December 2026 Hindu Festivals: Gita Jayanti, Datta Jayanti
December 2026 Hindu festivals with dates and muhurat: Gita Jayanti 20 Dec, Datta Jayanti 23 Dec, Vivah Panchami, Dhanu Sankranti, the story and states.
December 2026 has two major days in one week: Gita Jayanti on Sunday, 20 December, and Datta Jayanti on Wednesday, 23 December. Around them fall Utpanna Ekadashi, Vivah Panchami, Champa Shashti, Dhanu Sankranti, Vaikuntha Ekadashi and Annapurna Jayanti.
This guide puts the dates, tithi times, reasons, stories and states for each of them in one place. All times are in Indian Standard Time (IST) unless a city is named. We checked every date against Drik Panchang listings in October 2026.
Quick answer: Gita Jayanti 2026 is on Sunday, 20 December. It is also Mokshada Ekadashi and Vaikuntha Ekadashi. Ekadashi runs from 10:09 PM on 19 December to about 8:15 PM on 20 December. Datta Jayanti 2026 is on Wednesday, 23 December, when Margashirsha Purnima begins at 10:47 AM and lasts until 6:57 AM on 24 December.
December 2026 Hindu Festivals List: Date by Date
The table below lists every major Hindu observance in December 2026, with dates for India. Tithi can start or end on a different day in other countries, so see the section on festivals outside India.
| Date (2026) | Festival | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Tue, 1 Dec | Kalabhairav Jayanti (Kalashtami) | Krishna Ashtami of Karthika. Worship of Kal Bhairav, the guardian of Kashi. Read our Kaal Bhairav Jayanti Varanasi guide. |
| Fri, 4 Dec | Utpanna Ekadashi | Krishna Paksha Ekadashi. The fast is broken on Saturday, 5 December. |
| Sun, 6 Dec | Ravi Pradosh Vrat | Evening worship of Shiva on Trayodashi. |
| Mon, 7 Dec | Masik Shivaratri | Monthly Shiva night. In the Telugu states it falls on the last Karthika Somavaram. |
| Tue, 8 Dec | Margashirsha (Darsha) Amavasya | New moon. In amanta calendars (Telugu, Kannada and Marathi regions) the month of Margashirsha begins on Wednesday, 9 December. |
| Sun, 13 Dec | Vinayaka Chaturthi | Monthly Ganesha observance on Shukla Chaturthi. |
| Mon, 14 Dec | Vivah Panchami | Marriage of Ram and Sita, kept at Ayodhya and Janakpur. See the Vivah Panchami Ayodhya and Janakpur guide. |
| Tue, 15 Dec | Skanda, Subrahmanya and Champa Shashti | Worship of Kartikeya. Subrahmanya Shashti is kept in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Champa Shashti is kept for Khandoba in Maharashtra. |
| Wed, 16 Dec | Dhanu Sankranti | The Sun enters Dhanu. Dhanurmasam (Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka) and Margazhi (Tamil Nadu) begin, and so does Kharmas in North India. |
| Thu, 17 Dec | Masik Durgashtami | Monthly Durga observance on Shukla Ashtami. |
| Sun, 20 Dec | Gita Jayanti, Mokshada Ekadashi, Vaikuntha Ekadashi | Explained in detail below. |
| Mon, 21 Dec | Ekadashi parana, Soma Pradosh Vrat | Break the Ekadashi fast after sunrise. The evening pradosh falls on 21 December, although a few calendars list 22 December. |
| Tue, 22 Dec | Hanumad Vratha (Hanuman Jayanti) | Karnataka. Kept on Shukla Trayodashi of Margashirsha. |
| Wed, 23 Dec | Datta Jayanti, Margashirsha Purnima Vrat | Explained in detail below. |
| Thu, 24 Dec | Margashirsha Purnima, Annapurna Jayanti, Arudra Darshan | Annapurna Jayanti is listed at Varanasi. Arudra Darshan is a Tamil Nadu festival of Nataraja. The month of Pausha begins in purnimanta calendars. |
| Sat, 26 Dec | Akhuratha Sankashti Chaturthi | Ganesha fast broken at moonrise. Check your city moonrise, because Chaturthi begins at about 8:04 PM IST. |
| Sun, 27 Dec | Mandala Pooja, Sabarimala | Expected on 27 December, 41 days after the Mandala season opens on 17 November. The Travancore Devaswom Board announces the schedule. |
| Wed, 30 Dec | Kalashtami | Monthly Kal Bhairav observance. |
If two websites show different dates for one festival, the reason is usually the city or time zone used. We explain this later in the guide.
