 21 October. In West Bengal, Bijoya Dashami and Sindoor Khela are on Wednesday 21 October 2026 (Drik, Kolkata).

When does Navratri 2026 start and end?

Sharad Navratri begins with Ghatasthapana on Sunday 11 October 2026 and runs from 11 to 19 October. Durga Ashtami and Maha Navami both fall on Monday 19 October 2026 in India.

When is Durga Puja 2026 in Kolkata?

According to the Drik Panchang calendar for Kolkata, Maha Shashthi is Saturday 17 October, Maha Saptami is Sunday 18 October, Maha Ashtami is Monday 19 October, Maha Navami is Tuesday 20 October and Bijoya Dashami is Wednesday 21 October 2026. Mahalaya is Saturday 10 October 2026.

When is Kati Bihu 2026?

Kati Bihu is on Sunday 18 October 2026, the first day of the Assamese month Kati and the day after the Tula Sankranti. This date is calculated by the solar-month rule, so follow the Assam government holiday list.

When is Karwa Chauth 2026?

Karwa Chauth is on Thursday 29 October 2026 in India. Drik Panchang lists Wednesday 28 October for the USA and Canada, so families abroad should check the date for their own city.

Does Diwali fall this month?

No. Diwali 2026 is on Sunday 8 November 2026. October 2026 ends with Karwa Chauth on 29 October, and Ahoi Ashtami follows on Sunday 1 November 2026.

Editor's note

Editor's note (6 October 2026): This guide has been restored at its original address after the earlier version was lost. All dates are India dates from Drik Panchang or from HinduTone's calculator checked against Drik. Kati Bihu, Kumar Purnima and the first day of Aippasi follow regional solar or local calendars, so please follow the Assam government holiday list, the Odia panjika and a Tamil panchangam respectively. We do not list event schedules, venues or temple timings; check official sources.

Related guides

• October 2026 festival calendar
• Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2026 (pillar)
• Navratri 2026 NRI guide
• Navratri 2026 colours: 9 days list
• Papankusha Ekadashi 2026
• Sharad Purnima 2026
• Ahoi Ashtami 2026