Dussehra and Diwali 2026 Dates: Full Festive Calendar for Travel

Updated October 2026 · HappyFares

From Navratri to Chhath Puja, the back half of 2026 is one long stretch of festivals, which also means one long stretch of travel. Here is every date confirmed, lined up so you can plan flights around each one.

What are the key festive dates in 2026, from Navratri to Chhath Puja?

The table below lists each festival in order. Dates for Dhanteras, Diwali, Chhath Puja and Dev Uthani Ekadashi are drawn from the central government’s 2026 holiday notification and panchang sources; the others are cross-checked against two independent panchang sources and the weekday is computed, not estimated.

One quirk worth flagging for 2026: the Naraka Chaturdashi tithi this year overlaps with Diwali itself. The ritual pre-dawn bath that marks Choti Diwali falls on the morning of Sunday 8 November, the same calendar day as Lakshmi Puja, while Kali Chaudas is observed the evening before, on Saturday 7 November. Some calendars will therefore show Choti Diwali on the 7th and some on the 8th. Both are correct, it is a tithi overlap, not an error.

When exactly is Dussehra 2026?

Dussehra, also called Vijayadashami, falls on Tuesday, 20 October 2026. It closes the nine nights of Sharad Navratri, which begins on Sunday, 11 October. Dussehra is a central government gazetted holiday, so most offices and many schools are closed that day nationwide, not just in the states that hold Ramlila and effigy-burning events.

When exactly is Diwali 2026?

Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026. Because it lands on a Sunday this year, the festival does not stretch the weekend the way it can when it falls on a weekday, which is worth noting if you were hoping for an automatic long break purely from the calendar. Dhanteras, two days earlier on Friday 6 November, already gives shoppers and travellers a lead-in.

Which days during this festive stretch tend to see flights fill up fastest?

Airlines do not publish day-by-day booking curves, so treat this as general seasonal behaviour rather than a hard number. Historically, the days immediately before Dussehra and the three to four days before Diwali are the tightest, as people travelling home for both festivals converge on the same routes into smaller towns and state capitals. Chhath Puja adds a second, sharper spike specifically on routes into Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern Uttar Pradesh, because that festival is observed intensely in those states and draws a large home-bound movement from Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru in a short four-day window.

Return flights after each festival, especially the weekend right after Diwali and the Monday after Chhath Puja ends, also tend to be in high demand as people head back to work.

When should you book your onward and return flights?

As a general rule, book your outbound festive flight as soon as your leave is confirmed rather than waiting for a sale, since fares on popular festive routes typically climb steadily as the date nears rather than dropping late. For Diwali travel specifically, see our Diwali 2026 return flight strategy if you are flying in from abroad. For the Chhath Puja window, our Chhath Puja 2026 flights and return travel guide covers the Bihar and eastern UP corridor in more depth.

Common Questions

Is Choti Diwali before Diwali in 2026?

Not cleanly this year. The Naraka Chaturdashi tithi overlaps with Diwali’s own date, so the pre-dawn ritual bath falls on the morning of Sunday 8 November, while Kali Chaudas is marked the evening before on Saturday 7 November. Both days see some observance.

Is Dussehra a bank and school holiday across India?

Dussehra is on the central government’s gazetted holiday list for 2026, so central government offices and banks are closed. School closures depend on the state board and individual school calendar, so check your child’s school calendar separately.

Does Chhath Puja affect flights to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh?

Yes, this is one of the busiest home-bound travel windows of the year for routes into Patna, Gaya, Lucknow and Varanasi, concentrated in the four days from 13 to 16 November 2026.

Is Navratri a good time to fly to Gujarat?

Navratri, 11 to 20 October 2026, draws large numbers of travellers to Gujarat for garba and dandiya events, particularly on weekends within that window, so expect routes into Ahmedabad and Vadodara to be busier than usual on those dates.

When is Dev Uthani Ekadashi 2026 and does it affect travel?

Dev Uthani Ekadashi falls on Friday, 20 November 2026. It marks the end of the Chaturmas period, after which Hindu weddings resume, so it often triggers a separate, smaller wave of wedding-related travel in the weeks that follow.

Should I book my return flight before or after booking my outbound flight?

Book both together where you can. Return flights in the days right after Diwali and right after Chhath Puja fill on the same pattern as the outbound legs, just in the opposite direction, so leaving the return for later usually means fewer convenient options and a higher fare.

Festival dates follow the lunar calendar and can shift slightly between regional panchangs. Verify the date and any holiday status with your state government or the airline before finalising non-refundable travel.