Key takeaways
- Hindu festival dates follow the lunar tithi, so they change every year and can differ by a day between India and abroad.
- Key 2027 dates: Chaitra Navratri from 7 April, Baglamukhi Jayanti 13 May, Sharad Navratri from 30 September, Diwali 29 October.
- Magh Gupt Navratri begins around 7 February and Ashadh Gupt Navratri around 4 July 2027 (confirm locally).
- An Indian morning muhurat usually falls on the previous evening in North America.
- Request leave early for Navratri, Diwali and Holi, which don't fall on fixed Gregorian dates.
- A festival puja can be performed at Nalkheda in your name and joined by video where arranged.
For Hindu families living far from India, festivals are much more than dates on a calendar. They are how children learn their heritage, how families stay connected to their roots, and how a home abroad becomes a place of devotion. But with lunar dates that shift every year, busy work schedules and time zones, it's easy to miss an important day.
This 2027 Hindu festival calendar brings together the major festivals, including the ones especially important to devotees of Maa Baglamukhi, along with practical tips for celebrating in the USA, Canada and UK.
Important Note on Dates
Hindu festivals follow the lunar calendar (tithi), so dates can vary by one day depending on location and the panchang followed. Dates below are Indian dates (IST). For North America, a festival that begins in the Indian morning may fall on the previous evening locally. Always check with your local temple or priest for the exact muhurat in your city.
Read more: Time Zones and Muhurat: Joining an Indian Puja from New York, Toronto or London
Hindu Festival Calendar 2027
| Festival | Date (2027) | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Makar Sankranti / Pongal | 14–15 January* | Sun enters Capricorn; harvest festival |
| Magh Gupt Navratri | Begins around 7 February (confirm) | Secret Navratri, especially sacred for the Mahavidyas |
| Vasant Panchami | Thursday, 11 February | Saraswati Puja; beginning of spring |
| Maha Shivratri | Saturday, 6 March | The great night of Lord Shiva |
| Holika Dahan | Monday, 22 March | Bonfire, victory of devotion (Prahlad) |
| Holi | 22–23 March* | Festival of colours |
| Chaitra Navratri begins | Wednesday, 7 April | Nine nights of the Goddess (spring) |
| Ram Navami | Thursday, 15 April | Birth of Lord Rama |
| Hanuman Jayanti | Tuesday, 20 April | Birth of Lord Hanuman |
| Akshaya Tritiya | 8–9 May* | Auspicious day for new beginnings |
| Baglamukhi Jayanti | Thursday, 13 May | Appearance day of Maa Baglamukhi |
| Ashadh Gupt Navratri | Begins around 4 July (confirm) | Second Gupt Navratri, sacred for the Mahavidyas |
| Guru Purnima | Sunday, 18 July | Honouring the guru |
| Raksha Bandhan | Tuesday, 17 August | Bond between brothers and sisters |
| Krishna Janmashtami | 24–25 August* | Birth of Lord Krishna |
| Ganesh Chaturthi | Saturday, 4 September | Birth of Lord Ganesha |
| Sharad Navratri begins | Thursday, 30 September | Nine nights of the Goddess (autumn) |
| Dussehra (Vijayadashami) | Saturday, 9 October | Victory of dharma |
| Karwa Chauth | Monday, 18 October | Fast for the well-being of the spouse |
| Dhanteras | Wednesday, 27 October | First day of Diwali |
| Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) | Friday, 29 October | Festival of lights |
| Chhath Puja | Thursday, 4 November | Worship of the Sun (Surya) |
* Sources differ by one day. Confirm locally.
Festivals Especially Important to Maa Baglamukhi Devotees
Gupt Navratri (Magh and Ashadh)
Two lesser-known Navratris, observed quietly (gupt means secret), are considered especially sacred for the Dus Mahavidyas, including Maa Baglamukhi. Many devotees choose these nine nights for mantra jaap, anushthan and havan.
Read more: Gupt Navratri: Why It Matters for Mahavidya Devotees
Baglamukhi Jayanti: Thursday, 13 May 2027
The appearance day of Maa Baglamukhi, celebrated on Vaishakh Shukla Ashtami. It is the most important day of the year for her devotees and a very popular day for puja and havan at Maa Baglamukhi Temple, Nalkheda.
