October 2026 Hindu Festivals Canada: Dates & Tithi

Quick answer: the main October 2026 Hindu festivals in Canada are Navratri from Sunday 11 October, Durga Ashtami on Sunday 18 October, Maha Navami on Monday 19 October, Dussehra on Tuesday 20 October, Sharad Purnima on Sunday 25 October and Karwa Chauth on Wednesday 28 October. These are Canadian dates from Drik Panchang's Canada list.

Compared with India, Sarva Pitru Amavasya (Fri 9 Oct here, Sat 10 Oct in India), Durga Ashtami (Sun 18 Oct here, Mon 19 Oct in India) and Karwa Chauth (Wed 28 Oct here, Thu 29 Oct in India) fall on a different day; everything else on the list matches. For festivals Drik does not list separately for Canada, we give the India date marked with an asterisk.

How this calendar was made: festival dates for Canada come only from Drik Panchang's Canada list; India dates come from Drik Panchang's Hyderabad day panchang. The daily Toronto sunrise, and the tithi and nakshatra at that sunrise, are computed with HinduTone's panchang calculator, validated against Drik Panchang (tithi at sunrise matched on every checked date; sunrise within about a minute). Each date links to that day's full panchang page. We never convert India's clock times to local time.

October 2026 Hindu festivals in Canada: the month at a glance

In Canada, October 2026 opens with Thanksgiving weekend falling on the first days of Navratri and closes with Karwa Chauth a day earlier than in India. Our daily table uses Toronto, home to the largest Hindu community in the country around Brampton, Mississauga and Scarborough. Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton are hours behind Toronto, and Montreal and Ottawa share Toronto's zone but not its exact sunrise, so a tithi that turns near dawn can move a fast by a day.

The month follows the moon. It opens in the dark fortnight that ends Pitru Paksha, turns at the new moon of Sat 10 Oct into Ashwina Shukla Paksha, the bright fortnight of Navratri and Dussehra, peaks at the full moon of Sharad Purnima, and then enters the waning fortnight in which North Indian calendars begin the month of Kartika and married women keep Karwa Chauth. Toronto is 9 hours 30 minutes behind India until clocks fall back on Sunday 1 November, then 10 hours 30 minutes behind, which is why a tithi that begins or ends near dawn can give Canada a different date from India.

Date-by-date October 2026 Hindu calendar for Canada

Columns show the date (linked to its daily panchang), the weekday, the tithi prevailing at Toronto sunrise, Toronto sunrise in local time, and the observances. Unmarked festival names are Canadian Drik dates; names with an asterisk (*) are India dates — abroad it may fall a day earlier or later — check your local temple.

Date	Day	Tithi at Toronto sunrise	Sunrise (Toronto)	Festivals and observances
1–9 Oct	Thu–Fri	See last week's panchang	—	Sarva Pitru Amavasya, Fri 9 Oct (local Drik date); India: Pitru Paksha continues until Sarva Pitru Amavasya on Sat 10 Oct
10 Oct	Sat	Krishna Amavasya	7:24 AM	—
11 Oct	Sun	Shukla Pratipada	7:25 AM	Navratri Begins; Ghatasthapana
12 Oct	Mon	Shukla Dwitiya	7:26 AM	Chandra Darshana*
13 Oct	Tue	Shukla Tritiya	7:27 AM	—
14 Oct	Wed	Shukla Chaturthi	7:29 AM	—
15 Oct	Thu	Shukla Panchami	7:30 AM	Upang Lalita Vrat (Lalita Panchami)*
16 Oct	Fri	Shukla Shashthi	7:31 AM	Akal Bodhon (Bengal Durga Puja Shashti); Saraswati Avahan; Skanda Sashti*
17 Oct	Sat	Shukla Saptami	7:32 AM	Navpatrika Puja; Saraswati Puja; Tula Sankranti*
18 Oct	Sun	Shukla Ashtami	7:34 AM	Durga Ashtami
19 Oct	Mon	Shukla Navami	7:35 AM	Maha Navami; Sandhi Puja*
20 Oct	Tue	Shukla Dashami	7:36 AM	Dussehra; Vijayadashami; Ayudha Puja*
21 Oct	Wed	Shukla Ekadashi	7:37 AM	Bengal Vijayadashami; Madhvacharya Jayanti; Mysore Dasara; Vidyarambham Day
22 Oct	Thu	Shukla Dwadashi	7:39 AM	Papankusha Ekadashi*
23 Oct	Fri	Shukla Trayodashi	7:40 AM	Papankusha Ekadashi Parana; Shukra Pradosh Vrat
24 Oct	Sat	Shukla Chaturdashi	7:41 AM	—
25 Oct	Sun	Shukla Purnima	7:42 AM	Sharad Purnima; Kojagara Puja
26 Oct	Mon	Krishna Pratipada	7:44 AM	Ashwina Purnima; Meerabai Jayanti; Valmiki Jayanti*
27 Oct	Tue	Krishna Dwitiya	7:45 AM	Kartika begins (North Indian calendar); Masik Karthigai
28 Oct	Wed	Krishna Tritiya	7:46 AM	Karwa Chauth; Atla Tadde*
29 Oct	Thu	Krishna Chaturthi	7:47 AM	Rohini Vrat; Vakratunda Sankashti
30 Oct	Fri	Krishna Panchami	7:49 AM	—
31 Oct	Sat	Krishna Saptami	7:50 AM	—

Canadian clocks (outside Saskatchewan and a few other areas that stay on standard time) do not change in October. Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday 1 November 2026, so Toronto's sunrise in the table drifts from 7:24 AM to 7:50 AM across the month.

