After the mild weather of February, North India moves into one of its busiest religious months. This guide lays out the complete Lala Ramswaroop Calendar March 2026, covering every major Vrat, festival, and auspicious Muhurat in one reliable reference.
March 2026 spans the Falgun and Chaitra months, packing in some of the year’s biggest occasions — Holi, the Hindu New Year, Chaitra Navratri, and Ram Navami, all within three and a half weeks. Below is a clear, date-wise breakdown of the month.
Major Festivals in the Lala Ramswaroop Calendar — March 2026
| Date | Day | Festival | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 3, 2026 | Tuesday | Holika Dahan / Chhoti Holi | Bonfire lit to mark the victory of good over evil; a total lunar eclipse also falls this day |
| Mar 4, 2026 | Wednesday | Holi / Dhulandi | The festival of colours, celebrated nationwide |
| Mar 8, 2026 | Sunday | Rang Panchami | Colour celebrations continue five days after Holi in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and nearby states |
| Mar 11, 2026 | Wednesday | Sheetala Saptami (Basoda) | Worship of Goddess Sheetala with an offering of cold, pre-cooked food |
| Mar 19, 2026 | Thursday | Hindu New Year (Gudi Padwa) | Start of Vikram Samvat 2083; known as Ugadi in South India |
| Mar 19, 2026 | Thursday | Chaitra Navratri Begins | Nine-day worship of Goddess Durga starts with Ghatasthapana |
| Mar 21, 2026 | Saturday | Gangaur Tritiya | Rajasthan’s major festival honouring Gauri (Parvati) and Isar (Shiva) |
| Mar 26, 2026 | Thursday | Ram Navami | Birth anniversary of Lord Rama, marking the ninth day of Chaitra Navratri |
Vrat and Tithi Dates — March 2026
| Date | Day | Vrat / Tithi | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 1, 2026 | Sunday | Falgun Ravi Pradosh Vrat | First Pradosh fast of the month, for Lord Shiva’s blessings |
| Mar 3, 2026 | Tuesday | Phalguna Purnima | Full moon of Falgun month; coincides with Holika Dahan |
| Mar 6, 2026 | Friday | Bhalachandra Sankashti Chaturthi | Falgun Krishna Paksha fast for Lord Ganesha |
| Mar 14, 2026 | Saturday | Papmochani Ekadashi | An Ekadashi believed to remove sins and hardships |
| Mar 16, 2026 | Monday | Som Pradosh Vrat | Evening fast for Lord Shiva, falling on a Monday |
| Mar 17, 2026 | Tuesday | Masik Shivaratri | Monthly night of worship dedicated to Lord Shiva |
| Mar 18, 2026 | Wednesday | Chaitra Amavasya | New moon; considered ideal for charity and Tarpan for ancestors |
| Mar 29, 2026 | Sunday | Kamada Ekadashi | The first Ekadashi of the new Hindu year; observing it is said to fulfil wishes |
| Mar 30, 2026 | Monday | Chaitra Som Pradosh Vrat | Evening Shiva fast for family wellbeing |
Chaitra Amavasya, on March 18, falls right before the Hindu New Year begins, making it a traditional day for settling accounts, remembering ancestors, and starting fresh.
Why This Panchang Still Anchors North Indian Homes
The Lala Ramswaroop Panchang has been printed for decades with city-specific sunrise and sunset timings, along with Tithi, Nakshatra, Yoga, and Karana details. It isn’t just an annual reference — it’s the almanac many households have followed across generations. Priests use it to fix Muhurats, farmers use it to plan the sowing season, and homemakers use it to decide the right day for a Vrat.
What keeps a publisher trusted across generations is consistency in method and regional focus, year after year. Readers outside North India should note that different publishers sometimes list a festival a day apart, due to small differences in sunrise timing and the Purnimant versus Amant Tithi systems used regionally.
