Asian festival calendar 2026

Lohri is a Punjabi midwinter and harvest-season celebration linked to the turning of the season and agrarian life. Stories of Dulla Bhatti, a Punjabi folk hero, are often sung around the fire.

• Gather around a bonfire and sing traditional songs
• Share rewri, gajak, popcorn and peanuts
• Celebrate new marriages and births in some families

In Britain, a garden gathering or a community hall often stands in for a village bonfire. Some families celebrate on a nearby weekend.

This is a regional cultural festival; not every Sikh or Hindu household marks it.

This marks the sun’s transition into Makara in the Indian solar calendar. It is associated with longer days, harvests, generosity and fresh beginnings, with different names and customs across India.

• Fly colourful kites in the Gujarati Uttarayan tradition
• Share til-gud (sesame and jaggery) sweets
• Offer food, charity or prayers

Kite-flying may move to a local park when weather allows; families also gather indoors to share traditional snacks.

Makar Sankranti has several local names; Pongal is a related but distinct Tamil festival.

Pongal expresses gratitude for the sun, harvest, land and cattle that sustain life. The overflowing pot represents abundance and well-being.

• Cook sweet pongal with rice, milk and jaggery
• Draw kolam patterns at the entrance
• Give thanks for farming and nature across the festival days

Families make pongal in a home kitchen, share food at Tamil community events and teach children kolam designs.

Tamil Pongal and Gujarati Uttarayan occur around the same solar turning, but their rituals are distinct.

Republic Day marks the adoption of the Constitution and the establishment of India as a republic on 26 January 1950.

• Watch India’s Republic Day parade or cultural performances
• Share stories about the constitution and citizenship
• Attend flag-raising and community events where held

Some community organisations, schools and the High Commission mark the day; other families do not observe it.

A civic occasion, not a religious festival.

“The great night of Shiva” is observed through prayer and introspection. Hindu traditions explain its importance in different ways, including Shiva’s cosmic dance and union with Parvati.

• Visit a mandir or pray at home
• Offer water and bilva leaves where customary
• Keep a vigil, chant or fast if personally appropriate

Temples may hold evening worship; families may adapt prayers around work and school schedules.

Fasting is optional and practices vary greatly; nobody needs to fast to take part respectfully.

Ramadan commemorates the revelation of the Qur’an and is a time for taqwa (God-consciousness), charity, community and self-discipline.

• Fast from dawn to sunset when required and able
• Gather for iftar, the sunset meal
• Increase prayer, Qur’an reading and charitable giving

Prayer and meal times follow local UK sunrise and sunset, which differ from India. Schools and workplaces sometimes accommodate fasting.

Start and end dates depend on local moon-sighting decisions. Exemptions from fasting exist, including for illness and travel.

Holi celebrates spring, renewal and the victory of devotion over arrogance in the story of Prahlad and Holika. Other traditions connect its playful colours to Krishna and Radha.

• Light or attend a Holika Dahan bonfire the preceding evening where customary
• Play with coloured powder and water by mutual consent
• Share gujiya, thandai or festive meals

Outdoor colour events may be held on a weekend in a park or community venue, often separate from the religious observance.

Never throw colour at anyone without consent. Some people mark Holi through prayer or food rather than public colour play.

Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan and emphasises gratitude, charity and being together. Zakat al-Fitr is given so others can celebrate, too.

• Attend Eid prayer
• Share greetings, sweets and a celebratory meal
• Give Zakat al-Fitr before Eid prayers as required

Families gather at local mosques, hired prayer spaces and one another’s homes; children may receive Eidi (gifts or money).

The exact day can differ between UK mosques according to moon sighting.

The festival commemorates Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara in Jain tradition, and invites reflection on non-violence, compassion and restraint.

• Visit a derasar (Jain temple) or attend prayers
• Listen to teachings about ahimsa and truth
• Practise charity and care towards living beings

Jain centres may organise community worship, talks and acts of service.

Jainism is its own religious tradition, not a branch of Hinduism.

Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, central to Christian faith. In India and Britain, traditions differ by church, region and family.

• Attend church and share Easter greetings
• Spend time with family over a meal
• Observe Holy Week practices where customary

Indian Christian families often blend church traditions from Kerala, Goa or other regions with British Easter customs.

Not a practice shared by every Asian family; included because Asian identity spans religions.

Puthandu begins the Tamil solar calendar month of Chithirai. Many households associate it with renewal, gratitude and hopes for a balanced year.

• Prepare a festive meal and visit relatives
• Serve mango pachadi, combining sweet, sour and bitter tastes
• Visit a temple or offer prayers in observing households

Tamil societies and families may host new-year gatherings and performances at weekends.