Where Canada dates differ from India

Drik Panchang lists the main October festivals separately for Canada. Here is how they compare with India:

Festival	India	Canada	Difference
Sarva Pitru Amavasya	Sat 10 Oct	Fri 9 Oct	One day earlier
Navratri Begins	Sun 11 Oct	Sun 11 Oct	Same day
Durga Ashtami	Mon 19 Oct	Sun 18 Oct	One day earlier
Maha Navami	Mon 19 Oct	Mon 19 Oct	Same day
Dussehra	Tue 20 Oct	Tue 20 Oct	Same day
Sharad Purnima	Sun 25 Oct	Sun 25 Oct	Same day
Karwa Chauth	Thu 29 Oct	Wed 28 Oct	One day earlier

Sarva Pitru Amavasya (Mahalaya): Fri 9 Oct

The new moon that closes Pitru Paksha is the day for tarpanam and food offerings to all ancestors, including those whose death tithi is not known. In India it is Saturday 10 October. In Bengal the same morning is Mahalaya, which opens the Durga Puja season, and in Telangana it is the first day of Bathukamma. In Canada, Drik places it on Friday 9 October, the day before India, so families following the Canadian calendar keep tarpanam on Friday.

Navratri 2026 in Canada: Sun 11 Oct to Mon 19 Oct

Sharad Navratri begins with Ghatasthapana on Sunday 11 October and runs through nine nights of worship of Durga in her nine forms. Saraswati Puja is kept on the last days (Saraswati Avahan on Fri 16 Oct and Saraswati Puja on Sat 17 Oct in India*), and many South Indian families keep a kolu of dolls. Day-by-day forms, colours and puja steps are in our Navratri 2026 guide for Canada and the Navratri 2026 colours list.

Durga Ashtami and Maha Navami: Sun 18 Oct and Mon 19 Oct

Ashtami is the day of Kanya Pujan and, in Bengal, of Sandhi Puja at the junction of Ashtami and Navami; Navami completes the nine nights. In India both fall on Monday 19 October, because in India Saptami prevailed at two sunrises (17 and 18 Oct) this year. Toronto's sunrise falls in Ashtami on Sunday 18 October, a day ahead of India, while Maha Navami is Monday 19 October in both countries. For the Bengali day-by-day calendar see Durga Puja 2026 dates.

Dussehra (Vijayadashami): Tuesday 20 October

Vijayadashami celebrates Rama's victory over Ravana and Durga's over Mahishasura. It is the day for Shami puja, Ravan Dahan, Vidyarambham and, in many South Indian homes, the closing of Ayudha Puja. In India Dussehra is Tuesday 20 October; Drik's Hyderabad panchang lists Ayudha Puja on the same day, though some calendars mark it on Mon 19 Oct. See our Dussehra guide for Canada and Ayudha and Shami puja vidhi.

Papankusha Ekadashi: Thu 22 Oct in India*

The Ekadashi of the bright fortnight of Ashwina is said to remove sins that weigh on the mind; the fast is broken the next morning (in India, Fri 23 Oct, which is also a Shukra Pradosh). India keeps the fast on Thursday 22 October; abroad it may fall a day earlier or later — check your local temple. In our table, Ekadashi is the tithi at Toronto sunrise on Wed 21 Oct, a day before India. Read more in Papankusha Ekadashi 2026.

Sharad Purnima and Kojagari Lakshmi Puja: Sunday 25 October

On the brightest full moon of autumn, families keep kheer in the moonlight and, in Bengal, Odisha and Assam, stay awake for Kojagari Lakshmi Puja. India keeps it on Sunday 25 October. See Sharad Purnima 2026.

Valmiki Jayanti: Mon 26 Oct in India*

The birthday of the Adi Kavi, author of the Ramayana, is kept on Ashwina Purnima, Monday 26 October, in India; abroad it may fall a day earlier or later — check your local temple. Purnima is the tithi at Toronto sunrise on Sun 25 Oct in our table. See Valmiki Jayanti 2026.