Holi and Holika Dahan: A Rare Eclipse Overlap
Holika Dahan, the ritual bonfire that opens the Holi celebrations, falls on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, timed to the evening of Phalguna Purnima. The following day, Wednesday, March 4, is Rangwali Holi (Dhulandi) — the main day of playing with colours, meeting family and friends, and sharing sweets like gujiya.
This year carries an unusual overlap: a total lunar eclipse also falls on March 3, 2026, the same evening as Holika Dahan. Because of this, some temples observe Sutak restrictions for part of the day, and a few regions shift the bonfire ritual by a day. If your city follows an eclipse-related convention, your local priest or printed Panchang is the more reliable guide for exact timing.
Rang Panchami, on March 8, extends the spirit of Holi by five more days in states like Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, where communities gather again for a second round of colour play, often centred around temple processions.
Hindu New Year and Chaitra Navratri
March 19, 2026, is a double celebration. It marks Gudi Padwa, the start of the new Hindu calendar year — Vikram Samvat 2083 — celebrated with a Gudi (decorated flagstaff) hoisted outside homes in Maharashtra, while South India marks the same transition as Ugadi. On the same day, Chaitra Navratri begins with Ghatasthapana, the ritual installation of the sacred pot that opens nine days of worship dedicated to the nine forms of Goddess Durga.
Across these nine days, fasting households typically eat simple, grain-free meals, and many begin new ventures or study routines during this window, since the period is widely regarded as self-auspicious.
Sheetala Saptami and Gangaur
Sheetala Saptami, observed on March 11, is dedicated to Goddess Sheetala, worshipped for protection from illness. The distinctive ritual is Basoda — food prepared a day in advance and offered cold, since cooking fires are traditionally avoided that day.
Gangaur, on March 21, is one of Rajasthan’s most elaborate festivals, dedicated to Gauri (a form of Parvati) and her consort Isar (Shiva). Married women pray for their husbands’ wellbeing and unmarried women pray for a good life partner, with processions carrying Gauri idols through towns.
Ram Navami: Closing Navratri with Lord Rama’s Birth
Ram Navami, on Thursday, March 26, 2026, marks the birth of Lord Rama and falls on the ninth day of Chaitra Navratri. The Navami Tithi spans into the early hours of the following morning in some Panchang calculations, so a few traditions extend related rituals into March 27, but the main celebration across most of India is centred on March 26, with Ramayana recitations, devotional singing, and Madhyahna (midday) prayers, since Lord Rama is believed to have been born around noon.
Vivah Muhurat and Kharmas in March 2026
Wedding planning in March needs extra care, since the month has a restricted period both before and after the main window.
In the days leading up to Holika Dahan on March 3, Holashtak is in effect — no auspicious or ceremonial functions, including weddings, are traditionally performed. Once Holi ends, a short window opens between March 4 and March 14, when the Lala Ramswaroop Calendar generally lists a few favourable wedding dates.
Reading the Panchang Beyond Festival Names
A Panchang isn’t only useful for major festivals — it also guides everyday decisions such as which day suits starting a business, buying a vehicle, or beginning a journey. Each date carries its own Tithi, Nakshatra, and Choghadiya (auspicious time blocks), and reading these together gives a fuller picture than the festival name alone. If you’re using a printed Panchang, check the Rahu Kaal and Choghadiya columns for your own city, since these are usually listed separately from the national festival table.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.1 When is Holi in March 2026?
Holika Dahan falls on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, and Rangwali Holi (Dhulandi) follows the next day, Wednesday, March 4, 2026.
Q.2 Why does Holika Dahan fall on a different day in some regions this year?
A total lunar eclipse coincides with Holika Dahan on March 3, 2026. Some regions and temples adjust timing or observe Sutak restrictions because of this overlap.
Q.3 Is Rang Panchami different from Holi?
Yes. Holi (Dhulandi) is the main colour festival on March 4, while Rang Panchami on March 8 is a smaller, regional continuation observed mainly in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and nearby states.
Q.4 When does Chaitra Navratri start in 2026?
Chaitra Navratri begins on Thursday, March 19, 2026, the same day as the Hindu New Year, and concludes around Ram Navami.