Odisha Festival List 2026

Are you looking for Odisha Festival List 2026 with complete dates? Yeah! We provide complete information about all Odia festivals in 2026, including major Hindu festivals, Ekadashi dates, Sankranti celebrations, and local temple events. So, in this article you will learn about Jagannath Ratha Yatra date, how to celebrate Raja Parba, and complete festival calendar for the entire year. Below you will find all details about Odisha festivals with exact dates, plus important festival information. Let’s start!

The Odisha Festival Calendar 2026 contains 145 festivals and events celebrated throughout the year. This includes major Hindu festivals like Durga Puja, Ratha Yatra, and Diwali, along with regional celebrations like Raja Parba, Nuakhai, and Kumar Purnima. The calendar is specially designed for people of Odisha who want to plan their religious activities, fasting days, and temple visits in advance. The most important event is Jagannath Ratha Yatra on 16th July 2026, which attracts millions of devotees from across the world. Other significant festivals include Maha Vishuba Sankranti (Odia New Year) on 14th April and Durga Puja from 17th to 20th October. All dates are based on traditional Odia Panchang and government holiday notifications.

Quick Overview

Major Hindu Festivals in Odisha 2026

Odisha celebrates all major Hindu festivals with great devotion and cultural traditions. Here are the most important festivals celebrated in 2026:

Makara Sankranti falls on 14th January (Wednesday), marking the sun’s transition to Capricorn. People take holy baths and offer prayers to Sun God.

Vasant Panchami/Saraswati Puja is on 23rd January (Friday), when students worship Goddess Saraswati for knowledge and wisdom.

Maha Shivaratri comes on 15th February (Sunday), dedicated to Lord Shiva with night-long prayers and fasting.

Dola Purnima/Holi will be celebrated on 4th March (Wednesday) with colors and joy. The previous day 3rd March is Holika Dahan.

Rama Navami is on 27th March (Friday), celebrating Lord Rama’s birth with special prayers and bhajans.

Maha Vishuba Sankranti or Pana Sankranti on 14th April (Tuesday) marks the Odia New Year, celebrated with special Pana drink.

Akshaya Tritiya falls on 19th April (Sunday), considered highly auspicious for new beginnings and purchases.

Buddha Purnima is on 1st May (Friday), celebrating Lord Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and nirvana.

Raja Parba is a unique 3-day festival from 14th to 16th June celebrating womanhood and Mother Earth.

Jagannath Ratha Yatra on 16th July (Thursday) is the biggest festival when deities travel in grand chariots from Puri temple to Gundicha temple.

Raksha Bandhan falls on 28th August (Friday), when sisters tie sacred thread on brothers’ wrists.

Janmashtami is on 4th September (Friday), celebrating Lord Krishna’s birth with midnight celebrations.

Nuakhai on 16th September (Wednesday) is an agrarian festival celebrating new rice harvest, mainly in Western Odisha.

Durga Puja from 17th to 20th October is the grandest festival with elaborate pandals and cultural programs. Maha Ashtami is on 18th, Maha Navami on 19th, and Vijaya Dashami on 20th.

Kumar Purnima on 26th October (Monday) is celebrated by unmarried girls worshipping the moon for good husbands.

Diwali/Lakshmi Puja is on 8th November (Sunday), the festival of lights celebrating Goddess Lakshmi.

Kartika Purnima on 24th November (Tuesday) is sacred for lighting lamps and Boita Bandana ritual where people float miniature boats.

Ekadashi Fasting Dates 2026

Ekadashi is observed twice every lunar month by devotees for spiritual purification. There are 24 Ekadashi dates in 2026:

January 2026: Sattila Ekadashi (14th) and Bhaimi Ekadashi (29th)

February 2026: Vijaya Ekadashi (13th) and Amalaki Ekadashi (27th)

March 2026: Papamochani Ekadashi (15th) and Kamada Ekadashi (29th)

April 2026: Varuthini Ekadashi (13th) and Mohini Ekadashi (27th)

May 2026: Apara Ekadashi (13th) and Padmini Ekadashi (27th)

June 2026: Parama Ekadashi (11th) and Nirjala Ekadashi (25th) – the most strict fasting day

July 2026: Yogini Ekadashi (11th) and Devshayani Ekadashi (25th) – marks Lord Vishnu’s sleep period

August 2026: Kamika Ekadashi (9th) and Pavitropana Ekadashi (24th)

September 2026: Annada Ekadashi (7th) and Parshva Ekadashi (22nd)

October 2026: Indira Ekadashi (6th) and Pashankusha Ekadashi (22nd)

November 2026: Rama Ekadashi (5th) and Utthana Ekadashi (21st) – Lord Vishnu wakes up

December 2026: Utpanna Ekadashi (4th) and Mokshada Ekadashi (20th)

Devotees observe complete or partial fasting on these days, avoiding grains and beans. Nirjala Ekadashi on 25th June is considered most important where devotees don’t even drink water.

