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 22 January, 336 days earlier than this year.

How was this date computed?

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

Paush Purnima 2026 - Date and How It's Fixed

Paush Purnima in 2026

Paush Purnima falls on 24 December 2026, a Thursday in 2026. In 2027 it falls on 22 January, 336 days earlier than this year.

What Paush Purnima is

The full moon that opens the Magha bathing month. At Prayagraj it is the first major snan, and in Kumbh years the start of the Kalpavas.

How this date was worked out

The rule: Purnima tithi of the Shukla paksha in purnimanta Pausha, 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 Paush Purnima in 2026?: 24 December 2026, a Thursday.
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 22 January, 336 days earlier than this year.
How was this date computed?: Purnima tithi of the Shukla paksha in purnimanta Pausha, prevailing at sunrise. Computed from the sidereal (Lahiri) panchang for New Delhi.

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