Kannada Calendar 2026 ಕನ್ನಡ ಕ್ಯಾಲೆಂಡರ್ ೨೦೨೬

January opens with the Makara Sankranti (Jan 15) — Karnataka's biggest harvest festival. Families exchange Ellu-Bella (sesame-jaggery mix, coconut, sugarcane, banana) with the greeting "ಎಳ್ಳು ಬೆಲ್ಲ ತಿಂದು ಒಳ್ಳೆ ಮಾತಾಡು" — "Eat sesame-jaggery and speak sweet words." The entire state celebrates with kite-flying and bull-taming (Kambala) events.

February brings Maha Shivaratri (Feb 26) — one of the grandest observances in Karnataka. Shiva temples across Bengaluru, Mysuru, and Dharwad observe all-night vigils with Lingarchana (successive Abhishekam every 3 hours through the 4 praharas). The Kashi Vishweshwara temple at Dharwad and Parvati-Parameshwara temple at Bengaluru draw massive crowds.

Yugadi (March 19) is the centrepiece of this month — the Kannada New Year beginning Vikrama Samvat 2083. The Bevu-Bella ritual and Panchanga Sravanam are performed before sunrise. This is also the month when Karnataka households prepare Obbattu (Holige) — sweet flat bread stuffed with chana dal and jaggery — offered as Naivedya on Yugadi.

Basava Jayanti (April 20) is a Karnataka state holiday honouring 12th-century philosopher-saint Basavanna, the founder of Veerashaiva Lingayat tradition. Basavanna's Vachanas (pithy spiritual verses in Old Kannada) are recited in processions. The Basaveshwara temple at Kudala Sangama (Bijapur) sees enormous pilgrimages. This festival has no parallel outside Karnataka.

May is harvest transition season in Karnataka. Buddha Purnima (May 8) is observed in Buddhist monasteries in Bengaluru and Gulbarga. The month also sees the beginning of the southwest monsoon forecast discussions — Karnataka depends on the Southwest Monsoon (June onset) for Kharif crops including ragi, jowar, and cotton.

Nirjala Ekadashi (Jun 23) is the strictest Ekadashi in the year — observed without even water from sunrise to next day's sunrise. It is believed to carry the merit of all 24 Ekadashis combined. Karnataka's Gaudiya Vaishnava community in Bengaluru observes this with the most rigour. Guru Purnima (late June/July) marks the start of the Chaturmas period.

July 2026 marks the start of Adhik Shravana Maas — the intercalary (extra) month inserted into the lunisolar calendar to realign lunar and solar years. All auspicious events (weddings, grihapravesa, upanayana) are strictly avoided during this period. However, Adhik Maas is excellent for charity, prayers, fasting, and visiting temples. It occurs approximately once every 2.5 years.

August is dominated by Gowri Habba (Aug 16) and Ganesha Habba (Aug 17) — back-to-back festivals unique to Karnataka's celebration calendar. Gowri (Parvati) is worshipped first; clay Gowri idols are installed, and married women perform the Swarna Gouri Vrata for the health of their husbands. The following day, Ganesha Chaturthi begins a 10-day public festival culminating in Ganesha Visarjana (immersion).

September brings the Pitru Paksha (Shraddha Paksha) — the 15-day period for ancestral rites ending with Mahalaya Amavasye (Sep 19). Karnataka Brahmins perform Pitru Tarpana at sacred rivers, particularly at Triveni Sangama (Srirangapatna) and the banks of the Tungabhadra. The Mahalaya Amavasye is the most important day in this period.

October is the grandest month in Karnataka's calendar. The Mysore Dasara (Oct 12–21) is one of the world's most spectacular royal processions — a tradition maintained by the Wadiyar dynasty since the 14th century. On Vijayadasami (Oct 21), the golden-howdah elephant (Ambari) carries the image of Goddess Chamundeshwari in a torch-lit 5 km procession from the Mysore Palace to Bannimantapa. 5 lakh+ visitors attend.

November 1 is Kannada Rajyotsava — marking the formation of Karnataka state on November 1, 1956 (from the former Mysore State). The Kannada flag (yellow and red) flies across Karnataka; the state song "Jaya Bharata Jananiya Tanujate" plays in public spaces. The Kannadigas' pride in their language and culture reaches its annual peak. Kanakadasa Jayanti (Nov 27) honours the saint-poet Kanakadasa, a 16th-century Karnataka bhakti composer.