Gita Jayanti 2026: Date, Tithi and Muhurat
Gita Jayanti 2026 is on Sunday, 20 December, on Margashirsha Shukla Ekadashi. The Ekadashi tithi is present at sunrise on 20 December across India, so that is the date of the fast.
| Detail | Gita Jayanti 2026 |
|---|---|
| Festival | Gita Jayanti, also Mokshada Ekadashi and Vaikuntha Ekadashi |
| Date | Sunday, 20 December 2026 |
| Hindu month and paksha | Margashirsha, Shukla Paksha |
| Ekadashi begins | 10:09 PM, Saturday 19 December |
| Ekadashi ends | About 8:15 PM, Sunday 20 December |
| Dwadashi ends | 5:36 PM, Monday 21 December |
| Hari Vasara ends | About 1:35 AM, 21 December (Ujjain), before sunrise |
| Parana (breaking the fast) | Monday 21 December, after sunrise. Ujjain listing: 7:04 AM to 9:12 AM |
Hari Vasara is the first quarter of Dwadashi, and the fast is not broken during it. In 2026 it ends before sunrise, so you can do the parana soon after sunrise on 21 December. The parana start time is your local sunrise, so a city window will differ by a few minutes from the Ujjain window.
Some pages show 19 December. That date applies only to Smarta observance on the US and Canadian west coast, where Ekadashi does not cover a local sunrise on 20 December. For India, Europe, Singapore and Australia the date is 20 December.
What Is Gita Jayanti?
Gita Jayanti is the day kept in memory of Krishna speaking the Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna at Kurukshetra, just before the Mahabharata war began. The word jayanti means birth anniversary, and here it is applied to a scripture. For a trip plan to Haryana, see our Gita Jayanti Kurukshetra visit plan.
The Gita is a dialogue of 18 chapters and 700 verses. It sits inside the Bhishma Parva, the sixth book of the Mahabharata. In the most used numbering it is chapters 25 to 42 of that book, and some editions number it 23 to 40.
Why Is Gita Jayanti Celebrated?
Gita Jayanti is celebrated for four reasons that devotees and temples commonly give.
- The discourse itself. Arjuna put down his bow because he saw teachers and relatives in the opposing army. Krishna answered with teachings on duty, action, devotion and knowledge.
- The Gita is seen as spoken by Krishna himself. Because of this belief, the day of the discourse is kept as the birthday of the text.
- It falls on Mokshada Ekadashi. This Ekadashi is traditionally kept for liberation, and the fast is also offered for ancestors.
- Community reading. Temples, schools and ISKCON centres hold group recitations, discourses and book distribution on this day.
How Old Is the Gita? Tradition and Scholarship
The Gita does not name a calendar date. The link to Margashirsha Shukla Ekadashi comes from tradition. Drik Panchang counts 2026 as the 5163rd Gita Jayanti, which follows the traditional dating of the Mahabharata war.
Modern scholars date the text much later. It is generally placed in the second or first century BCE, with estimates ranging from 400 to 500 BCE up to the first century CE. Both views can be stated openly, and a devotee does not need to settle the question to observe the day.
Why Is It Also Called Mokshada Ekadashi? The Story of King Vaikhanasa
Mokshada means giver of liberation. The name comes from a story found in the Brahmanda Purana and the Padma Purana, told by Krishna in the form of a dialogue. Most retellings name Yudhishthira as the listener, and some name Arjuna.
- King Vaikhanasa of Champaka (Champakanagar) dreamed that his late father was suffering in Naraka.
- The Brahmins of his kingdom sent him to the sage Parvata Muni.
- Parvata saw through yogic insight that the father had wronged his wife in a past life, and this had led to his suffering.
- The sage told the king to keep the Margashirsha Shukla Ekadashi fast and give its merit to his father.
- The king and his family kept the fast. The father was freed and went to heaven, and he blessed his son.
Versions of the story differ in small details. The main point stays the same: the fast is kept with faith, and its merit is offered to ancestors.
How to Observe Gita Jayanti 2026: Step by Step
- 19 December (Dashami): eat a light, simple meal, ideally before sunset.
- 20 December, early morning: bathe and make a sankalpa. Brahma muhurta is the usual time, which starts about 96 minutes before local sunrise and lasts 48 minutes.