Read more: Baglamukhi Jayanti 2027: Significance and Puja at Nalkheda
Chaitra and Sharad Navratri
The two main Navratris, from 7 April and 30 September in 2027, are major times for Shakti worship, havan and Kanya Pujan.
Read more: Chaitra Navratri 2027: Puja and Havan Guide
Every Ashtami
The Ashtami tithi of each month is also traditionally auspicious for Maa Baglamukhi's worship.
Read more: Monthly Auspicious Days for Baglamukhi Puja
Tips for Celebrating Festivals Abroad
Plan Around Weekends
Many temples and community groups in the USA, Canada and UK hold celebrations on the nearest weekend. Do your home puja on the actual tithi, and join community events on the weekend.
Keep a Simple Home Mandir
A small, clean mandir with a diya, a bell and images of your family deities is enough to celebrate every festival with devotion.
Read more: Setting Up a Home Mandir Abroad
Involve the Children
Tell the story behind each festival, let children help with rangoli, diyas and prasad, and explain the meaning in simple words. Festivals are the best way to pass on heritage.
Read more: Teaching Children About Hindu Devotion When You Live Abroad
Take Time Off Early
Diwali, Navratri and Holi don't fall on fixed Gregorian dates, so request leave early from work or school.
Stay Connected with India
Many families have a puja performed in India on important festivals, at a temple associated with their family or their chosen deity, and join by video call.
Having a Festival Puja Performed at Nalkheda
For festivals like Gupt Navratri, Baglamukhi Jayanti, Navratri and Diwali, many NRI families have a traditional Maa Baglamukhi Puja or Havan performed at Maa Baglamukhi Temple, Nalkheda in their name by Acharya Ashish Sharma:
- Free consultation by phone or online, arranged around your time zone
- Sankalp details shared (name, gotra, family members, intention)
- Ritual at Nalkheda on the festival muhurat
- Join by video call or receive photos or video, where arranged
Festival dates book up quickly. Contact us a few weeks in advance.
Read more: How to Book a Puja in India from the USA, Canada or UK
2027 at a Glance: Month by Month
| Month | Key festivals |
|---|---|
| January | Makar Sankranti / Pongal |
| February | Magh Gupt Navratri (from around 7 Feb), Vasant Panchami (11 Feb) |
| March | Maha Shivratri (6 Mar), Holika Dahan and Holi (22–23 Mar) |
| April | Chaitra Navratri (from 7 Apr), Ram Navami (15 Apr), Hanuman Jayanti (20 Apr) |
| May | Akshaya Tritiya (8–9 May), Baglamukhi Jayanti (13 May) |
| July | Ashadh Gupt Navratri (from around 4 Jul), Guru Purnima (18 Jul) |
| August | Raksha Bandhan (17 Aug), Janmashtami (24–25 Aug) |
| September | Ganesh Chaturthi (4 Sep), Sharad Navratri (from 30 Sep) |
| October | Dussehra (9 Oct), Karwa Chauth (18 Oct), Dhanteras (27 Oct), Diwali (29 Oct) |
| November | Chhath Puja (4 Nov) |
Key 2027 Dates in Your Time Zone
A puja at 9:00 AM IST in India on these days is at the following local times:
| Occasion (India date) | New York / Toronto | San Francisco / Vancouver | London |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magh Gupt Navratri begins (~7 Feb) | 10:30 PM, 6 Feb | 7:30 PM, 6 Feb | 3:30 AM, 7 Feb |
| Chaitra Navratri begins (7 Apr) | 11:30 PM, 6 Apr | 8:30 PM, 6 Apr | 4:30 AM, 7 Apr |
| Baglamukhi Jayanti (13 May) | 11:30 PM, 12 May | 8:30 PM, 12 May | 4:30 AM, 13 May |
| Sharad Navratri begins (30 Sep) | 11:30 PM, 29 Sep | 8:30 PM, 29 Sep | 4:30 AM, 30 Sep |
| Diwali (29 Oct, evening puja) | Morning of 29 Oct | Early morning of 29 Oct | Afternoon of 29 Oct |
February times use standard time; April–October use daylight saving time. Confirm the actual muhurat with your priest.