The six flavours of mango pachadi are often used to explain life’s mixture of experiences.

For Sikhs, Vaisakhi remembers Guru Gobind Singh establishing the Khalsa in 1699, affirming a collective commitment to courage, equality and service. It also has harvest significance in Punjab.

• Visit the gurdwara for kirtan (devotional music)
• Share a meal in langar, the free community kitchen
• Attend a Nagar Kirtan (community procession) where organised

Large public processions and gurdwara celebrations take place across British cities, sometimes on adjacent weekends.

Vaisakhi has overlapping Sikh religious and Punjabi cultural meanings; the Khalsa story is specifically Sikh.

Vishu is a solar new-year observance associated with beginning the year in a spirit of abundance and hope.

• Arrange a Vishukkani display of flowers, fruit, rice, lamps and a mirror
• Exchange Vishukkaineettam, a symbolic gift of money
• Share a special meal

Families recreate the Vishukkani at home; regional associations may host a Vishu get-together.

UK and India calendars can list 14 or 15 April; follow your family or temple calendar for the observance.

Eid al-Adha recalls the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to obey God and takes place during the days of Hajj. Giving and feeding others are central themes.

• Join Eid prayer with the community
• Arrange Qurbani through an appropriate provider if observing
• Share food and support those in need

Many families organise charitable Qurbani through UK organisations and meet relatives for a celebratory meal.

Exact dates can change with local or international moon-sighting practices.

Rath Yatra centres on Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra travelling in chariots. In devotional interpretations, their journey signifies the divine coming out among the people.

• Attend a chariot procession where organised
• Sing kirtan and share prasadam
• Learn about the Jagannath tradition of Odisha

ISKCON and other communities may organise processions in UK cities on locally scheduled weekends.

Public procession dates can differ from the traditional festival date.

Independence Day recognises the end of British colonial rule and the beginning of India’s independence. It is also a moment to learn about Partition and the different experiences and memories it left.

• Attend cultural and flag-raising events
• Hear family stories and reflect on history
• Listen to music, speeches and community performances

Some diaspora organisations and the High Commission host events; other families engage with the occasion privately or not at all.

The history is complex and includes the trauma of Partition. It is worth making space for different family memories.

Onam is a Kerala harvest and homecoming festival connected to the legendary King Mahabali, often associated with prosperity, fairness and togetherness.

• Create pookalam, a flower-petal design
• Serve Onam sadya, a many-dish meal traditionally eaten from a banana leaf
• Gather for games, dance and cultural performances

Malayali associations organise large Onam sadyas in halls around the UK, often on the weekend closest to Thiruvonam.

Onam is enjoyed by many Malayalis across religious backgrounds, though its stories include Hindu traditions.

Traditionally, a sister ties a rakhi around her brother’s wrist as a symbol of love, protection and responsibility. Many modern families broaden it to siblings, cousins and friends.

• Tie a rakhi and exchange sweets
• Offer blessings and often a small gift
• Call or post a rakhi to relatives far away

Many families send rakhis by post across Britain and India, or celebrate over a video call.

Some UK calendars list 27 August and others 28 August in 2026; check your local panchang.

Janmashtami celebrates the birth of Krishna. His stories explore devotion, playfulness, moral courage and love.

• Sing bhajans and read Krishna stories
• Decorate a cradle or altar
• Attend midnight aarti or worship where observed

Mandirs often hold family-friendly cultural programmes and late-night worship.

Fasting, timing and rituals depend on the tradition followed.

Jain communities use this period to deepen non-violence, prayer, self-discipline and forgiveness. Shvetambar Paryushan and Digambar Das Lakshan have different durations and emphases.

• Practise pratikraman (reflection and repentance)
• Attend discourses and prayers
• Seek and offer forgiveness, often with “Micchami Dukkadam”

Jain centres and community groups organise talks and prayers, sometimes with online participation.

In 2026, commonly listed dates are 8–15 September for Shvetambar Paryushan and 16–25 September for Digambar Das Lakshan.

Ganesha is honoured as the remover of obstacles and patron of new beginnings. The festival is especially prominent in Maharashtra.

• Set up a home shrine or attend community worship
• Offer modaks and other favourite sweets
• Bid farewell through visarjan (immersion) where observed

UK celebrations often use reusable idols or venue-managed, environmentally responsible immersion rather than rivers.

Not all communities bring a statue home; some simply pray at the mandir.

Navratri celebrates forms of Devi, divine feminine power. Traditions differ: Gujarati garba, Bengali Durga Puja and home worship all have their own emphasis.