- Puja: light a lamp and worship Vishnu or Krishna with tulsi leaves, flowers and fruit. Many people also recite the Vishnu Sahasranama.
- Gita reading: read the whole Gita, one chapter or a few verses. No rule fixes which chapter you must choose.
- Fast: keep a full fast, a fruit and milk fast, or one simple meal. Grains and beans are usually avoided.
- Night: some families stay awake for bhajans or Gita reading. Do this only if it is safe for your health.
- 21 December (Dwadashi): break the fast after sunrise and before Dwadashi ends at 5:36 PM. Many families first offer the food to Vishnu.
Pregnant or breastfeeding women, elderly people, diabetics and those on regular medicine should take medical advice before fasting. A partial fast with sincere prayer is accepted in tradition.
Where Is Gita Jayanti Celebrated? State-wise
Gita Jayanti is observed across India as an Ekadashi fast with home and temple reading. Some places have a bigger public festival, and they are listed below.
| State or region | How the day is marked |
|---|---|
| Haryana (Kurukshetra) | The place where the discourse is said to have taken place. The International Gita Mahotsav is held around Brahma Sarovar. The 2025 edition ran from 15 November to 5 December, with the main events from 24 November to 1 December. The 2026 schedule has not been announced. |
| Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu | The same Ekadashi is Vaikuntha (Mukkoti) Ekadashi, so the day is mostly marked by the opening of the Vaikuntha Dwaram at Vishnu temples. |
| Delhi and West Bengal | ISKCON centres such as Delhi and Mayapur have held mass Gita recitations and book distribution on Gita Jayanti. |
| Rest of India | Ekadashi fast, Gita path at home or in temples, and discourses. Local committees announce their own programmes. |
Vaikuntha Ekadashi on the Same Day
In 2026, Vaikuntha (Mukkoti) Ekadashi falls on Sunday, 20 December, together with Gita Jayanti. In the South the day is marked by passing through the Vaikuntha Dwaram, the northern gate of Vishnu temples. It is also called Uttara Dwaram, Paramapada Vasal or Sorgavasal.
- Tirumala (Andhra Pradesh): the Vaikuntha Dwaram opens around the Ekadashi, and very large crowds attend. TTD announces the arrangements.
- Srirangam (Tamil Nadu): the Paramapada Vasal opens on Ekadashi morning during the Adhyayana Utsavam, and the processional image of Namperumal passes through it.
- Bhadrachalam (Telangana): Mukkoti Ekadashi is marked with Uttara Dwara darshan of Lord Rama.
Dhanurmasam and Margazhi begin four days earlier, on 16 December. During this month, devotees in the South wake before dawn for Vishnu worship and the Tiruppavai.
Datta Jayanti 2026: Date, Purnima Tithi and Muhurat
Datta Jayanti 2026 is on Wednesday, 23 December. Dattatreya is said to have appeared in the evening, so the festival goes to the day on which Purnima prevails at dusk.
| Detail | Datta Jayanti 2026 |
|---|---|
| Festival | Datta Jayanti (Dattatreya Jayanti), also Margashirsha Purnima Vrat |
| Date | Wednesday, 23 December 2026 |
| Hindu month | Margashirsha Purnima |
| Purnima begins | 10:47 AM, 23 December |
| Purnima ends | 6:57 AM, 24 December |
| Example for Hyderabad | Sunrise 6:42 AM, moonrise 5:05 PM, sunset 5:48 PM on 23 December |
| Nakshatra | Rohini until 7:56 AM, then Mrigashira (Hyderabad) |
The main puja is held in the evening, because that is when Dattatreya is said to have appeared. For the Purnima fast, the moonrise is the usual reference. Times differ by city, so check the sunset and moonrise for your town.
For a morning bath, use Brahma muhurta again. With a sunrise of 6:42 AM in Hyderabad, it would be roughly 5:06 AM to 5:54 AM. This is our own calculation from the usual rule.
Purnima ends at 6:57 AM on 24 December. In cities where sunrise comes after that time, such as Delhi, Purnima is not present at sunrise on 24 December. In cities such as Hyderabad, where sunrise is earlier, calendars list Margashirsha Purnima on 24 December. For Purnima snan and daan, follow your local panchang.
Who Is Dattatreya?
Dattatreya is the son of the sage Atri and his wife Anasuya. He is regarded as an avatar and combined form of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The name means given (Datta) and son of Atri (Atreya).
