Major Hindu festivals — their stories, significance and how they are celebrated, with exact dates computed for Ottawa & Canada.
🎆 Akshaya TritiyaThe day of the undiminishing — gold, generosity and beginnings that never fade, on the year's most self-sufficient muhurta. Exact Akshaya Tritiya dates for Ottawa and Canada, computed for your timezone.अक्षय तृतीया 🎆 Buddha PurnimaVesak — the full moon of the Buddha's birth, enlightenment and parinirvana, honoured across Hindu and Buddhist traditions alike. Exact Buddha Purnima dates for Ottawa and Canada, computed for your timezone.बुद्ध पूर्णिमा 🎆 Chhath PujaThe four-day Surya vrat of Bihar and Purvanchal — nahay khay, kharna, and the evening and morning arghya at the water's edge. Exact Chhath Puja dates for Ottawa and Canada, computed for your timezone.छठ पूजा 🎆 DashainNepal's greatest festival — fifteen days from jamara sowing to the great tika, when families reunite and elders bless the young. Exact Dashain dates for Ottawa and Canada, computed for your timezone.दशैं 🎆 DiwaliThe festival of lights — five days of lamps, Lakshmi Puja, sweets and new beginnings. Exact Diwali dates and puja timings for Ottawa and Canada, computed for your local timezone.दीपावली 🎆 DussehraVijayadashami — Ravana's effigy burns, the Goddess is victorious, and new ventures begin. Exact Dussehra dates for Ottawa and Canada, computed for your timezone.दशहरा 🎆 EkadashiVishnu's fasting day, twice every lunar month — the 24 Ekadashis, their rules, and why the vrat day sometimes differs between calendars. Next Ekadashi dates for Ottawa and Canada, computed for your timezone.एकादशी 🎆 Ganesh ChaturthiGanpati's homecoming — installing the murti, ten days of worship and modak, and the farewell of visarjan on Anant Chaturdashi. Exact Ganesh Chaturthi dates for Ottawa and Canada, computed for your timezone.गणेश चतुर्थी 🎆 Guru PurnimaVyasa Purnima — the full moon of the teacher, honouring the guru who dispels darkness, from Vyasa to one's own first teachers. Exact Guru Purnima dates for Ottawa and Canada, computed for your timezone.गुरु पूर्णिमा 🎆 Hanuman JayantiThe birth of Hanuman — sunrise puja, Hanuman Chalisa recitation, sindoor and boondi laddoos for the lord of strength and service. Exact Hanuman Jayanti dates for Ottawa and Canada, computed for your timezone.हनुमान जयंती 🎆 HoliThe festival of colours — Holika Dahan's bonfire night and the playful colours of Dhulandi, rooted in Prahlada's faith and Krishna's Braj. Exact Holi dates for Ottawa and Canada, computed for your timezone.होली 🎆 JanmashtamiKrishna's birth at midnight — fasting, jhanki decorations, the midnight aarti and Dahi Handi. Exact Janmashtami dates and nishita puja timing for Ottawa and Canada, computed for your timezone.जन्माष्टमी 🎆 Kartik PurnimaDev Deepawali — the gods' own festival of lights, when Varanasi's ghats blaze, Tripurari Shiva is honoured, and Kartik's holy month closes. Exact Kartik Purnima dates for Ottawa and Canada, computed for your timezone.कार्तिक पूर्णिमा 🎆 Karva ChauthThe sunrise-to-moonrise fast kept by married women for their husbands' long life — sargi, the katha, and the moonrise sighting. Exact Karva Chauth dates and Ottawa moonrise time, computed for your timezone.करवा चौथ 🎆 LohriPunjab's bonfire night on Makar Sankranti's eve — Dulla Bhatti's song, til and rewri in the flames, and first Lohris for new brides and babies. Exact Lohri dates for Ottawa and Canada, computed for your timezone.लोहड़ी 🎆 Maha ShivaratriThe great night of Shiva — all-night vigil, four-prahar abhisheka, bilva leaves and the fast of fasts. Exact Maha Shivaratri dates and nishita timing for Ottawa and Canada, computed for your timezone.महाशिवरात्रि 🎆 Makar SankrantiThe sun enters Makara — Uttarayana begins. Til-gud, kites, Pongal and holy dips, on the rare Hindu festival with a solar date. Exact Makar Sankranti timing for Ottawa and Canada, computed for your timezone.मकर संक्रांति 🎆 Nag PanchamiThe serpent's day in the heart of monsoon — milk for the nagas, Kaliya's story, and Shiva's garland honoured. Exact Nag Panchami dates for Ottawa and Canada, computed for your timezone.नाग पंचमी 🎆 NavratriNine nights of the Goddess — Durga's nine forms, garba and dandiya, fasting and Durga Puja, culminating in Vijayadashami. Exact Navratri dates for Ottawa and Canada, computed for your timezone.नवरात्रि 🎆 OnamKerala's harvest festival — King Mahabali's yearly homecoming, the pookkalam flower carpet, and the Onam sadya feast. Exact Thiruvonam dates for Ottawa and Canada, computed for your timezone.ओणम 🎆 Raksha BandhanThe bond of protection — sisters tie the rakhi, brothers pledge care, and the auspicious time avoids Bhadra. Exact Raksha Bandhan dates and rakhi muhurat for Ottawa and Canada, computed for your timezone.रक्षाबंधन 🎆 Ram NavamiRama's birth at the Chaitra Navratri's close — madhyahna puja at noon, Ramayana recitation and Ram Rajya's ideal. Exact Ram Navami dates for Ottawa and Canada, computed for your timezone.राम नवमी 🎆 Rath YatraRath Yatra, the grand chariot festival of Lord Jagannath, celebrates the annual journey of Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra from the Puri temple to the Gundicha temple on majestic wooden chariots.रथ यात्रा 🎆 Sharad PurnimaThe full moon of nectar — Lakshmi's night of vigil, Krishna's maha-raas, and kheer left under the moonlight. Exact Sharad Purnima dates for Ottawa and Canada, computed for your timezone.शरद पूर्णिमा 🎆 TiharNepal's festival of lights — five days honouring crows, dogs, cows, Laxmi and the bond of brothers and sisters, with Deusi-Bhailo songs at every door. Exact Tihar dates for Ottawa and Canada, computed for your timezone.तिहार 🎆 Ugadi & Gudi PadwaThe Hindu lunar New Year — Ugadi in Telugu and Kannada homes, Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra — with the six-taste pachadi and the raised gudi. Exact New Year dates for Ottawa and Canada, computed for your timezone.उगादि · गुड़ी पड़वा 🎆 Vaisakhi, Vishu & PuthanduThe solar New Year of mid-April — Punjab's Vaisakhi, Kerala's Vishu kani, Tamil Puthandu, Bengal's Poila Boishakh and Assam's Bohag Bihu, all on one sun. Exact dates for Ottawa and Canada, computed for your timezone.वैसाखी · विषु 🎆 Vasant PanchamiSaraswati Puja and the first day of spring — yellow clothes, books at the goddess's feet, and children's first letters. Exact Vasant Panchami dates for Ottawa and Canada, computed for your timezone.वसंत पंचमी