• Attend garba or dandiya dancing
• Offer prayers and devotional singing
• Join community gatherings with family and friends

In Leicester, London, Birmingham and elsewhere, garba nights may fill sports halls and event venues—sometimes with ticketing and dress codes.

Garba is widely enjoyed culturally, but the devotional meaning is important to many participants.

For many Bengali Hindu communities, Durga Puja celebrates the goddess defeating Mahishasura, a symbol of goodness overcoming destructive forces. It is also a time of reunion and creative expression.

• Visit a Durga Puja pandal or community shrine
• Share bhog (food offered in devotion) and cultural performances
• Gather for sindoor khela or immersion where customary

Bengali community organisations organise multi-day pujas in hired halls with cultural programmes and communal food.

The schedule can differ by local association; check the organiser before attending.

Vijayadashami marks victory over harmful forces. In some traditions it remembers Rama defeating Ravana; in others it honours Durga’s victory over Mahishasura.

• Watch Ramlila theatre or ceremonial effigies where organised
• Celebrate the close of Navratri or Durga Puja
• Offer prayers or share a meal

Community groups may stage Ramlila and cultural events; not every family marks the day in the same way.

Some local calendars and communities differ on the date by a day.

Karva Chauth is a North Indian custom associated with love, devotion and marital wellbeing, with different family stories and rituals around the Moon.

• Share sargi, a pre-dawn meal, where customary
• Gather for stories and a puja
• End a fast after moonrise if choosing to observe

Families should use UK-local moonrise times, not times copied from India. Some couples reinterpret or choose not to observe the fast.

Not a universal Hindu requirement. Fasting is a personal choice and should never override medical needs.

Bandi Chhor Divas recalls Guru Hargobind’s release from Gwalior Fort and, according to Sikh tradition, his insistence that 52 other prisoners be freed too. It speaks to freedom and collective dignity.

• Visit the gurdwara for kirtan and prayer
• Light lamps and share langar
• Reflect on service and standing up for others

Gurdwaras may be beautifully illuminated and busy with families gathering in the evening.

Often coincides with Diwali, but it is not simply “the Sikh version of Hindu Diwali”.

For many Hindus Diwali celebrates light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance. In different regions it is associated with Lakshmi, Rama’s return to Ayodhya, Krishna and other traditions.

• Clean and decorate homes with diyas and rangoli
• Exchange mithai and visit family or the mandir
• Offer Lakshmi Puja or other family prayers

Asian families may share mithai at work, attend town-centre light events or celebrate at home after school and work.

Sikhs and Jains also mark this season, with distinct religious meanings described separately here.

For Jains, Diwali marks Mahavira’s attainment of moksha (liberation), rather than the stories central to many Hindu observances.

• Visit a Jain temple and pray
• Reflect on knowledge, non-violence and liberation
• Light lamps or share a family meal

Jain community celebrations may include temple worship, talks and shared meals.

The same date can carry distinct meanings across faiths.

Annakut (“mountain of food”) honours Krishna’s protection of his community and expresses gratitude through offerings. Many Gujarati Hindus celebrate their new year in the Diwali period.

• Offer or view a colourful arrangement of food at a mandir
• Share new-year greetings, “Saal Mubarak”
• Make a fresh start with family and community

Neasden Temple lists a major Annakut celebration on 10 November 2026; other community calendars may differ.

This date refers to Neasden’s published event, not a single date for all Gujarati families.

Chhath honours Surya (the Sun) and Chhathi Maiya, expressing gratitude for life, health and nature. It is especially important in Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern Uttar Pradesh.

• Prepare simple offerings in bamboo baskets
• Offer arghya to the setting and rising sun
• Gather with family in a dedicated prayer space

Community groups may organise a safe waterside observance; local sunrise and sunset times matter.

Some observers keep a demanding fast; do not assume everybody does or should.

Guru Nanak’s teachings centre on remembrance of God, honest living, sharing and equality. Gurpurab is a time to revisit these ideas as a community.

• Attend kirtan and listen to readings from Guru Granth Sahib
• Help prepare or serve langar
• Join a Nagar Kirtan where organised

Gurdwaras may host days of worship and service, with processions sometimes on a convenient weekend.

Sikh calendars and gurdwaras sometimes differ in the dates used for Gurpurabs.

For Christians, Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus. Indian Christian households bring regional traditions from across India into a UK winter setting.

• Attend church or midnight mass, where customary
• Gather for food and gift-giving
• Make regional festive dishes alongside British favourites

An Asian Christmas table might reflect Keralan, Goan, Anglo-Indian or other family food traditions.

Being Asian does not imply celebrating Christmas religiously; many join only secular elements or not at all.