He is usually shown with three heads and six arms. The four dogs beside him stand for the four Vedas, and the cow stands for Mother Earth. The Bhagavata Purana, the Markandeya Purana and the Brahmanda Purana describe him.
Tradition says he learned from 24 teachers in nature, including the earth, wind, water, fire, the moon, the sun, a python, a bee and a child. The Avadhuta Gita, a text of 289 verses in eight chapters, is attributed to him. Its oldest manuscripts date to about the 9th or 10th century.
Why Is Datta Jayanti Celebrated? The Birth Story
Datta Jayanti marks the birth, or appearance, of Dattatreya on Margashirsha Purnima. The commonly told story has five steps.
- The goddesses Saraswati, Lakshmi and Parvati asked their husbands, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, to test the purity of Anasuya.
- The three gods came to Anasuya as wandering monks.
- Anasuya's devotion turned the three gods into infants, and she nursed them.
- The goddesses asked for their husbands back, and the gods granted Anasuya a boon.
- They were born as her son, Dattatreya, who carries the nature of all three.
Texts tell the story differently, and Wikipedia lists five versions of his birth. The core idea is the same in each: the three gods take birth as one child.
How Datta Jayanti Is Celebrated
- Early bath, often in a river or stream, and a fast.
- Puja of an image or padukas of Dattatreya with flowers, incense, lamps and camphor.
- Reading of the Avadhuta Gita and the Jivanmukta Gita.
- Bhajans and the chant of Shree Gurudev Datta.
- A seven-day reading of the Guru Charitra, called Guru Charitra saptaha, in the week before the festival.
The Guru Charitra is a text based on the life of Narasimha Saraswati (1378 to 1458), who is regarded as an avatar of Dattatreya. Many devotees time the seven-day reading to end on Datta Jayanti. A reading that ends on 23 December would start on 17 December. That start date is our calculation, and temples and families follow their own schedule.
Datta Kshetras: Where Datta Jayanti Is Celebrated
Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat are named as the main places of Dattatreya worship. The table lists the best known shrines by state.
| Place | State | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Ganagapur | Karnataka | Near Kalaburagi. Linked with Narasimha Saraswati and an important Guru Charitra centre. |
| Narsobawadi | Maharashtra | Kolhapur district. Linked with Narasimha Saraswati. |
| Audumbar | Maharashtra | Sangli district, on the Krishna river. |
| Mahur | Maharashtra | Nanded district. Tradition links it with the home of Atri and Anasuya. |
| Pithapuram | Andhra Pradesh | Near Kakinada. Tradition names it as the birthplace of Sripada Srivallabha. |
| Girnar | Gujarat | In Saurashtra, near Junagadh. A hill shrine of Dattatreya. |
| Dodderi | Karnataka | Near Chitradurga. |
Always check the temple for its own programme, because crowd arrangements and darshan hours change from year to year.
Margashirsha Purnima and Annapurna Jayanti
The same full moon is Margashirsha Purnima, a day for bathing, charity and Satyanarayana puja. Annapurna Jayanti, the birthday of the goddess of food, is listed on Thursday, 24 December, with Varanasi as the main centre. A few calendars keep it on 23 December, so check your panchang.
Margashirsha Guruvar, a Thursday vrat for Lakshmi, runs through the month in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. In 2026 the Thursdays fall on 10, 17, 24 and 31 December.
Other December 2026 Festivals Explained
- Utpanna Ekadashi (4 December): by tradition, the day Ekadashi appeared as a goddess from Vishnu. The fast is broken on 5 December.
- Vivah Panchami (14 December): the wedding of Ram and Sita. Ayodhya and Janakpur hold the largest celebrations. Read the Vivah Panchami guide.
- Champa Shashti and Subrahmanya Shashti (15 December): Khandoba worship at Jejuri in Maharashtra, and Subrahmanya worship in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
- Dhanu Sankranti and Kharmas (16 December): the Sun enters Dhanu. Kharmas lasts until Makar Sankranti in mid-January, and weddings are usually avoided in North India.
- Hanumad Vratha (22 December): the Karnataka Hanuman Jayanti on Shukla Trayodashi.
- Arudra Darshan (24 December): a Tamil Nadu festival of Shiva as Nataraja, best known at Chidambaram. Temples announce the exact day.
- Sankashti Chaturthi (26 December): Ganesha fast broken at moonrise.
