October 2026 is the heart of the autumn festival season, dominated by Sharada Navratri and Dussehra (Vijayadashami, Oct 20). The Sun moves into Libra mid-month. Important: because 2026 is an adhika-masa (leap-month) year, Diwali and Dhanteras fall in November this year, not October.
Key Auspicious Days & Festivals in October 2026
| Date | Event | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Oct Tue | Indira Ekadashi | Fasting during Pitru Paksha for ancestors |
| 10 Oct Sat | Mahalaya Amavasya | End of Pitru Paksha — Sarva Pitru ancestor offerings |
| 11 Oct Sun | SHARADA NAVRATRI begins | Ghatasthapana — nine nights of the Goddess |
| 18 Oct Sun | Tula Sankranti | Sun enters Libra |
| 20 Oct Tue | DUSSEHRA (Vijayadashami) | Victory of good over evil — one of the most auspicious days for new beginnings |
| 21 Oct Wed | Papankusha Ekadashi | Fasting for merit and Vishnu worship |
| 25 Oct Sun | Sharad Purnima | Full Moon — Kojagari Lakshmi Puja, moonlight offerings |
| 29 Oct Thu | Karva Chauth | Fast by wives for the wellbeing of their husbands |
Muhurta NoteVijayadashami (Oct 20) is the single most auspicious day of the month for any new venture. Note that weddings and Griha Pravesh remain paused — Chaturmas continues until Prabodhini Ekadashi (Nov 20). Diwali is Nov 8 this year.
These dates are computed from the Vedic Panchang (Lahiri ayanamsa) and cross-checked with authoritative sources. For an exact Muhurta by your city and time — including Rahu Kalam, Nakshatra and Tithi at sunrise — use the daily Panchangam.
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When is Dussehra in 2026?
Dussehra (Vijayadashami) is on Tuesday, October 20, 2026 — Ashwin Shukla Dashami. It is among the three-and-a-half most auspicious days of the year for starting anything new.
Is October 2026 good for weddings?
No. Chaturmas — the four-month period when major ceremonies pause — continues through October and ends only on Prabodhini Ekadashi (Nov 20, 2026). The wedding season reopens from late November.
When is Diwali 2026 — October or November?
Diwali 2026 is on Sunday, November 8, 2026. Because 2026 is an adhika-masa (leap-month) year, the Kartik festivals — Dhanteras, Diwali, Govardhan Puja — all fall in November, not October.