Sankranti Dates 2026

Sankranti marks the sun’s transition from one zodiac sign to another. All 12 Sankranti dates for 2026:

• Makar Sankranti – 14 January (Wednesday) • Kumbha Sankranti – 13 February (Friday) • Meena Sankranti – 15 March (Sunday) • Mesha Sankranti / Maha Vishuba Sankranti – 14 April (Tuesday) – Odia New Year • Vrishabha Sankranti – 15 May (Friday) • Mithuna Sankranti / Raja Sankranti – 15 June (Monday) • Karka Sankranti / Dakhinayan Sankranti – 16 July (Thursday) • Simha Sankranti – 17 August (Monday) • Kanya Sankranti – 17 September (Thursday) • Tula Sankranti – 17 October (Saturday) • Vrischika Sankranti – 16 November (Monday) • Dhanu Sankranti – 16 December (Wednesday)

The most important is Maha Vishuba Sankranti on 14th April, which marks the Odia New Year and beginning of summer season. People prepare special Pana drink and offer prayers.

Ratha Yatra 2026 Schedule

The world-famous Jagannath Ratha Yatra has several important dates and rituals:

11 June 2026 (Thursday) – Snana Purnima: The deities are given ceremonial bath with 108 pitchers of water. After this, they remain in isolation.

12-25 June 2026 – Anavasara Period: The temple remains closed for public as deities are believed to be sick after the bath. They are treated with herbal medicines.

26 June 2026 (Friday) – Nabajaubana Darshan: The deities reappear in new avatars after recovery. Temple opens for public viewing.

16 July 2026 (Thursday) – Jagannath Ratha Yatra: The main chariot festival when Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra travel in three grand chariots from Puri temple to Gundicha temple.

20 July 2026 (Monday) – Hera Panchami: Goddess Lakshmi visits Gundicha temple to meet Lord Jagannath.

24 July 2026 (Friday) – Bahuda Yatra: Return journey of the deities from Gundicha temple back to main temple.

25 July 2026 (Saturday) – Suna Besha: Deities are decorated with gold ornaments on the chariots.

27 July 2026 (Monday) – Niladri Bije: The deities re-enter the main temple, marking end of Ratha Yatra festival.

Millions of devotees from India and abroad participate in this grand festival pulling the massive chariots with ropes.

Important Odia Festivals

Raja Parba (14-16 June 2026): This unique 3-day festival celebrates womanhood and agricultural fertility. The first day is Pahili Raja, second day is Raja Sankranti (Mithuna Sankranti), and third day is Bhudaaha or Basi Raja. Women take rest from household work, play on swings, eat special foods like Poda Pitha, and enjoy traditional games.

Nuakhai (16 September 2026): This harvest festival is mainly celebrated in Western Odisha. People offer new rice to deities and elders before consuming it themselves. It’s a time for family reunions, feasting, and cultural programs.

Kumar Purnima (26 October 2026): Unmarried girls worship the moon seeking good husbands like Kumar Kartikya. They observe fast and perform rituals at night when moon rises. In coastal areas, girls play Puchi Khela traditional game.

Kartika Purnima (24 November 2026): People light earthen lamps and float miniature boats (Boita) in rivers and water bodies, commemorating ancient maritime trade history of Odisha. This ritual is called Boita Bandana.

Sabitri Brata (16 May 2026): Married women worship banyan tree and observe fast for long life and well-being of their husbands, based on legend of Savitri-Satyavan.

Purnima (Full Moon) Dates 2026

Full moon days are considered highly auspicious for prayers and rituals:

Pausha Purnima – 3 January (Saturday) • Magha Purnima – 1 February (Sunday) • Phalguna Purnima / Dola Purnima – 3 March (Tuesday) • Chaitra Purnima – 2 April (Thursday) • Vaishakha Purnima / Buddha Purnima – 1 May (Friday) • Jyeshtha Purnima – 29 June (Monday) • Ashadha Purnima / Guru Purnima – 29 July (Wednesday) • Shravana Purnima / Raksha Bandhan – 28 August (Friday) • Bhadrapada Purnima – 26 September (Saturday) • Ashwin Purnima / Kumar Purnima – 26 October (Monday) • Kartik Purnima / Rahas Purnima – 24 November (Tuesday) • Margashirsha Purnima – 23 December (Wednesday)

Each Purnima has special significance for different rituals, temple visits, and charity activities.