Karwa Chauth: Wednesday 28 October

Married women fast from before dawn until they see the moon, then break the fast with water from their husband's hands. The day is also Vakratunda Sankashti Chaturthi for Ganesha devotees (India: Thursday 29 October*). Canada, like the USA, keeps Karwa Chauth on Wednesday 28 October. Moonrise is local and varies by city; see Karwa Chauth 2026 moonrise times for Canada.

Other observances this month (India dates*)

Thu 15 Oct: Upang Lalita Vrat (Lalita Panchami) — see Lalita Panchami 2026
Fri 16 Oct: Skanda Sashti (monthly) and Saraswati Avahan
Sat 17 Oct: Tula Sankranti, the Sun's entry into Libra — see Tula Sankranti 2026
Wed 21 Oct: Bengal Vijayadashami (Sindoor Khela), Mysore Dasara procession, Madhvacharya Jayanti
Tue 27 Oct: Kartika month begins in North Indian (purnimanta) calendars; Masik Karthigai
Wed 28 Oct: Atla Tadde, the Telugu women's vrat

Looking ahead: early November in Canada

Ahoi Ashtami falls on Sunday 1 November in India*. Dhanteras is Friday 6 November and Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) is Sunday 8 November in Canada (Drik). The Telugu and Kannada month of Karthika begins on Monday 9 November for Canada (Drik). Plan ahead with Diwali 2026 for Canada and Karthika Masam 2026 for Canada, and keep the November 2026 calendar for Canada handy.

Notes for Hindus in Canada

Thanksgiving (Mon 12 Oct): the long weekend of 10–12 October covers Sarva Pitru Amavasya's aftermath, Ghatasthapana on Sunday 11 October and the second day of Navratri, a rare chance to begin Navratri without rushing to work.
Karwa Chauth on Wednesday 28 October: Drik's Canadian date is a day ahead of India's. If your mother-in-law in Punjab is fasting on Thursday, you are not out of step; the moon simply rises in a different Chaturthi for you.
Western provinces: Vancouver and Calgary sunrise tithis can differ from Toronto's. The Ekadashi and Purnima rows are where this most often shows; check Drik Panchang for your city.
Cold evenings: late-October nights in Ontario and the Prairies are cold for a moonrise wait on Karwa Chauth or a Sharad Purnima kheer on the balcony. A covered porch or an indoor window with a view of the east works just as well.
Dussehra on a Tuesday: Ravan Dahan events by Canadian associations are usually held on a weekend near Vijayadashami; check your mandir's announcements.

Frequently asked questions

What are the main October 2026 Hindu festivals in Canada?

Drik Panchang's Canada list: Navratri from Sunday 11 October, Durga Ashtami on Sunday 18 October, Maha Navami on Monday 19 October, Dussehra on Tuesday 20 October, Sharad Purnima on Sunday 25 October and Karwa Chauth on Wednesday 28 October. Smaller observances such as Papankusha Ekadashi (22 Oct) and Valmiki Jayanti (26 Oct) are given with India dates; abroad they may fall a day earlier or later, so check your local temple.

When is Dussehra 2026 in Canada?

Drik gives Tuesday 20 October for Canada. Community Ravan Dahan events are often held on a nearby weekend, but Shami puja and Vidyarambham belong to Vijayadashami itself.

When is Karwa Chauth 2026 in Canada?

Wednesday 28 October (Drik), one day before India's Thursday 29 October. The fast ends at local moonrise, which differs from city to city, so use a local moonrise time rather than India's.

Do clocks change in Canada during October 2026?

No. Where Daylight Saving Time is observed, it ends on Sunday 1 November 2026. Every Toronto sunrise in our October table is Eastern Daylight Time. From 1 November, Toronto is 10 hours 30 minutes behind India.

Why can festival dates in Canada differ from India?

A tithi begins and ends at the same instant everywhere, but each place sees sunrise, sunset and moonrise at its own time. Toronto is 9 hours 30 minutes behind India until clocks fall back on Sunday 1 November, then 10 hours 30 minutes behind. When a tithi changes close to dawn or dusk, the deciding moment can fall on a different calendar day in Canada. Use the tithi-at-sunrise column in our table to see where that happens.

Which October 2026 festivals fall on a weekend in Canada?

Navratri Begins (Sun 11 Oct), Durga Ashtami (Sun 18 Oct) and Sharad Purnima (Sun 25 Oct) fall on a Saturday or Sunday. Expect larger crowds at temples on those days, and remember that weekday festivals can still be kept with a short home puja morning or evening.

Editor's note

Editor's note (9 October 2026): this calendar was rebuilt at its original address. Festival dates for Canada come only from Drik Panchang's Canada list; the India column comes from Drik Panchang's Hyderabad day panchang. The Toronto sunrise and the tithi at sunrise are computed with HinduTone's calculator, validated against Drik Panchang; they are a guide, not a temple ruling. Dates from 1 to 9 October have passed and are covered in last week's panchang. Regional traditions and sampradayas can choose a different day, so follow your temple or family priest where they differ. We do not list temple timings or event details; check each temple's official website.