The second half of March 2026 will be packed with major festivals across India, with Hindu and Muslim celebrations falling close together on the calendar.

March 19 sets the tone, with three festivals coinciding on the same day. Chaitra Navratri begins, while Gudi Padwa is celebrated in Maharashtra and Goa, and Ugadi in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka, all marking the Hindu New Year.

March 2026: Key holidays at a glance

March 19 — Ugadi and Gudi Padwa (regional holiday)

March 21 — Eid ul-Fitr (gazetted holiday)

March 26 — Rama Navami (gazetted holiday)

March 31 — Mahavir Jayanti (gazetted holiday)

March 19: Three festivals, one day

Gudi Padwa marks the Marathi New Year. Families hoist a decorated pole called the Gudi, adorned with silk cloth and a copper pot, symbolising victory and prosperity.

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Ugadi, also known as Yugadi, marks the Telugu and Kannada New Year. Ugadi Pachadi is a key ritual dish featuring six tastes: bitter, sweet, sour, salty, tangy, and spicy, each representing different emotions in the year ahead.

Chaitra Navratri also begins on March 19 with Ghatasthapana, or the installation of the sacred pot, marking nine days of fasting and prayers dedicated to Goddess Durga.

Eid ul-Fitr on March 21

Eid ul-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan. In India, it is expected to fall on Saturday, March 21, 2026, subject to the sighting of the Shawwal crescent moon on the evening of March 20. It is a gazetted public holiday.

Nine days of Navratri

Chaitra Navratri 2026 will be observed from March 19 to March 27, with each day dedicated to a different form of Goddess Durga, symbolising peace, knowledge, power, and prosperity.

The first three days honour Maa Shailputri (yellow) on March 19, Maa Brahmacharini (green) on March 20, and Maa Chandraghanta (grey) on March 21.

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The next three days are dedicated to Maa Kushmanda (orange) on March 22, Maa Skandamata (white) on March 23, and Maa Katyayani (red) on March 24.

The final three days celebrate Maa Kalaratri (blue) on March 25, Maa Mahagauri (pink) on March 26, and Maa Siddhidatri (purple) on March 27. The last day also coincides with Rama Navami, a public holiday in many parts of India.

Mahavir Jayanti on March 31

Mahavir Jayanti will be observed on March 31, 2026, and is a public holiday across India. The day marks the birth of Lord Mahavir, the 24th and last Tirthankara of Jainism, who is revered for promoting peace and harmony.

Jain communities observe the occasion with deep devotion.