December 2026 Festivals State-wise
| State | Festivals | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Uttar Pradesh | Kalabhairav Jayanti (Kashi), Vivah Panchami (Ayodhya), Annapurna Jayanti (Varanasi) | 1, 14 and 24 Dec |
| Bihar | Vivah Panchami | 14 Dec |
| Haryana | Gita Jayanti (Kurukshetra) | 20 Dec |
| Maharashtra | Champa Shashti (Khandoba), Datta Jayanti, Margashirsha Guruvar | 15 Dec, 23 Dec, Thursdays |
| Karnataka | Subrahmanya Shashti, Dhanurmasa, Hanumad Vratha, Datta Jayanti (Ganagapur) | 15, 16, 22 and 23 Dec |
| Andhra Pradesh and Telangana | Dhanurmasam, Mukkoti Ekadashi, Margashirsha Guruvar | 16 and 20 Dec, Thursdays |
| Tamil Nadu | Margazhi, Vaikuntha Ekadashi (Srirangam), Arudra Darshan | 16, 20 and 24 Dec |
| Kerala | Dhanu month begins, Mandala Pooja at Sabarimala (expected) | 16 and 27 Dec |
| Gujarat | Datta Jayanti (Girnar) | 23 Dec |
Gita Jayanti and Datta Jayanti Outside India
The dates are the same as in India for most cities, with one exception on the western coast of North America. Dates below follow a sunrise-tithi calculator that its publisher checked against Drik Panchang. Confirm with your own temple calendar.
| Country and cities | Gita Jayanti 2026 | Datta Jayanti 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| USA: New York, Edison, Washington DC, Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Dallas, Phoenix | Sunday, 20 December | Wednesday, 23 December |
| USA: Los Angeles, Bay Area, Seattle | Smarta Saturday 19 December, Vaishnava Sunday 20 December | Wednesday, 23 December |
| Canada: Toronto, Brampton, Ottawa, Montreal | Sunday, 20 December | Wednesday, 23 December |
| Canada: Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver | Smarta Saturday 19 December, Vaishnava Sunday 20 December | Wednesday, 23 December |
| UK: London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leicester | Sunday, 20 December | Wednesday, 23 December |
| Australia: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth | Sunday, 20 December | Wednesday, 23 December |
| Singapore | Sunday, 20 December | Wednesday, 23 December |
Smarta families fast on the day Ekadashi is current. Vaishnava traditions avoid an Ekadashi touched by Dashami at dawn. Datta Jayanti is also listed on 23 December for the UAE and Malaysia.
Why Do Websites Show Different Dates?
- Different city. Many pages show the default city of their calendar. A US page may show 19 December, while an India page shows 20 December.
- Smarta and Vaishnava rules. The two traditions can pick different days when Ekadashi falls between two sunrises.
- Tithi and sunrise. A festival can fall on the day a tithi starts, the day it prevails at sunrise or the day it prevails in the evening. Datta Jayanti uses the evening rule.
- Old pages. Some pages still carry the previous year tithi times.
Plan Your 20 to 24 December Week
- 19 December: light meal, prepare tulsi, lamp and a Gita for the next day.
- 20 December: Ekadashi fast, Gita reading, Vishnu puja. In the South, visit a Vishnu temple for Vaikuntha Dwaram darshan.
- 21 December: parana after sunrise, then Soma Pradosh worship in the evening.
- 22 December: Hanumad Vratha in Karnataka. Start the last day of the Guru Charitra reading if you began on 17 December.
- 23 December: Datta Jayanti puja in the evening and Margashirsha Purnima vrat.
- 24 December: Annapurna Jayanti and Purnima snan or daan as per your local panchang.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Following a date from another country. Use your own city.
- Breaking the Ekadashi fast before sunrise, or after Dwadashi ends.
- Treating Gita Jayanti and Datta Jayanti as one festival. They are three days apart.
- Booking travel before the temple has announced its programme.
- Paying anyone for temple darshan or aarti passes. Ram Mandir darshan and passes are free on the official site, online.srjbtkshetra.org.
Travel for December Festivals with Your Travel Partner
Your Travel Partner is based in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. We arrange cab booking, intercity travel, hotel booking and airport and railway pickup. For Vivah Panchami we can plan the Ayodhya tour package. For Annapurna Jayanti and Kashi Kalabhairav, see our Varanasi tour package, and for the winter sangam trip see the Prayagraj tour package.
Planning a New Year trip? Read our guide to New Year in Ayodhya and Ram Mandir darshan and our note on Christmas around the world. For an evening visit, see the Saryu aarti time and best place. You can see all our trips on the packages page, or message us on WhatsApp. We do not sell temple darshan passes.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Gita Jayanti in 2026?