Read more: Time Zones and Muhurat
Simple Home Observances for Each Festival
| Festival | A simple way to observe it at home |
|---|---|
| Makar Sankranti | Til-gud sweets, a donation of food or warm clothes |
| Vasant Panchami | Wear yellow, place books and instruments before Maa Saraswati |
| Maha Shivratri | Offer water or milk to a Shiva lingam or image, chant "Om Namah Shivaya", keep a fast if you can |
| Holi | Holika Dahan story for the children; natural colours with family |
| Chaitra / Sharad Navratri | Ghatasthapana, daily diya, Kanya Pujan on Ashtami or Navami |
| Baglamukhi Jayanti | Wear yellow, offer yellow flowers and turmeric, recite her 108 names |
| Gupt Navratri | A quiet daily practice: diya, chalisa or 108 names; a puja or havan with an Acharya |
| Janmashtami | Midnight aarti, a small cradle for Bal Gopal, makhan-mishri |
| Ganesh Chaturthi | A small clay Ganesha, modak, and eco-friendly visarjan at home |
| Diwali | Clean the home, Lakshmi-Ganesh puja in the evening, diyas at every door |
Planning an India Trip Around Festivals
Many families plan their India visit around a festival. A few tips:
- Book flights early: Diwali and the winter holidays are the busiest travel times.
- Expect crowds at major temples during Navratri, Baglamukhi Jayanti and Diwali.
- Arrange your puja in advance so it fits your travel dates.
- Combine pilgrimages: for example, Ujjain's Mahakaleshwar and Maa Baglamukhi Temple, Nalkheda, in 2–3 days from Indore.
Read more: Ujjain–Nalkheda Pilgrimage
Keeping Family Traditions Alive
Every family has its own festival customs: a particular sweet made only on Diwali, a song sung at the Navratri aarti, a grandmother's way of drawing rangoli. Living abroad, these small traditions are easily lost.
A few ideas to keep them alive: - Write down family recipes and customs with the elders, and keep them with this calendar. - Record elders telling the festival stories, so children can hear them in their voices. - Give children a role each festival: lighting the diya, ringing the bell or distributing prasad. - Mark one "family deity day" each year, such as Baglamukhi Jayanti, for a special puja together.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using the Indian date without checking local time. A morning muhurat in India is often the previous evening in North America.
- Relying on last year's calendar. Lunar dates shift every year.
- Requesting leave too late for Navratri or Diwali.
- Booking festival pujas at the last minute. Popular days fill quickly.
- Skipping the smaller observances. A diya and a short prayer on the actual tithi keeps the connection alive, even when the big celebration is on the weekend.
About Acharya Ashish Sharma
Acharya Ashish Sharma has served in the tradition of Maa Baglamukhi for more than 25 years. He is Sanskrit-trained and connected with this tradition since birth, and his office is near Maa Baglamukhi Temple, Nalkheda. He performs traditional Maa Baglamukhi Puja, Havan and Special Anushthan, and offers personal spiritual guidance according to each devotee's situation, for families in India and around the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Diwali in 2027?
Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) falls on Friday, 29 October 2027, with Dhanteras on Wednesday, 27 October.
When is Navratri in 2027?
Chaitra Navratri begins on Wednesday, 7 April 2027, and Sharad Navratri begins on Thursday, 30 September 2027, with Dussehra on Saturday, 9 October.
When is Baglamukhi Jayanti in 2027?
Baglamukhi Jayanti falls on Thursday, 13 May 2027 (Vaishakh Shukla Ashtami).
Why do festival dates differ between the USA and India?
Hindu festivals follow the lunar tithi, and India is 9.5 to 12.5 hours ahead of North America. A tithi that begins in the Indian morning may fall on the previous evening locally, so dates can differ by a day.
Can I have a festival puja performed in India from abroad?
Yes. Book a free consultation by phone or online, share your sankalp details, and the puja is performed at Nalkheda in your name on the festival muhurat.
When is Gupt Navratri in 2027?
Magh Gupt Navratri begins around 7 February and Ashadh Gupt Navratri around 4 July 2027. Confirm the exact dates in your local panchang.
When is Holi in 2027?
Holika Dahan is on 22 March and Holi is observed on 22–23 March 2027, depending on the source and location.
Should I celebrate on the Indian date or my local date?
For home puja, follow the tithi for your location (your local temple or priest can confirm). For a puja performed in India, the Indian date and muhurat apply.
Can I get this calendar as a printable PDF?
Send an SMS to +91 88271 82771 or email us, and we'll share a printable version when it is available.