Festivals
Every date, and what it actually needs here.
The dates move every year and the sourcing does not care. Marigold in October, banana leaves for a sadya, bel patra that no Dutch shop stocks — all of it has a lead time, and all of it is on these pages.
Next up
- Karva Chauth 2026Thursday 29 October — A day-long fast that ends when the moon is sighted — which in November here is not guaranteed.
- Dhanteras 2026Friday 6 November — The day you buy metal. Two days before Diwali, and the start of the five days.
- Diwali 2026Sunday 8 November — Five days, one main night, and Dutch fireworks law that catches everyone out the first year.
2026
- Makar Sankranti — passedWednesday 14 JanuaryOne date, four festivals, and the only one on this list fixed to the sun.
- Maha Shivratri — passedSunday 15 FebruaryA night vigil, four prahar of abhishek, and a fast that runs through it.
- Ugadi and Gudi Padwa — passedThursday 19 MarchNew year in the Deccan — a gudi at the window, and six tastes in one dish.
- Ram Navami — passedThursday 26 MarchThe ninth day of Chaitra Navratri, and the end of that fast.
- Mahavir Jayanti — passedTuesday 31 MarchThe Jain calendar's principal day, and one where the catering has to be right.
- Akshaya Tritiya — passedTuesday 21 AprilA day considered auspicious enough that nobody checks a muhurat before starting something.
- Onam — passedWednesday 26 AugustTen days, one sadya, and pookalam on the floor each morning.
- Raksha Bandhan — passedFriday 28 AugustA thread, and the postal deadline that decides whether it arrives in time.
- Paryushan — passed30 August to 6 SeptemberEight or ten days of fasting and restraint, ending in asking forgiveness.
- Janmashtami — passedThursday 3 SeptemberA fast until midnight, and a cradle that has to be ready before it.
- Ganesh Chaturthi — passedMonday 14 SeptemberTen days that begin with an idol coming into the house and end at the water.
- Navratri — passed11 October to 19 October (expected)Nine nights, then Dussehra. The one festival where the Netherlands has real crowds to join.
- Dussehra — passedTuesday 20 OctoberThe tenth day. Ravana burns, and it is the day people start new things.
- Karva ChauthThursday 29 OctoberA day-long fast that ends when the moon is sighted — which in November here is not guaranteed.
- DhanterasFriday 6 NovemberThe day you buy metal. Two days before Diwali, and the start of the five days.
- DiwaliSunday 8 NovemberFive days, one main night, and Dutch fireworks law that catches everyone out the first year.
- Bhai DoojWednesday 11 November (expected)The last of the five days, and the one that needs a brother present.
- Chhath PujaSunday 15 November (expected)Four days, two of them standing in water at sunset and sunrise in a Dutch November.
- Guru Nanak JayantiTuesday 24 NovemberAkhand Path, nagar kirtan and langar, at the gurdwaras here.
- Christmas25 December to 26 DecemberNot everyone's festival, but the one week the whole family is off work here.
- New Year's EveThursday 31 DecemberThe one night fireworks are legal here, and the one night the city is loud.
2027
- Makar SankrantiThursday 14 JanuaryOne date, four festivals, and the only one on this list fixed to the sun.
- Maha ShivratriSaturday 6 MarchA night vigil, four prahar of abhishek, and a fast that runs through it.
- HoliMonday 22 MarchEarly March here, which means colour in five degrees and nowhere obvious to wash it off.
- Ugadi and Gudi PadwaWednesday 7 April (expected)New year in the Deccan — a gudi at the window, and six tastes in one dish.
- BaisakhiWednesday 14 AprilHarvest and the founding of the Khalsa, on a date that barely moves.
- Ram NavamiThursday 15 April (expected)The ninth day of Chaitra Navratri, and the end of that fast.
- Raksha BandhanTuesday 17 AugustA thread, and the postal deadline that decides whether it arrives in time.
- JanmashtamiWednesday 25 AugustA fast until midnight, and a cradle that has to be ready before it.
- Ganesh ChaturthiSaturday 4 SeptemberTen days that begin with an idol coming into the house and end at the water.
- OnamSunday 12 SeptemberTen days, one sadya, and pookalam on the floor each morning.
- Navratri30 September to 8 OctoberNine nights, then Dussehra. The one festival where the Netherlands has real crowds to join.
- DussehraSaturday 9 OctoberThe tenth day. Ravana burns, and it is the day people start new things.
- Karva ChauthMonday 18 OctoberA day-long fast that ends when the moon is sighted — which in November here is not guaranteed.
- DiwaliFriday 29 OctoberFive days, one main night, and Dutch fireworks law that catches everyone out the first year.
- Christmas25 December to 26 DecemberNot everyone's festival, but the one week the whole family is off work here.
- New Year's EveFriday 31 DecemberThe one night fireworks are legal here, and the one night the city is loud.
2028
- Makar SankrantiSaturday 15 January (expected)One date, four festivals, and the only one on this list fixed to the sun.
- HoliSaturday 11 MarchEarly March here, which means colour in five degrees and nowhere obvious to wash it off.
- BaisakhiThursday 13 AprilHarvest and the founding of the Khalsa, on a date that barely moves.
- Raksha BandhanSaturday 5 AugustA thread, and the postal deadline that decides whether it arrives in time.
- Ganesh ChaturthiWednesday 23 AugustTen days that begin with an idol coming into the house and end at the water.
- OnamWednesday 23 August (expected)Ten days, one sadya, and pookalam on the floor each morning.
- Navratri18 September to 26 September (expected)Nine nights, then Dussehra. The one festival where the Netherlands has real crowds to join.
- DussehraWednesday 27 SeptemberThe tenth day. Ravana burns, and it is the day people start new things.
- Karva ChauthSaturday 7 OctoberA day-long fast that ends when the moon is sighted — which in November here is not guaranteed.
- DiwaliTuesday 17 OctoberFive days, one main night, and Dutch fireworks law that catches everyone out the first year.
- Christmas25 December to 26 DecemberNot everyone's festival, but the one week the whole family is off work here.
- New Year's EveSunday 31 DecemberThe one night fireworks are legal here, and the one night the city is loud.
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