Amavasya (New Moon) Dates 2026

New moon days are important for ancestral worship and rituals:

• Magha Amavasya – 18 January (Sunday) • Phalguna Amavasya – 17 February (Tuesday) • Chaitra Amavasya – 18 March (Wednesday) • Vaishakha Amavasya – 17 April (Friday) • Jyeshtha Amavasya / Sabitri Amavasya – 16 May (Saturday) • Ashadha Amavasya – 14 July (Tuesday) • Shravana Amavasya – 12 August (Wednesday) • Bhadrapada Amavasya – 10 September (Thursday) • Ashwina Amavasya / Mahalaya Amavasya – 10 October (Saturday) • Kartika Amavasya / Diwali – 9 November (Monday) • Margashirsha Amavasya – 8 December (Tuesday)

People perform Tarpana and Shraddha rituals for their ancestors on Amavasya days, especially during Mahalaya Amavasya before Durga Puja.

Government Holidays Odisha 2026

Odisha government declares official holidays on major festivals:

Republic Day – 26 January (Monday) • Maha Shivaratri – 15 February (Sunday) • Holi – 4 March (Wednesday) • Good Friday – 3 April (Friday) • Utkal Divas – 1 April (Wednesday) • Maha Vishuba Sankranti – 14 April (Tuesday) • Buddha Purnima – 1 May (Friday) • Raja Sankranti – 15 June (Monday) • Eid-ul-Adha – 27 May (Wednesday) • Ratha Yatra – 16 July (Thursday) • Independence Day – 15 August (Saturday) • Janmashtami – 4 September (Friday) • Nuakhai – 15 September (Tuesday) • Gandhi Jayanti – 2 October (Friday) • Durga Puja – 17-20 October (Saptami to Dashami) • Diwali – 8 November (Sunday) • Christmas – 25 December (Friday)

Government offices, schools, and banks remain closed on these dates. Private organizations may also observe these holidays.

Conclusion

On this article, I have given the complete information about Odisha Festival List 2026 and I have also told major Hindu festivals, Ekadashi dates, Sankranti celebrations, Ratha Yatra schedule, and important Odia festivals in complete detail in this article post. The calendar includes 145 festivals covering the entire year with exact dates for planning your religious activities. If you liked this article then definitely share it with your friends and family so they can also plan their festival celebrations in advance. You can also bookmark this page for quick reference throughout the year. If you have any questions about specific festival dates or rituals, please comment below. Thank you for visiting our article and may all festivals bring joy and prosperity to your life!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When is Jagannath Ratha Yatra in 2026?

Jagannath Ratha Yatra will be celebrated on Thursday, 16th July 2026 in Puri. The deities will travel from main temple to Gundicha temple in grand chariots.

What is the date of Odia New Year 2026?

Odia New Year or Maha Vishuba Sankranti falls on Tuesday, 14th April 2026. People celebrate with Pana drink and special prayers to welcome the new year.

When is Raja Parba celebrated in 2026?

Raja Parba is a 3-day festival from 14th to 16th June 2026. Pahili Raja is on 14th June, Raja Sankranti on 15th June, and Basi Raja on 16th June.

How many Ekadashi are there in 2026?

There are 24 Ekadashi fasting days in 2026, occurring twice every month. The most important is Nirjala Ekadashi on 25th June when strict fasting is observed.

When is Durga Puja in Odisha in 2026?

Durga Puja will be celebrated from 17th to 20th October 2026. Maha Saptami is on 17th, Maha Ashtami on 18th, Maha Navami on 19th, and Vijaya Dashami on 20th October.

What is Nuakhai and when is it celebrated?

Nuakhai is a harvest festival mainly celebrated in Western Odisha on 16th September 2026. People offer new rice to deities before consuming and celebrate with family gatherings.

When is Kartika Purnima and Boita Bandana in 2026?

Kartika Purnima falls on Tuesday, 24th November 2026. People float miniature boats in water bodies during Boita Bandana ritual to commemorate Odisha’s maritime heritage.

Is Sabitri Brata a government holiday in Odisha?

Yes, Sabitri Brata or Sabitri Amavasya on 16th May 2026 is a declared government holiday in Odisha when married women observe fasting for their husbands’ long life.