As June’s peak heat gives way to the first proper monsoon showers, July brings a wave of devotion built around Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva, and the reverence of one’s Guru. This guide lays out the complete Lala Ramswaroop Calendar July 2026, covering every major Vrat, festival, and auspicious Muhurat in one reliable reference.
The month spans the closing days of Ashadha and the opening of Shravan (Sawan), and it carries three occasions North India waits for all year — Jagannath Rath Yatra, Guru Purnima, and the start of Sawan itself. It’s also the month when Chaturmas begins, pausing weddings and other major ceremonies for four months. Below is a clear, date-wise breakdown.
Major Festivals in the Lala Ramswaroop Calendar — July 2026
| Date | Day | Festival | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 16, 2026 | Thursday | Jagannath Rath Yatra | Grand chariot procession of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra in Puri and worldwide |
| Jul 25, 2026 | Saturday | Devshayani Ekadashi | Chaturmas begins; Lord Vishnu enters a four-month yoga nidra |
| Jul 29, 2026 | Wednesday | Guru Purnima (Vyas Purnima) | Day dedicated to honouring one’s Guru, marking the birth of Maharishi Ved Vyas |
| Jul 30, 2026 | Thursday | Shravan (Sawan) Month Begins | Start of Lord Shiva’s most beloved month across North India |
Vrat and Tithi Dates — July 2026
| Date | Day | Vrat / Tithi | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 10, 2026 | Friday | Yogini Ekadashi | Ashadha Krishna Paksha Ekadashi, believed to free devotees from illness and past sins |
| Jul 12, 2026 | Sunday | Ravi Pradosh Vrat | Evening fast for Lord Shiva, falling on a Sunday |
| Jul 14, 2026 | Tuesday | Ashadha Amavasya (Bhaumvati Amavasya) | Tuesday new moon; ideal for Tarpan, Pind Daan, and river baths |
| Jul 25, 2026 | Saturday | Devshayani Ekadashi | Marks the full start of Chaturmas |
| Jul 26, 2026 | Sunday | Shukla Paksha Ravi Pradosh Vrat | Evening fast for Lord Shiva |
| Jul 29, 2026 | Wednesday | Ashadha Purnima (Guru Purnima) | Full moon; the most auspicious day for taking Guru Diksha, bathing, and charity |
Jagannath Rath Yatra: Puri’s Grandest Procession
Jagannath Rath Yatra, on Thursday, July 16, 2026, is one of India’s largest religious festivals, observed on Ashadha Shukla Dwitiya. Lord Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra, and sister Subhadra leave the main temple in Puri, Odisha, and travel roughly two kilometres to the Gundicha Temple on three massive, freshly built wooden chariots pulled by devotees along the Grand Road. What makes the day unique among Hindu festivals is that the deities themselves come out to meet their devotees, rather than devotees visiting the temple.
Yogini Ekadashi: A Fast for Health and Peace
Yogini Ekadashi, on Friday, July 10, 2026, falls in the Krishna Paksha of Ashadha month and is traditionally observed for relief from illness, particularly skin-related conditions, and for freedom from unintentional sins. As with other Ekadashi fasts, most devotees avoid rice and grains through the day and break their fast only after sunrise on Dwadashi, the following morning.
Devshayani Ekadashi: Chaturmas Begins
Devshayani Ekadashi, on Saturday, July 25, 2026, is one of the year’s most significant fasts. According to tradition, Lord Vishnu retreats into a four-month yoga nidra (divine sleep) in the Kshirsagar on this day, and doesn’t awaken until Prabodhini (Dev Uthani) Ekadashi, expected around November 20–21, 2026. This period is known as Chaturmas.
Through Chaturmas, weddings, Griha Pravesh, Mundan, engagements, and most other Mangal Karyas are traditionally paused, since these ceremonies are believed to need Lord Vishnu’s active blessing. It’s also regarded as a period suited to inward spiritual practice — fasting, charity, and scripture reading — rather than new beginnings.
Guru Purnima: Honouring the Guru
Guru Purnima, also called Vyas Purnima, falls on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, on Ashadha Purnima. The day marks the birth of Maharishi Ved Vyas, credited with compiling the four Vedas and authoring the Mahabharata, and is dedicated to expressing gratitude toward one’s teachers and spiritual guides. Devotees with a living Guru often travel to visit them and seek blessings on this day, while others observe it with a holy bath, charity, and reflection.
Shravan (Sawan) Begins
Shravan, popularly called Sawan, begins on Thursday, July 30, 2026, according to the North Indian Panchang followed in states like Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh. It’s considered Lord Shiva’s most beloved month, and devotees mark its start with Kanwar Yatra pilgrimages and daily Shiv Abhishek through the following weeks. States that follow the Amanta calendar, notably in South and West India, begin Shravan on a different date, so this July 30 start applies specifically to the North Indian tradition covered here.
Vivah Muhurat in July 2026
July offers only a narrow window for weddings this year, and it’s worth understanding why. Alongside the approach of Chaturmas, Jupiter (Guru) enters a combust phase (Guru Tara Asta) in the middle of the month, and Hindu tradition avoids fixing wedding dates while Jupiter is in this weakened state. Together, these two factors mean favourable Muhurats cluster only in the first half of July, roughly between July 1 and July 12.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.1 When is Jagannath Rath Yatra in 2026?
Jagannath Rath Yatra falls on Thursday, July 16, 2026, observed on Ashadha Shukla Dwitiya in Puri, Odisha, and in cities worldwide.
Q.2 When is Guru Purnima in 2026?
Guru Purnima falls on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, coinciding with Ashadha Purnima.
Q.3 When does Chaturmas start in 2026?
Chaturmas begins on July 25, 2026, with Devshayani Ekadashi, and continues until Dev Uthani Ekadashi around November 20–21, 2026.
Q.4 When does Sawan start in 2026?
Sawan begins on July 30, 2026, according to the North Indian Panchang. States following the Amanta calendar may begin it on a different date.