Gita Jayanti 2026 is on Sunday, 20 December. It falls on Margashirsha Shukla Ekadashi and is the same day as Mokshada Ekadashi.
What is the parana time for Mokshada Ekadashi 2026?
The fast is broken on Monday, 21 December after sunrise. Dwadashi ends at 5:36 PM and Hari Vasara ends before sunrise. One listing for Ujjain gives 7:04 AM to 9:12 AM, so check the window for your city.
Is Gita Jayanti on 19 or 20 December 2026?
It is 20 December in India and in most cities abroad. On the US and Canadian west coast, Smarta families may keep 19 December while Vaishnava families keep 20 December.
Why is Gita Jayanti celebrated?
It marks the day, by tradition, when Krishna spoke the Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna at Kurukshetra before the Mahabharata war. The Gita has 18 chapters and 700 verses, and the day is kept with fasting, reading and discourses.
Is Gita Jayanti the same as Vaikuntha Ekadashi in 2026?
Yes, in 2026 both fall on 20 December. Gita Jayanti and Mokshada Ekadashi are the same day every year, and the South Indian Vaikuntha Ekadashi coincides with it this year.
When is Datta Jayanti in 2026?
Datta Jayanti 2026 is on Wednesday, 23 December. Margashirsha Purnima begins at 10:47 AM on 23 December and ends at 6:57 AM on 24 December.
Is Datta Jayanti on 23 or 24 December 2026?
It is on 23 December. Datta Jayanti is kept on the day Purnima prevails in the evening, and Purnima covers the evening of 23 December but ends before sunrise in most of India on 24 December.
Who is Lord Dattatreya?
Dattatreya is the son of the sage Atri and Anasuya. He is regarded as an avatar and combined form of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, and is shown with three heads and six arms.
Why is Datta Jayanti celebrated?
It is kept as the birth, or appearance, of Dattatreya on Margashirsha Purnima. Devotees fast, worship him and read texts such as the Avadhuta Gita and the Guru Charitra.
Which states celebrate Datta Jayanti the most?
Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat are named as the main places of his worship. Key shrines include Ganagapur in Karnataka, Narsobawadi and Audumbar in Maharashtra, Pithapuram in Andhra Pradesh and Girnar in Gujarat.
Which Hindu festivals fall in December 2026?
Key dates are Utpanna Ekadashi on 4 December, Vivah Panchami on 14 December, Dhanu Sankranti on 16 December, Gita Jayanti and Vaikuntha Ekadashi on 20 December, Datta Jayanti on 23 December and Annapurna Jayanti on 24 December.
Is fasting compulsory on Mokshada Ekadashi?
No. Fasting is a personal vow, and many keep a fruit and milk fast or one simple meal. People who are pregnant, elderly, diabetic or on regular medicine should ask a doctor first.
When does Kharmas start in December 2026?
Kharmas starts with Dhanu Sankranti on 16 December 2026. In North India it runs until Makar Sankranti in mid-January 2027, and weddings are usually avoided during it.
When is Annapurna Jayanti in 2026?
Annapurna Jayanti is listed on Thursday, 24 December 2026, the Margashirsha Purnima day, with Varanasi as the main centre. A few calendars keep it on 23 December, so check your local panchang.
Conclusion
The week from 20 to 24 December is the heart of December 2026: Gita Jayanti and Vaikuntha Ekadashi on the 20th, and Datta Jayanti on the 23rd. Keep the Ekadashi fast on 20 December, break it after sunrise on 21 December, and hold the Datta puja in the evening of 23 December. Use your own city for tithi times, and check the temple for its programme before you travel.
Sources
- Drik Panchang: Gita Jayanti
- Drik Panchang: Mokshada Ekadashi Vrat Katha
- Haindavam: Mokshada Ekadashi 2026 (Ujjain timings)
- HinduTone: Gita Jayanti 2026
- HinduTone: Datta Jayanti 2026
- HinduTone: December 2026 Hindu festivals
- HinduTone: Vaikuntha Ekadashi 2026
- HinduTone: Gita Jayanti 2026 USA city-wise
- HinduTone: Gita Jayanti 2026 Canada city-wise
- Wikipedia: Bhagavad Gita
- Wikipedia: Mokshada Ekadashi
- Wikipedia: Dattatreya
- Wikipedia: Datta Jayanti
- The Tribune: International Gita Mahotsav 2025
