Why does the date change every year?

Hindu festivals are fixed by the lunar month and tithi, which don't line up with the Gregorian calendar. The date therefore drifts each year, and shifts further in a year carrying an intercalary (adhika) month. In 2027 it falls on 9 December, 11 days earlier than this year.

How was this date computed?

Ekadashi tithi of the Shukla paksha in purnimanta Margashirsha, prevailing at sunrise. Computed from the sidereal (Lahiri) panchang for New Delhi.

Gita Jayanti 2026 - Date and How It's Fixed

Gita Jayanti in 2026

Gita Jayanti falls on 20 December 2026, a Sunday in 2026. In 2027 it falls on 9 December, 11 days earlier than this year.

What Gita Jayanti is

The day the Bhagavad Gita is held to have been spoken at Kurukshetra - Margashirsha Shukla Ekadashi, also kept as Mokshada Ekadashi.

How this date was worked out

The rule: Ekadashi tithi of the Shukla paksha in purnimanta Margashirsha, prevailing at sunrise. The date is derived from the panchang - the same computation that drives this site's daily pages. Note that the day is fixed by the tithi running during the observance window, not the one at sunrise; that is why several festivals land on a day whose sunrise tithi is something else entirely.

Regional variation

These dates are computed for New Delhi and follow the north-Indian (purnimanta) convention. Tamil, Bengali and Kerala traditions differ on several festivals, and a tithi boundary falling near a window edge can shift the day for a distant city. Check a local panchang before committing to a fast or an event.

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Frequently asked

What date is Gita Jayanti in 2026?: 20 December 2026, a Sunday.
Why does the date change every year?: Hindu festivals are fixed by the lunar month and tithi, which don't line up with the Gregorian calendar. The date therefore drifts each year, and shifts further in a year carrying an intercalary (adhika) month. In 2027 it falls on 9 December, 11 days earlier than this year.
How was this date computed?: Ekadashi tithi of the Shukla paksha in purnimanta Margashirsha, prevailing at sunrise. Computed from the sidereal (Lahiri) panchang for New Delhi.

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When is Gita Jayanti in 2026?